Adnoc has proposed a shuttle service to help Iraq export its crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz, using a "dark fleet" strategy to move Basra and other grades to Asian refineries.

As the national oil company of the United Arab Emirates, Adnoc is among the most successful producers in moving crude out of the Persian Gulf. It employs a so-called "shuttle" tactic, where vessels undertake short voyages (often turning off transponders to avoid detection) before typically transferring cargoes to other ships just outside the Gulf's mouth.

In recent days, Adnoc has offered spot cargoes to Asian buyers, using the same method to carry crude from other Middle Eastern producers, most notably Iraq. This shuttle approach, also used by some other producers, has become a key way to move oil out of the Gulf even amid ongoing conflict with Iran, helping to curb a rise in global oil prices.

However, it is highly unusual for a Middle Eastern country to seek help from a neighbor to transport its energy exports. An Adnoc spokesperson declined to comment on commercial matters. Iraq's State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO) did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trading giant Vitol Group and French energy major TotalEnergies have previously been the main carriers of Iraqi crude. Adnoc's offering may already be having an impact. On Tuesday, SOMO head Ali Nizar said crude exports had recently jumped to about 2 million barrels per day, compared to an estimate of 1.5 million to 1.7 million barrels per day given by Iraq's oil minister last week.

Although Pakistan's defense minister said Tuesday that the US and Iran were close to reaching some arrangement, negotiations between Washington and Tehran over reopening the Strait of Hormuz have recently hardened. The stop-start nature of talks, along with continued attacks on vessels, has made it difficult for Persian Gulf producers to export oil.

Last week, several Adnoc tankers were attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. As tensions in the Gulf escalate again, oil sales from other traders besides Adnoc have slowed this month. Iraq's SOMO has been offering steep discounts to companies willing to navigate the Strait of Hormuz, offering cuts of up to $30 a barrel below benchmark prices for cargoes loading this month. For its flagship Basra Medium crude, the discount is between $25 and $27 a barrel.