Saudi Arabia Denies Iraq's Oil Tanker Claims
Saudi Arabia has categorically rejected claims by Iraqi authorities that the country acquired 25 oil tankers and that this move increased the shipping costs of Iraqi oil.
The Saudi Ministry of Energy announced that the allegations by Iraqi officials regarding the purchase of 25 oil tankers by the country and its impact on increasing Iraqi oil transportation costs do not reflect the truth at all.
Allegations by Iraqi Officials in Parliamentary Session
Iraqi Oil Minister Hayan Abdul-Ghani and the Chairman and General Manager of the Iraqi Oil Marketing Company (SOMO), Ali Al-Shatri, claimed during a session in the Iraqi Parliament that Saudi Arabia had purchased 25 oil tankers. The officials argued that this acquisition was directly linked to the increase in transportation costs of Iraqi oil.
Statement from the Saudi Ministry of Energy
The Saudi Ministry of Energy promptly rejected the allegations made by Iraqi officials, announcing to the public that statements claiming Saudi Arabia had purchased 25 oil tankers were entirely unfounded.
Real Causes of the Increase in Shipping Costs
It was stated that the sharp increase in oil transportation costs stems from regional military tensions, attacks on vessels, and disruptions to navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. These developments have driven up shipping risks and insurance costs, while reducing the number of tankers willing to operate in the region.
Defense That Linking It to Saudi Arabia Does Not Reflect Reality
It was argued that attributing the rise in Iraqi oil transportation costs to Saudi Arabia is erroneous and definitively fails to reflect the true reasons behind the increase.