The tender, a copy of which has been obtained by Reuters, specified delivery from the US Gulf to Iraq's main port of Umm Qasr in December using five non-US 50,000 tonne vessels.
Star Trading & Marine, which operates out of Washington, is acting as agents receiving the offers on behalf of the Iraqi Trade Ministry. The company is owned by Pakistani-American businessman Saeed Sheikh.
The 250,000 tonnes represents the first lot of an 800,000 tonnes deal between Iraq and Dreyfus finalised a few weeks ago and notified to the US government.