Baghdad-INA
Oil Ministry denied allegations directed at Deputy Oil Minister for Distribution Affairs Ali Maarij al-Bahadli, while affirming its respect for legal procedures and the judiciary.
The ministry said in a statement that while it fully respected legal procedures and the Iraqi judiciary, it stressed the importance of transparency and responsibility in dealing with all issues and accusations based on evidence and facts, away from any other considerations or interpretations.
The ministry announced its full readiness to cooperate and conduct any fair investigation into the allegations raised, citing its belief in the role of the Iraqi judiciary and the Integrity Commission, as well as its respect for the state's legal and oversight institutions.
It added that the export, marketing and loading of crude oil tankers and related procedures were not among the responsibilities of the deputy oil minister for distribution affairs, noting that specialized entities and companies handled the file according to approved mechanisms and procedures.
The ministry also pointed out that Iraq's State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO) had previously issued a statement clarifying export and marketing mechanisms and denying claims raised regarding the matter.