diff --git a/include/cowl_iterator.h b/include/cowl_iterator.h
index 17d4aa6..db215ec 100644
--- a/include/cowl_iterator.h
+++ b/include/cowl_iterator.h
@@ -128,6 +128,22 @@ CowlIterator cowl_iterator_count(ulib_uint *count);
 COWL_API
 CowlIterator cowl_iterator_contains(CowlAny *object);
 
+/**
+ * Initializes an iterator that retains all objects it iterates on.
+ *
+ * @return Initialized iterator.
+ */
+COWL_API
+CowlIterator cowl_iterator_retain(void);
+
+/**
+ * Initializes an iterator that releases all objects it iterates on.
+ *
+ * @return Initialized iterator.
+ */
+COWL_API
+CowlIterator cowl_iterator_release(void);
+
 /// @}
 
 COWL_END_DECLS
diff --git a/src/cowl_iterator.c b/src/cowl_iterator.c
index 237a15c..ca0d3a9 100644
--- a/src/cowl_iterator.c
+++ b/src/cowl_iterator.c
@@ -45,6 +45,16 @@ static bool for_each_contains_primitive(void *ctx, CowlAny *obj) {
     return obj != ctx;
 }
 
+static bool for_each_retain(cowl_unused void *ctx, CowlAny *obj) {
+    cowl_retain(obj);
+    return true;
+}
+
+static bool for_each_release(cowl_unused void *ctx, CowlAny *obj) {
+    cowl_release(obj);
+    return true;
+}
+
 CowlIterator cowl_iterator_vec(UVec(CowlObjectPtr) *vec, bool retain) {
     return (CowlIterator){
         .ctx = vec,
@@ -69,3 +79,11 @@ CowlIterator cowl_iterator_contains(CowlAny *object) {
         .for_each = cowl_is_primitive(object) ? for_each_contains_primitive : for_each_contains,
     };
 }
+
+CowlIterator cowl_iterator_retain(void) {
+    return (CowlIterator){ .for_each = for_each_retain };
+}
+
+CowlIterator cowl_iterator_release(void) {
+    return (CowlIterator){ .for_each = for_each_release };
+}