ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq is preparing to resume oil exports in the coming days, an official from the oil ministry told Rudaw on Saturday, as authorities move to capitalize on a tentative reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
The official said Baghdad has notified major oil companies and tanker operators to prepare for shipments through the strategic waterway.
Developments around the strait remain fluid. Iran on Friday announced its reopening after more than a month of closure, before later declaring it shut again, accusing the United States of failing to meet its obligations after US President Donald Trump said a naval blockade would remain in place until a final agreement is reached with Tehran.
“The door is open, and we will resume oil exports in the coming days,” said Sahib al-Bazoun, the Iraqi oil ministry official, noting that preparations are being expedited as the move is expected to “generate significant revenue for the state.”
Separately, the Iraqi oil ministry’s spokesperson confirmed that officials are in contact with major oil companies and tanker operators to restart exports, adding that “all oil fields are ready.”
However, uncertainty persists. Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which oversees wartime defense operations, said the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and that passage requires Tehran’s approval, though it may allow a “limited number of ships” depending on the outcome of negotiations with Washington.
The statement followed remarks by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who said earlier on Friday that “the passage of all commercial vessels” through the waterway had been declared “completely open” for the duration of a ceasefire.
That announcement came a day after a 10-day truce between Israel and Lebanon, which halted attacks involving Iran-backed Hezbollah - prompting Tehran to reopen the strait, according to Araghchi.
Iran initially closed the Strait of Hormuz on March 8, roughly a week after the outbreak of a nearly 40-day conflict involving the United States and Israel. A fragile, Pakistan-brokered ceasefire later reduced hostilities, but the status of the waterway has remained a key sticking point in negotiations.
The disruption has significantly affected Iraq’s oil exports. Shipments through Hormuz fell to 18.6 million barrels in March, generating about $1.96 billion in revenue, compared with more than 99 million barrels and $6.81 billion in February.
Around 90 percent of Iraq’s oil exports typically pass through the strait, making it a critical artery for the country’s economy.
In response, Baghdad has sought alternative export routes. Bazoun said last week that Iraq is currently exporting more than 200,000 barrels per day through the Kurdistan Region to Turkey’s Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, including crude from both Kirkuk and Basra.
Iraq has also begun exporting oil via tanker trucks. State media, citing Iraq's state oil marketing organization director Ali Nazar, reported shipments from Syria’s Baniyas refinery to European markets and regional refineries.