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Iraq Asks Iran for Special Status to Ship Oil Through Hormuz

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Iraq is seeking "special status" from Iran to ensure its oil exports can continue to pass via the Strait of Hormuz, Iraqi Parliament Speaker Haibat al-Halbousi said on Wednesday during the visit of his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

Al-Halbousi said Iraq is one of the countries most affected by the "conditions and developments in the region," according to a translated statement from the Speaker of Parliament's office.

He called for consideration of the nature of relations between the two countries, and for Iraq to "have a special status regarding the export of oil via the Strait of Hormuz, in order to safeguard its economic interests."

The Strait of Hormuz, which lies between Iran and Oman and connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, is a critical export route for Middle East oil producers including Iraq.

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