Iraqi tanker company carries 2 million barrels of oil through Hormuz — the first such operation in decades

A very large giant tanker (VLCC) loaded with 2 million barrels of Iraqi crude oil has passed through the Strait of Hormuz, as Al Jazeera reports in its war liveblog, citing a statement by the company’s director general. According to him, this was the company’s first such operation in decades.

The move is a rare positive signal at one of the most tense points of global energy trade. This week alone, at least seven ships have been hit by unidentified projectiles in or near Hormuz, as the British maritime authorities (UKMTO) have confirmed, and traffic through the strait has fallen to historically low levels.

The passage of the Iraqi tanker shows that, despite the fears of commercial ships, some carriers are trying to keep the route open. Iraq, which earns most of its revenue from oil exports through the Persian Gulf, has been among the countries hardest hit by the partial blockage of the strait.

The Strait of Hormuz remains the centre of the U.S.–Iran war: Tehran claims full military control over it, while Washington and its allies are trying to keep navigation free. The successful transport of such a large cargo could encourage more carriers, but analysts warn that any new attack could quickly reverse the situation.