Iraq Monitors Oil Tankers Through Strait of Hormuz, Ministry Says

Iraq 02:25 PM - 2026-08-04

Strait of Hormuz.

The Iraqi Ministry of Oil has outlined the procedures governing the transport of Iraqi crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz, confirming that while tankers carrying Iraqi oil pass through the waterway, responsibility for their movement rests with the buyers once shipments leave Iraqi ports.

Speaking to the Iraqi News Agency, Oil Ministry spokesman Salim al-Rikabi said the ministry continues to sell crude oil under the "port-off" system, whereby ownership and responsibility for the cargo are transferred to the buyer at the port of loading.

He explained that, although tankers carrying Iraqi crude transit the Strait of Hormuz after departing Iraqi ports, the ministry is not responsible for their routes or for obtaining the necessary navigation approvals.

"The Ministry of Oil sells the crude oil at the port, after which the buyer assumes full responsibility for transporting and handling the shipment," al-Rikabi said, adding that the ministry neither owns the tankers nor has any involvement in their operations once they have left port.

Al-Rikabi noted that some tankers transport cargoes of up to two million barrels of crude oil. He said the ministry tracks the movement of vessels through international monitoring systems, while the State Oil Marketing Organisation (SOMO) follows shipments until they reach their destination refineries.

Commenting on exports, al-Rikabi said Iraq's oil sales have shown steady improvement in recent months.

He added that export performance had improved month by month, reflecting a gradual recovery following the disruption to oil exports linked to the Strait of Hormuz crisis.


PUKMEDIA