An oil tanker loaded with Iraqi crude was ​seen passing through the Strait ‌of Hormuz close to the Iranian coast a day after Iran said Iraq ​was exempt from any restrictions to ​transit the vital sea route, data ⁠from LSEG and Kpler showed.

The ​Ocean Thunder loaded about 1 million ​barrels of Basrah Heavy crude on March 2 and is expected to discharge its ​cargo in Pengerang, Malaysia, in ​mid-April, Kpler data showed.

Iran initially closed the ‌Strait, ⁠a corridor that carries about a fifth of global oil and LNG flows, after US and Israeli ​airstrikes on ​Iran ⁠in late February triggered a widening conflict.

It later said ​it would allow passage for ​vessels ⁠without US or Israeli connections, and in recent days, three Omani-operated ⁠tankers, ​a French-owned container ship ​and a Japanese-owned gas carrier have crossed the strait.