Luaibi to Iran for Hormuz threat talks

BAGHDAD - As tension between Iran and the West increases, sparking a threat by Tehran to shut down the Strait of Hormuz to oil tankers in response to increased economic sanctions, the president of OPEC and Iraq's Oil Minister, Abdul Karim al-Luaibi, is attempting to head off a crisis.

"On this occasion, tomorrow (Jan. 19) I am going to visit the Islamic Republic of Iran and we are going to discuss with our brothers the officials there about issuing important and real assurances to the world that all are very keen about the protection of the water passage," Luaibi told reporters in the Oil Ministry.