Prime Minister's Advisor: Iraq Adopts Coexistence with Hormuz Crisis, Secures Oil Exports Away from Strait

Prime Minister's advisor, Mazhar Mohammad Salih, confirmed on Monday that Iraq has shifted from merely confronting the Strait of Hormuz crisis to a phase of coexistence and containment. According to Salih, the government aims to secure oil exports at pre-crisis levels, bypassing the Strait via alternative routes. Salih explained that the current government took office during a major external crisis driven by geopolitical tensions in Hormuz. He added that the state's strategic planning involves exploring pipelines and alternative sources to reorient oil policy and marketing towards regions unaffected by geopolitical conflicts. He indicated that if the crisis in the Strait continues, Iraq will rely on oil exports through neighboring territories. This move is part of a new policy to manage "oil strongholds," differing from past approaches. Salih further affirmed Iraq's efforts to secure its prior export volume of 3.4 million barrels. Previously, 80 to 85 percent of these exports passed through Hormuz, and their full security is now being ensured via adjacent regions.