The vessels were reportedly using fake Iraqi transportation documents.
Speaking on state television, Abdulghani stated that U.S. authorities had informed Iraq about the tankers carrying Iraqi documentation, which was later determined to be fraudulent.
He also clarified that Iraq’s State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) had not received any official warning from the U.S. regarding alleged violations of sanctions on Iran. Abdulghani emphasized that SOMO operates transparently and has not engaged in any wrongdoing.
Maximum Pressure
According to Al Arabiya, the U.S. has revived its "maximum pressure" strategy against Iran, aiming to isolate Tehran from the global economy and curb its oil export revenues. Iran, in response, views Iraq’s economic support as crucial in countering these measures.
Baghdad continues to navigate a delicate balance in its relations with both Washington and Tehran, maintaining a cautious stance on U.S. policies toward Iran.
A Reuters report from December suggested that, in recent years, Iranian oil has been illicitly transported through Iraq using fake documents, generating billions of dollars annually.
Abdel-Ghani said state marketer SOMO sold crude exclusively to companies that own refineries and does not supply trading firms.
"SOMO operates with full transparency and has committed no wrongdoing in the oil export process," he said.
