Iraqi parliamentary delegation to travel to Iran over oil tanker passage

BAGHDAD, Iraq — A delegation of Iraqi lawmakers from across the political spectrum will travel to Iran to negotiate passage for Iraqi oil tankers, said Ahmed Huzeyli, a member of the Iraqi parliament's Security and Defense Committee. Huzeyli said the cross-party commission was established specifically to pursue talks with Tehran on securing exemptions for tankers carrying Iraqi crude. Huzeyli said Iraq faces a pronounced economic problem as the war affects oil exports, with the country's heavy dependence on petroleum revenues leaving it more exposed to the current crisis. He noted that Iraq needs around 8 trillion dinars a month to cover civil servant salaries and that years of reliance on oil without revenue diversification have deepened the impact. Citing statements by the finance minister, Huzeyli said public sector wages are guaranteed for now, but alternatives must be explored if the disruption at the Strait of Hormuz continues. He pointed to rising revenues from border crossings as insufficient on their own to replace oil income and urged the government and Finance Ministry to prepare contingency plans to safeguard state financial obligations, particularly civil servant salaries. Huzeyli said Iraq exports a small share of its oil through the Strait of Hormuz and stressed the importance of accelerating exports via the Ceyhan pipeline, which he said has a daily capacity of 750,000 barrels. He added that parliament has begun hosting the ministers of industry, trade, agriculture and oil to advance efforts to revive the economy, attract investment and reduce dependence on oil revenues.