IRAQI DINAR POLITICS & ECONOMY

Al-Araji: There is a strong understanding between Baghdad and Erbil… and a joint security delegation will visit Tehran soon.

Al-Araji: There is a strong understanding between Baghdad and Erbil… and a joint security delegation will visit Tehran soon.

2026-05-24

Shafaq News – Baghdad
Iraqi National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji stated on Sunday that there is a “great” understanding between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government to resolve outstanding disputes and issues in a way that serves the interests of all Iraqi citizens.

Al-Araji said in joint press statements with the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, Masrour Barzani, in Baghdad, that a high-level joint security delegation from Erbil and Baghdad will visit Read more…

Al-Zaidi faces a difficult task… Iraq has become “more fragile” as a result of the regional conflict.

Al-Zaidi faces a difficult task… Iraq has become “more fragile” as a result of the regional conflict.

2026-05-24 02:55

Shafaq News – Translation
Iraq has shown during the conflict that has shaken the Middle East that it is one of the most sensitive and complex battlefields, according to the American magazine Newsweek, which considered that if a preliminary peace agreement is reached, it will be an opportunity for the government of the new Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi to extend its control, despite the difficulty of this task.

The magazine began by mentioning in a report translated by Shafaq News Agency, the secret Israeli military presence Read more…

A new rapprochement between Baghdad and Erbil: The framework reveals the results of Masrour Barzani’s visit.

A new rapprochement between Baghdad and Erbil: The framework reveals the results of Masrour Barzani’s visit.

2026-05-24

Shafaq News – Baghdad
MP Mukhtar al-Moussawi, a member of the Coordination Framework, affirmed on Sunday that the visit of the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, Masrour Barzani, to the capital Baghdad represents an important step towards strengthening understandings, noting that this visit comes at a sensitive time in which the country is witnessing complex economic, financial and oil issues that require consensual solutions.

Al-Moussawi told Shafaq News Agency that “the meetings that took place during the visit contributed to achieving Read more…

Leaders flee to Iran… Al-Saadi’s statements lead to clues about internal networks in Iraq

Leaders flee to Iran… Al-Saadi’s statements lead to clues about internal networks in Iraq

2026-05-24

Shafaq News – Baghdad
Informed Iraqi sources revealed on Sunday that the investigations with Iraqi Mohammed Baqir al-Saadi, who is linked to the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, which are currently being conducted with him inside the United States, have led to important and dangerous information about internal networks linked to armed factions in Baghdad.

One of the sources told Shafaq News Agency about exciting details regarding Al-Saadi’s arrest and transfer Read more…

Al-Maliki: The course of democracy must be corrected and the vacant ministries in Al-Zidi’s government must be filled.

Al-Maliki: The course of democracy must be corrected and the vacant ministries in Al-Zidi’s government must be filled.

2026-05-24

Shafaq News – Baghdad
On Sunday, Nouri al-Maliki, head of the State of Law Coalition, stressed the need for the Iraqi parliament to decide on granting confidence to the candidates for the vacant ministerial positions in the current federal government headed by Prime Minister Ali al-Zubaidi.

This came in a joint press conference he held with Masrour Barzani, the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, following a meeting between them in Baghdad, where Maliki confirmed Read more…

A member of the Democratic Party speaks about Barzani’s visit to Baghdad

A member of the Democratic Party speaks about Barzani’s visit to Baghdad

5-23-2026

Information / Exclusive…
Wafa Mohammed Karim, a member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), confirmed on Saturday that Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani’s visit to Baghdad is intended to reaffirm the political agreement reached during Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s visit to the region.
Karim stated that “the most prominent issues Barzani will discuss in Baghdad include the oil file and the region’s salaries,” as well as “the customs file and the ASYCUDA system, matters related to the disputed territories, and the implementation of Article 140 of the Constitution.” Read more…

Political blocs are rearranging their strategies… and alternatives for rejected candidates will be considered after the holiday.

Political blocs are rearranging their strategies… and alternatives for rejected candidates will be considered after the holiday.

2026-05-23

Shafaq News – Baghdad
The head of the “Design” coalition, Amer Al-Fayez, confirmed on Saturday that the completion of the ministerial cabinet of Prime Minister Ali Al-Zidi’s government will take place after the Eid holiday, either through an emergency session or after the end of the legislative holiday of the House of Representatives.

Al-Fayez told Shafaq News Agency that the political forces and blocs are holding internal meetings to discuss Read more…

After the Eid holiday, Al-Bayati will decide on the timing for releasing the 2026 budget.

After the Eid holiday, Al-Bayati will decide on the timing for releasing the 2026 budget.

5-23-2026

The Information Agency/Baghdad…
MP Mohammed al-Bayati confirmed on Saturday that the issue of the 2026 budget will be resolved after the Eid al-Adha holiday, indicating that the timing of its submission will become clearer in the coming period.
Al-Bayati told the Information Agency, “The constitutional and legal procedures have determined the mechanism for dealing with the draft budget law, which begins with a vote by the Council of Ministers, then its referral to Read more…

Al-Muslawi: The Iraqi economy will not remain hostage to the decisions of the US Federal Reserve.

Al-Muslawi: The Iraqi economy will not remain hostage to the decisions of the US Federal Reserve.

5-23-2026

Information/Special…
Firas al-Muslawi, spokesperson for the Reconstruction and Development Coalition, affirmed on Saturday that the time has come to end the dollar’s dominance over Iraqi resources, indicating that government plans are geared towards diversifying financial transactions to protect the national economy.
Al-Muslawi told the Information Agency, “American control through the Federal Reserve’s platforms has become a real obstacle to the reconstruction and sustainable development Read more…

The coordination framework sets 3 conditions for deciding on candidates for the security ministries in Al-Zaydi’s government.

The coordination framework sets 3 conditions for deciding on candidates for the security ministries in Al-Zaydi’s government.

5-23-2026

The Information/Baghdad…
On Saturday, Uday Abdul-Hadi, a member of the Coordination Framework, confirmed that three essential criteria must be met by candidates for the security ministries in Ali al-Zaidi’s government.
Speaking to Al-Maalouma, Abdul-Hadi stated that “the various factions within the Coordination Framework agree on the importance of finalizing the remaining ministerial appointments in al-Zaidi’s government after the Eid al-Adha holiday.” He emphasized that “this finalization requires three key criteria Read more…

National Democratic Union: No single party holds a majority, and the regional government will be formed by consensus.

National Democratic Union: No single party holds a majority, and the regional government will be formed by consensus.

5-23-2026

The Information Agency / Baghdad…
Diyar Aqrawi, a member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), confirmed on Saturday that the results of the recent elections in the Kurdistan Region clearly showed that no Kurdish party secured a majority of 50% + 1 seats, necessitating the formation of the next government based on genuine understanding and alliance.
Aqrawi told the Information Agency that “the current political landscape precludes the principle of unilateral decision-making pursued by some parties, most notably Read more…

Expert: Banias pipeline is unusable for resuming Iraqi oil exports

Expert: Banias pipeline is unusable for resuming Iraqi oil exports

5-23-2026

Information / Baghdad…
Oil expert Hamza al-Jawahiri denied on Saturday the existence of any technical obstacles or lengthy timeframes that might delay the reactivation of oil wells and pipelines that were shut down due to the departure of foreign company personnel because of regional security conditions, or as a result of the halt in exports, as some have claimed.
Al-Jawahiri told the Information Agency that “talk of problems hindering a rapid return to production at the closed sites is inaccurate,” noting a limited Read more…

Parliament faces a new crisis: widespread controversy surrounds the vote on the cabinet.

Parliament faces a new crisis: widespread controversy surrounds the vote on the cabinet.

5-23-2026

The political compass in Iraq is pointing towards a new phase of power struggles within the halls of parliament, with clear indications of widening disagreements within the House of Representatives regarding the completion of Prime Minister Ali al-Zubaidi’s cabinet. An analytical reading of the current situation reveals a complex crisis with both technical and political dimensions. The mechanism used to manage voting sessions has become the subject of explicit accusations of unprofessionalism, amidst escalating parliamentary demands to transition to automation and electronic voting Read more…

MP rules out sending the budget and calls for an alternative emergency plan

MP rules out sending the budget and calls for an alternative emergency plan

5-23-2026

Information / Baghdad…
Member of Parliament Ali al-Zirjawi called on Saturday for the enactment of an emergency plan in the form of a law similar to the “Food Security Law,” to be voted on in Parliament as soon as possible. He ruled out the possibility of the government sending the general budget schedules to Parliament in the near future.
Al-Zirjawi told the Information Agency, “The country is going through economic crises that require urgent parliamentary solutions, which Read more…

Is the Zaidi government afraid of being honest?

Is the Zaidi government afraid of being honest?

2026-05-23

Ali Al-Hayani
It is clear that every new government that comes to Iraq seeks from its first days to achieve media successes and to present itself in a different light from previous governments. This behavior is no longer new to Iraqis, who are used to seeing propaganda campaigns and showy movements with every change of government. It seems that some governments realize that part of public opinion is influenced by the image and first impression more than the complex details related to running the state.

But behind this picture lie real challenges that cannot be ignored. Iraq still Read more…

Iraq: 16 months without a budget and warnings of crises

Iraq: 16 months without a budget and warnings of crises

2026-05-23

Shafaq News – Baghdad
Sixteen months have passed without a federal budget being passed in Iraq, amid official warnings and expert concerns about the future of public spending, especially as thousands of projects are stalled and employment mechanisms have been disrupted, in a scene that reflects a financial crisis that goes beyond the accounting dimension to the structure of the economy itself.

The government was legally supposed to send the 2025 budget schedules to the House of Representatives before Read more…

The Iraqi Ministry of Electricity forms a special emergency room to address the challenges of summer 2026.

The Iraqi Ministry of Electricity forms a special emergency room to address the challenges of summer 2026.

2026-05-23

Shafaq News – Baghdad
Electricity Minister Ali Saadi Wahib directed on Saturday the formation of a special central emergency room to address the challenges of the summer of 2026 and the preparations related to the Arbaeen pilgrimage in the city of Karbala, with the aim of ensuring the stability of the electrical system and securing the supply of power to the pilgrims in a continuous and stable manner during the pilgrimage period.

During his meeting with members of the Emergency Committee, the Minister stressed the importance of rapid field Read more…

Iraq is part of a $700 million international cable project linking the Gulf to Europe.

Iraq is part of a $700 million international cable project linking the Gulf to Europe.

2026-05-23

Shafaq News – Baghdad
A report issued by S&P Global Market Intelligence revealed that Iraq will be part of the international cable project “WorldLink”, which aims to create a new digital corridor linking the Gulf region to Europe via Iraqi territory, as part of a global expansion wave in submarine cable and data transmission projects.

The report stated that the project, costing approximately $700 million, is privately funded and involves an Emirati-Iraqi consortium comprising Read more…

Iraq and 26 other countries are requesting emergency funding from the World Bank.

Iraq and 26 other countries are requesting emergency funding from the World Bank.

2026-05-23

Shafaq News – Follow-up
Reuters revealed on Saturday that 27 countries, including Iraq, have begun activating emergency financing mechanisms from the World Bank since the outbreak of the war with Iran, with the aim of confronting the increasing economic repercussions resulting from the disruption of energy markets and global supply chains.

Reuters quoted an internal World Bank document stating that the World Bank’s Crisis Toolkit allows countries to Read more…

Iraq receives its first TIR shipment from Syria and a new crossing via Al-Yarubiyah

Iraq receives its first TIR shipment from Syria and a new crossing via Al-Yarubiyah

2026-05-23

Shafaq News – Baghdad
The Iraqi Ministry of Finance announced on Saturday that the Al-Walid border customs center received the first international land transit shipment under the global (TIR) ​​system, coming from Syria and heading to the State of Kuwait via the Safwan border crossing.

The ministry explained in a statement that the customs staff completed the inspection and verification procedures for seals and documents with high flexibility within the customs yards, in Read more…