Iraq’s oil minister said talks with the Islamic Republic are underway regarding the smooth passage of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. Basim Muhammad Khuzair Al-Abadi told Iraq’s official news agency that he hopes to reach important understandings in the coming days that will help with the protection and ease of the shipments.

He added that Iraqi officials, alongside their recent visits by Ali Faleh Al-Zaydi, the prime minister of the country, held political and economic talks with Tehran.

The remarks were made one day after Haider Al-Aboubi, the spokesperson for the Iraqi government, said that Baghdad had previously received assurances from Masoud Pezeshkian, the president of the Islamic Republic, that Iraqi tankers would be exempted from the Strait’s restrictions.

Al-Aboubi stressed that the exemption has not been implemented and said Tehran still views the Strait of Hormuz as one of its key levers in the current crisis.