Iran Allows Iraqi Tankers to Cross the Strait of Hormuz

Iran will allow Iraqi ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The permission is granted amid a broader blockade against the main sea routes at the entrance to the Gulf. “We announce that our brother country, Iraq, is exempt from any restrictions we have imposed in the Strait of Hormuz,” said spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari to state television, as reported by AFP on Sunday (5/4/2026). Zolfaghari emphasised that the Strait of Hormuz restrictions apply only to Iran’s enemy countries. “And these restrictions apply only to enemy countries,” he said. Several countries have previously received permission from Iran to cross the Strait of Hormuz. The most recent was a tanker owned by the Philippines. The Philippines claims to have obtained Iran’s permission for its oil tankers to cross the Strait of Hormuz while war rages. Manila stated that Tehran has promised safe passage for oil shipments to countries heavily reliant on those imports. Previously, ships from Malaysia, Thailand, China to India have also been allowed to cross the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway for global oil and gas supplies, has been affected by the ongoing war between the US and Israel against Iran. Passage activity in this vital waterway has been effectively restricted since early March.