Iran Opens Strait of Hormuz to Iraqi Oil Tankers Amid Regional Tensions

Iran has granted permission for some Iraqi oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, following repeated requests from Baghdad. The decision was made after Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf visited Iraq this week and discussed the matter with Iraqi officials.

Iraqi President Nizar Amidi said that Iran had facilitated the passage of 'some ships carrying Iraqi oil in the Strait' in recent days, and that the government would not accept Iraqi territory being used to launch attacks against other countries. He emphasized the importance of preventing Iraq from being dragged into regional conflicts.

According to Mostafa Khoshcheshm, a professor at the University of Applied Sciences in Tehran, Iran has decided to let Iraqi oil tankers pass through the Strait because Baghdad has 'always stood up to the United States'. The analyst suggested that Iran is looking to punish Gulf states for allowing US forces to use their military bases to launch attacks on Iran.