On 9 September, Al-Ahad TV (AAH — official) carried an Oil Ministry denial that Iraq pays $20 for every barrel passing through Hormuz. SOMO director Ali Nizar said no additional fees are paid to any party, while the ministry said SOMO sells at ports and buyers assume responsibility for moving the oil through the strait. MP Mansour al-Baiji subsequently told the channel that Iraq sells oil for $65 per barrel and Tehran charges Baghdad no fees.
- Al-Ahad TVAAH — official09 Sept, 14:10
“Ministry of Oil, responding to MP Mansour al-Baiji: there is no truth to paying $20 for every barrel passing through Hormuz.”
وزارة النفط ردا على النائب منصور البعيجي: لا صحة لدفع 20 دولارا عن كل برميل يمر عبر هرمز
The same-channel contradiction moves the alleged payment from an unchallenged account to a dispute over whether any recipient receives additional Hormuz transit fees.