Iran allows select Iraqi tankers via Hormuz

Iran has granted permission for a number of Iraqi oil tankers to transit the Strait of Hormuz, following requests from Baghdad. Reporting that cited Iran’s state-run media described the move as allowing some vessels to pass, though it did not specify how many tankers were involved, when they would cross, or the volumes of crude they carry.

Iraqi officials said that some ships carrying Iraqi crude have now received clearance to move through the strategic waterway. They noted that Baghdad has held discussions with Iranian counterparts regarding the export of Iraqi oil via Hormuz, indicating a coordinated effort to maintain at least partial export flows despite regional tensions.

Even with the newly reported permissions for Iraqi tankers, overall commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains well below normal levels. Confirmed ship crossings this week are around 20% of the pre-war average, based on analysis of figures from the UK’s maritime agency.

At the same time, there are signs of a modest rebound in activity. The number of ships crossing the strait rose 27% in the past week, suggesting a gradual increase in movements despite ongoing security risks and disruptions in the area.

Recent data on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz show that most vessels were flagged to Panama and Liberia. Specifically, seven vessels carried Panamanian flags and six carried Liberian flags over the period analyzed, while none of the recorded ships were flagged to the United States.

The most common type of vessel traveling through the strait has been the product tanker, which typically transports refined petroleum products rather than crude oil. This pattern indicates that, alongside limited crude shipments such as the Iraqi cargoes now cleared, refined-product trades continue to represent a significant share of the constrained traffic.

Despite the increase in weekly crossings and Iran’s selective permissions for Iraqi tankers, the situation around the Strait of Hormuz remains fragile. Commercial traffic continues to face attacks and disruptions, and total flows through this key chokepoint are still substantially constrained compared with pre-war conditions.

In this environment, the reported flexibility for Iraqi crude exports through Hormuz represents a targeted adjustment rather than a broad normalization of shipping conditions. The combination of low overall volumes, higher week-on-week crossings, and a specific mix of vessel flags and types underscores the tentative nature of current Gulf export routes.