Iraq in April 2026: the most important developments in economy
In April 2026, Iraq's economy centred on getting its oil to market during the war in the region. The most widely reported development was the resumption of oil exports after Iran announced that Iraqi ships, including oil tankers, could pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Iraq thanked Iran for the exemption, which allows limited shipping through the waterway. By 8 April a Malaysian tanker carrying Iraqi crude had passed through the strait, and Iraq said it was preparing to ramp up production after the disruption.
Before that, Iraq had turned to a route through Syria, with the energy ministry reporting that oil was being exported on tankers through Syria. On 8 April Iraq and Syria reopened their airspace after weeks of closure, following a ceasefire deal with Iran. On 14 April Iraq was seeking to revive an oil pipeline with Saudi Arabia, and on 20 April the Iraq-Syria border crossing reopened for the first time in about a decade.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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