Iran War Day 40: Ceasefire In Iraq But No Economic Relief With Strait Of Hormuz Still Closed

  

The ceasefire between the United States and Iran brought back a sense of peace to Iraq. The Resistance following its Persian sponsors announced a two week halt to operations.

 

There was no economic relief however. After Israeli attacks upon Lebanon Iranian state run Press TV said that the Strait of Hormuz would be closed. On April 5 Tehran announced that ships carrying Iraqi petroleum would be exempt from the blockade but nothing has happened so far. Whether that still applies is yet to be seen.

 

Baghdad is trying to increase its exports to Syria to make up for the loss of the strait. The third shipment of fuel oil arrived at the Baniyas refinery. The State Organization for Marketing of Oil said it has contracted to deliver 650,000 metric tons of fuel oil from April to June. This trade is important for Iraq’s refineries to keep running because they have limited storage.

 

Harakat al-Nujaba said that it would not disarm until the return of the missing Mahdi. This is a rejection of the government’s efforts to disarm the Resistance before the war because of American pressure. The war showed these factions they need to stay armed to protect Tehran and that they are valuable assets for Iran to decentralize its defenses.

 

The Kurds have been the greatest victim of the war. The regional government reported that 703 drones and missiles were launched at Kurdistan. 560 were in Irbil, 115 in Sulaymaniya, 26 in Dohuk and 2in Halabja leading to 17 deaths and 92 wounded. That included two missiles hitting Sulaymaniya and one landing in Dohuk, plus a drone exploding in that province Wednesday morning before the ceasefire took effect.

 

Al Hurra provided details on how American journalist Shelly Kittleson was released. She was abducted by Kataib Hezbollah a week ago in Baghdad. They did not want to release her so soon but the capture of the driver involved in the incident led to important details being divulged. The government agreed to release 16 Kataib members who’d been arrested for carrying out attacks against the U.S. and the region in return for Kittleson. She was handed over to the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. A video was broadcast of her claiming she was a spy in Syria and in Iraq that was probably forced out of her. Kittleson had worked in Iraq since 2015.

 

SOURCES

 

Asharq Al-Awsat, “Pro-Iran Armed Factions in Iraq Announced Two-Week Halt in Attacks,” 4/8/26

 

Al Hurra, “What’s Behind Oil Cooperation Between Iraq and Syria?” 4/8/26

 

Rudaw, “Kurdistan Region hit by over 700 drones, missiles during Iran war,” 4/8/26

 

Sassoon, Mustafa, “The Deal Behind the Release of a U.S. Journalist in Iraq,” 4/8/26

 

Shafaq News, “Al-Nujaba reiterates to Shafaq News: We will only surrender our weapons to the awaited Mahdi,” 4/8/26

 

Tan, Florence, "Iraq urges customers to send oil loading plans with Hormuz exemption, document shows,” Reuters, 4/5/26

 

Xinhua, “Strait of Hormuz fully closed, forcing oil tankers to turn back — media,” 4/8/26