Iraqi Parliamentary Speaker, Haibat al-Halbousi, has called on Iran to grant Iraqi oil exports passing through the Strait of Hormuz a 'special status'. This request reflects Baghdad's worries over the potential impact of reduced maritime traffic in the vital waterway.
Al-Halbousi's appeal was made during a meeting in Baghdad with the Iranian Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, where he emphasized the need to protect Iraq's economic interests and secure the continuous flow of its oil exports through the strait.
The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial maritime route for global energy transport, with significant volumes of crude oil typically passing through it. Recent military developments have led to a noticeable decline in shipping activity within the passage.
For his part, Qalibaf highlighted the strong relations between Iraq and Iran, calling for enhanced security cooperation among regional nations to foster sustainable economic collaboration, and expressed Iran's readiness to move forward in this direction.
Iraq's diplomatic move comes at a time when Baghdad is dealing with challenges related to securing its oil export routes and maintaining revenue flow, making the assurance of export operations through Hormuz a direct economic priority.