IRAQI DINAR POLITICS & ECONOMY

Officially, Trump announces the appointment of Tom Barrack as special envoy to Iraq.

Officially, Trump announces the appointment of Tom Barrack as special envoy to Iraq.

2026-05-31

Shafaq News – Washington
On Sunday, US President Donald Trump announced the appointment of Washington’s ambassador to Ankara, Tom Barrack, as a special presidential envoy to Iraq and Syria.

Trump said in a post on Truth Social that Tom Barrack will continue in his role as ambassador Read more…

Raed al-Maliki warns against mortgaging Iraqi decision-making financially through a proposed sovereign wealth fund financed by the Gulf states.

Raed al-Maliki warns against mortgaging Iraqi decision-making financially through a proposed sovereign wealth fund financed by the Gulf states.

5-31-2026

The former MP, Raed al-Maliki, warned on Sunday of the repercussions of the government’s efforts to establish an Iraqi sovereign wealth fund, potentially financed by some Gulf states. He considered this move a reflection of the magnitude of the financial crisis facing Iraq and one that could restrict its sovereign decision-making.
Al-Maliki stated in a post followed by the Al-Maalomah News Agency that “the Prime Minister, according to some media outlets, informed them in his recent meeting of a request or efforts he made with some Gulf states to persuade them to invest $50 billion in an Iraqi sovereign wealth fund. We do not know if this is the same as the Generations Fund mentioned in the government program or a sovereign wealth fund with a different name.”
He added that talk of establishing a sovereign wealth fund raises many Read more…

Al-Zaydi to Harris: Let’s work together according to the Strategic Framework Agreement

Al-Zaydi to Harris: Let’s work together according to the Strategic Framework Agreement

2026-05-31

Shafaq News – Baghdad
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi urged US Chargé d’Affaires Joshua Harris on Sunday to maintain joint work in accordance with the Strategic Framework Agreement signed between the two countries.

This came during al-Zaidi’s reception of Harris in Baghdad, according to a statement issued by the Iraqi Prime Minister’s Media Office and received by Shafaq News Agency.

The two sides discussed prospects for cooperation between the two countries, and ways to develop and expand Read more…

Democratic Party: Positive indicators for the imminent passage of the oil and gas law.

Democratic Party: Positive indicators for the imminent passage of the oil and gas law.

5-31-2026

Information/Baghdad…
Wafa Muhammad Karim, a member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, confirmed that there is a practical initiative to legislate the oil and gas law, noting that the oil revenues from oil exported from the region reach Baghdad and enter the state treasury.

Karim told Al-Maalomah, “There is a practical initiative to move forward with the oil and gas law, as previous sessions witnessed problems between Baghdad and Erbil, especially since Read more…

Al-Tamimi: Washington continues to interfere to influence Iraqi political decisions.

Al-Tamimi: Washington continues to interfere to influence Iraqi political decisions.

5-31-2026

Information/Baghdad…
Political analyst Qasim al-Tamimi believes that the American administration is trying, through sending its envoys to Iraq, to ​​control internal political decisions and make Iraq more like the policies of the Gulf states in dealing with Washington.

Al-Tamimi told Al-Maalouma, “The American side sent military commander David Petraeus to Iraq before the formation of the new government, and sending him at this particular time raises many questions and Read more…

MP: Failure to open “black files” will perpetuate the bleeding of money in Iraq.

MP: Failure to open “black files” will perpetuate the bleeding of money in Iraq.

5-31-2026

The former MP, Fawzi Akram, asserted on Monday that the failure to address what are known as the “black files” will perpetuate the hemorrhage of funds in Iraq indefinitely.
Speaking to Al-Maalomah, Akram stated, “Iraq suffers from the phenomenon of financial and administrative corruption, which is eroding official institutions and causing the squandering of enormous sums of money.” He pointed out that “the ‘Theft of the Century’ and other cases are among the most prominent Read more…

Coordination framework: The Sudanese turned the position into a gateway for personal gain

Coordination framework: The Sudanese turned the position into a gateway for personal gain

5-31-2026

Information/Baghdad…
Zuhair al-Jalabi, a member of the Coordination Framework, accused former Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on Sunday of exploiting his position for personal gain, taking advantage of certain laws during the previous parliamentary elections and the government formation process.
Al-Jalabi told Information that “the former prime minister exploited his position to achieve personal gains, and a number of laws were also exploited to serve private interests, especially during the previous parliamentary Read more…

Parliamentary warning against postponing vacant ministerial positions to the second legislative session.

Parliamentary warning against postponing vacant ministerial positions to the second legislative session.

5-31-2026

The Information Agency / Baghdad…
Member of Parliament, Ahmed al-Shammari, called on the Parliament’s leadership on Sunday to schedule an urgent session to vote on the remaining vacant ministerial posts, warning against postponing the matter to the next legislative session. Al-Shammari told the Information Agency, “Parliament extended its first legislative session and is nearing its end this week,” stressing “the necessity of finalizing the vote and completing the cabinet before Read more…

The uncertainty surrounding the external situation is impacting Iraq’s budget and pushing the government towards resorting to borrowing.

The uncertainty surrounding the external situation is impacting Iraq’s budget and pushing the government towards resorting to borrowing.

5-31-2026

Information/Baghdad…
A state of confusion prevails in the Iraqi domestic scene, particularly in the financial sector, for a country that relies primarily on oil revenues as its main source of budget funding. External tensions instigated by the US and Israel have cast a shadow over the situation in Iraq, following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the decline in oil exports. This has forced the Iraqi government to resort to difficult options for financing the budget, most notably domestic borrowing, and it may also consider borrowing from the World Bank or Read more…

Parliamentary committee: Ankara threatened to renegotiate Iraqi oil exports via Ceyhan

Parliamentary committee: Ankara threatened to renegotiate Iraqi oil exports via Ceyhan

5-31-2026

The former deputy head of the parliamentary Oil and Gas Committee, Adnan al-Jabri, confirmed on Sunday that the Turkish side has taken steps to cancel the agreement signed with Iraq regarding oil exports through the Ceyhan port. He called on the government to expedite negotiations and reach a new agreement that safeguards the interests of both countries. Al-Jabri told Al-Maalomah News Agency, “Turkey has informed Iraq of its desire to cancel the agreement concerning oil exports through the Ceyhan port, and the current agreement is nearing its expiration after the legal notification period has passed.” Read more…

Al-Zaydi receives a message from the US: No positions for factions even after disarmament

Al-Zaydi receives a message from the US: No positions for factions even after disarmament

2026-05-31

Shafaq News – Baghdad
An informed political source revealed on Sunday that Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi received a message from the American side during the past two days, which included Washington’s categorical rejection of the participation of any armed faction in the new Iraqi government, even if those factions announced that they would give up their weapons or leave military action.

The source told Shafaq News Agency that “the American message stressed that assigning any ministerial portfolio Read more…

America did not import oil from Iraq for a week.

America did not import oil from Iraq for a week.

2026-05-31

Shafaq News – Baghdad / Washington
Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed that the United States did not import any crude oil from Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Libya during the week ending, after recording varying imports from these countries in previous weeks.

According to data seen by Shafaq News Agency, US imports of Iraqi crude oil reached zero during the week in question, after recording 67,000 barrels per day in the previous week. Washington Read more…

Aqaba port receives a ship carrying more than 40,000 tons of American rice for Iraq

Aqaba port receives a ship carrying more than 40,000 tons of American rice for Iraq

2026-05-31

Shafaq News – Baghdad / Amman
The General Company for Foodstuff Trading, affiliated with the Iraqi Ministry of Trade, announced on Sunday the arrival of the ship (EQUINOX DREAM) loaded with 44,000 tons of American rice for the benefit of Iraq to the Jordanian port of Aqaba, despite the current circumstances and the difficulty of maritime navigation as a result of the security situation and the challenges that the region is witnessing.

The company’s director, Lama Hashim Al-Mousawi, confirmed in a statement that the preparation of food basket Read more…

The decision to disband them has reached Washington… There is a strong possibility that “Saraya al-Salam” will be merged with the Federal Police.

The decision to disband them has reached Washington… There is a strong possibility that “Saraya al-Salam” will be merged with the Federal Police.

2026-05-31

Shafaq News – Baghdad
A political analyst close to the Shiite nationalist movement suggested on Sunday that the “Peace Brigades” elements would be integrated with the Federal Police and withdrawn from the Popular Mobilization Forces, due to the movement leader Muqtada al-Sadr’s remarks about the organization. While he indicated that the decision to separate the brigades had been communicated to the United States, he pointed out that the creation of a new armed formation was linked to “the country’s circumstances.”

Political analyst Rafed Al-Atwani told Shafaq News Agency, “Al-Sadr’s decision came as a result of Read more…

Parliamentarian: Al-Zaydi’s formation of the Supreme Council for Integrity in Iraq has no legal basis.

Parliamentarian: Al-Zaydi’s formation of the Supreme Council for Integrity in Iraq has no legal basis.

2026-05-31

Shafaq News – Baghdad
On Sunday, MP Mohammed Jassim Al-Khafaji stated that Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi’s directive to form the Supreme Council for Integrity “has no legal basis”.

In a post on social media, MP Al-Khafaji attributed the illegality of this formation to several reasons, including that the Federal Integrity Commission and the Financial Control Bureau are two bodies that are subject to and linked to the Iraqi Parliament under Articles (102) and (103) of the Constitution. He stressed that these independent bodies aim in their work to monitor Read more…

Qubad Talabani: Our crisis is not about dividing up positions, but about implementing the principles of partnership in Kurdistan.

Qubad Talabani: Our crisis is not about dividing up positions, but about implementing the principles of partnership in Kurdistan.

2026-05-31

Shafaq News – Raparin
On Sunday, Qubad Talabani, a leader in the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), reiterated his party’s position supporting the swift formation of the new Kurdistan Regional Government, emphasizing support for any initiative or decision that would bring the region out of the political deadlock.

This came in a statement he made to journalists on the sidelines of his visit to the administration of the independent “Raparin” region, in which he was asked about the possibility of holding a Read more…

Prime Minister’s Office in Iraq

Prime Minister’s Office in Iraq

2026-05-31 04:56

Duaa Hazzaa Al-Jabri
The Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office: Changing faces, but a closed system perpetuating corruption.
Since the collapse of the Iraqi state structure in 2003, public positions have no longer been merely places to serve the people or temporary national responsibilities, but have gradually turned into open political spoils, the value of which is measured by the privileges, salaries, protections, contracts and influence they generate. Thus a new political class has emerged, which often does not fight over principles or programs as much as it fights over sources of Read more…

Why might this government be the most important turning point in the history of the Iraqi economy?

Why might this government be the most important turning point in the history of the Iraqi economy?

5-31-2026

Researcher Shatha Khalil*
The speech of Iraq’s new Prime Minister, Ali al-Zaidi, was not merely an announcement of a new government program; it was laden with economic and political messages reflecting the magnitude of the challenges facing the Iraqi state at this pivotal moment in its history. When the government speaks of comprehensive economic reform, combating corruption, stimulating investment, and supporting the private sector, it implicitly acknowledges that Iraq is not facing a passing financial crisis, but rather a structural Read more…

Al-Zidi directs the formation of the Supreme Sovereign Council for Integrity and Oversight

Al-Zidi directs the formation of the Supreme Sovereign Council for Integrity and Oversight

2026-05-30

Shafaq News – Baghdad
On Saturday, Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi directed the formation of the Supreme Sovereign Council for Integrity, Oversight and Recovery of Public Funds.

A statement from the Prime Minister’s Media Office, received by Shafaq News Agency, indicated that Al-Zaydi chaired a special meeting regarding procedures for auditing government contracts, in the presence of the head of the Federal Board of Financial Control, the head of the Federal Integrity Commission, the head of the Public Prosecution, and the judge Read more…

Al-Jubouri: What happened in the session to grant confidence to Al-Zidi’s government was a conspiracy, and Al-Halbousi violated the law.

Al-Jubouri: What happened in the session to grant confidence to Al-Zidi’s government was a conspiracy, and Al-Halbousi violated the law.

5-30-2026

Information/Baghdad..
MP Iyad al-Jubouri, from the Azm Alliance, accused unnamed parties on Saturday of being behind what he described as a “conspiracy” to thwart the passage of a number of ministers during the vote on Ali al-Zidi’s government, stressing that the session’s management witnessed legal violations.

Al-Jubouri told Al-Maalomah News Agency, “What happened during the session to grant confidence to Ali Al-Zidi’s government was a conspiracy aimed at obstructing the passage of some ministers,” indicating that Read more…