Iraq's oil minister says Baghdad has held talks with Iran on smooth tanker passage through the Strait of Hormuz

Iraqi Oil Minister Bassem Mohammed Khudair said on Monday, August 3, 2026, that an Iraqi delegation has held talks and negotiations with the Iranian side on smooth passage for Iraqi tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. He voiced hope that major understandings on protecting and facilitating the passage of cargo ships and tankers would be reached in the coming days, and said the Iraqi government's approach is to build ties, partnership and joint investment with all neighbouring countries.

Iraqi government spokesman Haider al-Aboudi had earlier said that the exemption of Iraqi tankers from the passage ban in the Strait of Hormuz had not been implemented in practice.

Iraq is among the largest oil exporters in the Persian Gulf and most of its exports pass through the strait, so any understanding on tanker traffic feeds directly into regional oil supply and the world market.