Iran condemns ‘toughest sanctions in history’ threat as Strait of Hormuz oil traffic remains near standstill

Iraqi President Nizar Amidi announced on Saturday that Iran has granted permission for several Iraqi oil tankers to transit the Strait of Hormuz, following persistent requests from Baghdad amid the ongoing regional conflict. Speaking at the eighth Baghdad Dialogue conference, Amidi emphasized Iraq's vulnerability to the impact of the conflict, owing to its heavy reliance on oil exports and economic ties with Iran.

He stated, "There is facilitation for some tankers carrying Iraqi oil in the Strait of Hormuz," though he did not offer additional specifics. Iran's state news agency, IRNA, reported independently that Tehran had granted permission for multiple Iraqi oil tankers to traverse the waterway after Baghdad made repeated requests via various channels.

Amidi highlighted that the permission was part of Baghdad's primary demands during Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf's recent visit to Iraq, as per IRNA. Iraq faces challenges in oil transportation due to the lack of national tankers, according to Amidi. "We have a problem transporting oil due to the absence of a national tanker," he noted, underscoring that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz affects the global community, not just Iraq.

Amidi expressed Iraq's intent to avoid involvement in the Iran-US war, warning that Baghdad could be severely impacted by any escalation. "We will be among the countries most affected after Iran if the escalation continues, given the economic interdependence and our complete reliance on oil," he cautioned. On domestic security, Amidi reaffirmed Baghdad's stance against utilizing Iraqi territory for attacks on other nations, asserting that such assaults have no justification.

Baghdad's commitment to preventing further entanglement in the conflict was evident as Amidi reiterated the government's pledge to consolidate all weapons under state control. He emphasized that armed groups must ultimately surrender their weapons through an Iraqi-led process, with September 30 set as the deadline for compliance. Some Iran-backed factions, however, have yet to agree to this requirement.