BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 8. Iraqi Oil Minister Bassem Mohammed Khudair says the country's oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz have fallen by 75 percent since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Speaking at a news conference, Khudair said Iraq exported about 3.4 million barrels of oil per day before the conflict, emphasizing the need to develop alternative routes and diversify the country's export outlets.
Iraq is currently producing about 2.7 million barrels per day and exporting between 1.5 million and 1.7 million barrels per day, according to the minister.
Khudair said Baghdad is also holding talks with Iran about facilitating Iraqi oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, although he noted that such an arrangement has not yet become operational.
The minister stressed that Iraq needs to pursue long-term solutions to reduce its dependence on a limited number of export routes.
He also condemned attacks targeting oil companies operating in Iraq and said the government had agreed to provide compensation for damages suffered by those companies.
