Iraq's support for Iran tested as oil shipments face Strait of Hormuz risks

TEHRAN, Iran — Iraq has long offered political backing to Iran while refusing to allow its territory to be used for attacks on the country, even as some Iraqi groups aligned with Tehran took part in regional fighting and suffered heavy losses. In return, Baghdad has had to work to secure its tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway through which most of Iraq's energy exports pass, and to keep crude shipments moving. The Iraqi government is holding talks with Iran on transit security. The Strait of Hormuz is not just a passage for Iraq but an economic lifeline, carrying the oil revenues that fund the federal budget, public salaries and state services. Iran, Iraqi writers note, is closely attuned to the positions of allied political forces in Iraq and to the arrival of millions of Iranian pilgrims during religious seasons. During a recent visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to holy cities, some Iraqis carried him on their shoulders, an image cited as a symbol of the relationship. Iraqi commentators argue that international relations follow the principle of mutual interest and that Iran acts according to its own national calculations, urging Baghdad to draw the same lesson.