Iraq's Minister of Oil, Hayan Abdul-Ghani, announced that Baghdad is currently in communication with Iran to facilitate the passage of oil tankers through the crucial Strait of Hormuz. This initiative is part of Iraq's broader effort to address the significant disruption to its crude oil exports that has resulted from a series of recent attacks on tankers in its territorial waters. The need for alternative routes for oil transport has become especially pressing in light of ongoing regional instability and confrontations affecting maritime navigation in this strategic corridor.

In addition to discussing tanker passage with Iran, Minister Abdul-Ghani revealed that Iraq is aiming to resume operations of a halted pipeline that would allow oil to be pumped directly to the Turkish port of Ceyhan, bypassing the Kurdistan region. The ministry has expedited this process, stating that inspections on a 100-kilometer segment of the pipeline will be completed within a week, thus preparing for direct oil exports from Kirkuk. This move underscores Iraq's desire to regain stability in its oil exports and mitigate economic repercussions from ongoing disruptions.

The reopening of the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline, which has been inactive for more than a decade due to various challenges including security issues, is expected to provide a crucial alternative route for Iraq’s oil supply. It previously accounted for approximately 0.5% of global oil supplies before being shut down in 2014 following a series of attacks attributed to militant groups. The resumption of operations on this pipeline is seen as both a strategic and economic necessity for Iraq as it navigates a tumultuous geopolitical landscape, particularly given the heightened tensions in the Middle East affecting oil transport routes.