Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran
Tehran, Aug 22: Iran has granted special permission for a number of Iraqi oil tankers to pass through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz following repeated requests from Baghdad through various channels, Iranian state news agency IRNA reported on Saturday.
According to IRNA, obtaining permission for Iraqi oil tankers to navigate the Strait of Hormuz was one of the main requests made by Baghdad during Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf's recent visit to Iraq.
The move comes amid heightened tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route through which a significant share of international oil shipments traditionally passes.
The waterway has become a major flashpoint amid the escalating confrontation involving Iran and the United States, with restrictions on shipping through the strait raising concerns over global energy supplies and oil prices.
Iraq, a major oil producer and exporter, relies heavily on maritime routes in the Gulf for transporting its crude. Any prolonged disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz could therefore have significant implications for the country's oil exports and economy.
Iran's decision to allow the Iraqi tankers passage follows diplomatic efforts by Baghdad to secure continued movement of its oil shipments.
The number of tankers covered by the permission and the specific conditions attached to their passage were not immediately disclosed by IRNA.