IRAQI DINAR POLITICS & ECONOMY

Kuwait: We support any action taken by Saudi Arabia after it was targeted by drones from Iraq.

Kuwait: We support any action taken by Saudi Arabia after it was targeted by drones from Iraq.

2026-05-18

Shafaq News – Kuwait
Kuwait’s Foreign Ministry condemned on Monday the drone attack on Saudi Arabia launched from Iraq, and affirmed its support for any action taken by the Kingdom.

The Ministry said in a statement: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses the State of Kuwait’s strong condemnation and denunciation of the aggression to which the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was subjected by drones coming Read more…

First demonstration in al-Zaydi’s government: 5,000 graduates demonstrate in central Baghdad (Update)

First demonstration in al-Zaydi’s government: 5,000 graduates demonstrate in central Baghdad (Update)

2026-05-18

Shafaq News – Baghdad
Thousands of graduates demonstrated on Monday in the center of Baghdad, the capital, to demand employment.

A source told Shafaq News Agency that the protesters were old graduates who demanded to be included in the appointments within the current year’s budget.

A video showed the large number of protesters in the Alawi area in central Baghdad. Read more…

The Integrity Commission announces new instructions for handling reports of corruption and illicit enrichment.

The Integrity Commission announces new instructions for handling reports of corruption and illicit enrichment.

2026-05-18

Shafaq News – Baghdad
On Monday, the Federal Integrity Commission noted the publication in the Iraqi Gazette of “Instructions for the Mechanism of Receiving Information and Reports on Corruption and Illicit Gains Cases and How to Deal with Them,” stressing that the instructions aim to regulate the procedures for receiving information and reports related to suspicions of corruption and to strengthen Read more…

“Observations that were not raised”: The State of Law coalition criticizes the al-Zaydi government’s program and demands the cancellation of al-Sudani’s decisions.

“Observations that were not raised”: The State of Law coalition criticizes the al-Zaydi government’s program and demands the cancellation of al-Sudani’s decisions.

2026-05-18

Shafaq News – Baghdad
On Monday, a member of the State of Law bloc expressed reservations about the ministerial program of Ali al-Zidi’s government, noting that these reservations were not presented during the confidence vote session held last Thursday.

MP Ibtisam Al-Hilali told Shafaq News Agency that the bloc has some reservations about the ministerial program of Ali Al-Zidi’s government, noting that these reservations Read more…

Exclusive: Washington ends controversy over reasons for Petraeus’s visit to Iraq

Exclusive: Washington ends controversy over reasons for Petraeus’s visit to Iraq

2026-05-18

Shafaq News – Washington/ Mustafa Hashim
The US State Department clarified on Monday that David Petraeus does not hold any official position within the US mission in Iraq, commenting on the controversy surrounding his visit to Baghdad after talk of him being assigned special tasks or as an envoy of US President Donald Trump.

A ministry spokesman told Shafaq News Agency that “David Petraeus is Read more…

Another withdrawal from the Sudanese coalition

Another withdrawal from the Sudanese coalition

2026-05-18

Shafaq News – Baghdad
On Monday, MP Ali Anhir Al-Sarai announced his withdrawal from the “Reconstruction and Development” bloc led by former Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, confirming that he will continue to work as an independent MP within the House of Representatives.

Al-Sarai said in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency, “Based on Read more…

200 billion dinars for the ministry… Al-Halbousi opens the auction for senior positions in Al-Zaidi’s government

200 billion dinars for the ministry… Al-Halbousi opens the auction for senior positions in Al-Zaidi’s government

5-17-2026

Al-Maalomah/Anbar…
A responsible source in Anbar province revealed on Sunday that Mohammed al-Halbousi, head of the Progress Alliance, has opened an auction for senior positions in the new government following the vote to appoint Ali al-Zaidi as Prime Minister.
The source told Al-Maalomah News Agency that “the Progress Alliance offices in the Sunni-majority provinces have become a marketplace for selling senior Read more…

Al-Dhari reveals that a new batch of US troops is about to arrive in Baghdad by air.

Al-Dhari reveals that a new batch of US troops is about to arrive in Baghdad by air.

5-17-2026

Al-Maalomah/Sulaimaniyah…
Member of the United Anbar Alliance, Mohammed al-Dhari, revealed today, Sunday, that the first batch of US troops will soon arrive in Baghdad by air as part of a plan to redeploy them in the capital.
Al-Dhari told Al-Maalomah News Agency, “The Green Zone in Baghdad will witness the arrival of the first batch of US forces in the coming days to resume their duties, just days after Ali al-Zaidi assumed the premiership. Further details regarding the redeployment of these forces, Read more…

The party takes note of the confidence vote session and threatens to appeal.

The party takes note of the confidence vote session and threatens to appeal.

5-17-2026

Information / Exclusive…
Wafa Muhammad Karim, a member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), confirmed on Thursday that the party will appeal the parliamentary session that granted confidence to Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s government, emphasizing that several issues were raised regarding the session’s proceedings. Read more…

Maliki’s coalition sets two conditions for the continuation of al-Zidi’s government for four years

Maliki’s coalition sets two conditions for the continuation of al-Zidi’s government for four years

5-17-2026

Information/Baghdad…
Salah Boushi, a member of the State of Law Coalition, affirmed on Sunday that the continuation of Ali al-Zaidi’s government for a full term depends on the extent to which its ministerial program is implemented.

Boushi told the Information Agency, “The survival of al-Zaidi’s government and its continuation for four years depends primarily on two levels: first, Read more…

A member of the Reconstruction and Development bloc: New withdrawals will shake the bloc due to unilateral decision-making.

A member of the Reconstruction and Development bloc: New withdrawals will shake the bloc due to unilateral decision-making.

5-17-2026

Information / Baghdad…
Ali al-Fatlawi, a leader in the Reconstruction and Development Coalition, revealed the depth of the political crisis and the rift plaguing the bloc, emphasizing that the defection of prominent figures like the head of the Popular Mobilization Forces, Faleh al-Fayyad, and the bloc’s deputy head, Ahmed al-Asadi, will not be the last. He asserted that further withdrawals and defections will follow, shaking the alliance Read more…

MP: Continued manual voting exacerbates accusations between political blocs

MP: Continued manual voting exacerbates accusations between political blocs

5-17-2026

Information/Baghdad…
Former MP Hussein Ali Mardan called on the Parliament and the leaders of the political blocs on Sunday to make the voting process in the upcoming session exclusively electronic, stressing that this measure is the only way to end doubts and ensure the transparency of future decisions.

Mardan told the Information Agency, “Adopting an electronic voting mechanism removes doubts and accusations against the Parliament’s Read more…

The State of Law coalition threatens to go into opposition if its candidates continue to be obstructed.

The State of Law coalition threatens to go into opposition if its candidates continue to be obstructed.

5-17-2026

Information/Baghdad…
Member of the State of Law Coalition, Alaa al-Yasiri, revealed on Sunday that the coalition has two options regarding participation in the new government, due to attempts to obstruct the nomination of its ministers.
Al-Yasiri told the Information Agency, “The State of Law has only two options at this stage. The first is government representation and proceeding with Read more…

State of Law: Qasim Atta is our sole candidate for the Ministry of Interior, and there are no changes so far.

State of Law: Qasim Atta is our sole candidate for the Ministry of Interior, and there are no changes so far.

5-17-2026

Information/Special…
A leader in the State of Law Coalition, Arif al-Hamami, settled the controversy on Sunday regarding the coalition’s nominee for the Ministry of Interior.
Al-Hamami told Al-Maalouma, “The State of Law Coalition remains clear in its nominee for the Ministry of Interior, which is Major General Qasim Atta, and there has been no Read more…

Al-Muslawi: The US Federal Reserve is restricting the Iraqi financial system and holding oil revenues hostage.

Al-Muslawi: The US Federal Reserve is restricting the Iraqi financial system and holding oil revenues hostage.

5-17-2026

The spokesperson for the Reconstruction and Development Coalition, Firas al-Muslawi, criticized on Sunday the complete dependence of Iraq’s financial system on the policies of the US Federal Reserve, asserting that Iraqi oil revenues go directly to Washington and are subject to its restrictions, thus depriving Baghdad of its financial independence. Al-Muslawi told the Information Agency that “Iraq’s financial and economic system is entirely Read more…

The International Monetary Fund comments on reports that Iraq has requested financial assistance due to the energy crisis.

The International Monetary Fund comments on reports that Iraq has requested financial assistance due to the energy crisis.

2026-05-17

Shafaq News – Follow-up
The International Monetary Fund said it continues to discuss the possibility of providing financial support to countries affected by rising energy and commodity prices due to the war in the Middle East, without confirming reports that Iraq had requested financial assistance.

Reuters quoted the IMF spokeswoman, Julie Kozak, as saying during a press Read more…

Iraqi oil exports to America rose to 100,000 barrels last week

Iraqi oil exports to America rose to 100,000 barrels last week

2026-05-17

Shafaq News – Baghdad / Washington
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) announced on Sunday that Iraq ranked sixth among the largest suppliers of crude oil to the United States last week.

Data seen by Shafaq News Agency showed that Iraqi oil exports to the United States rose last week Read more…

Iraq between the “elite” deadlock and the “state’s” erosion: A reading of the post-April 2026 landscape

Iraq between the “elite” deadlock and the “state’s” erosion: A reading of the post-April 2026 landscape

2026-05-17 01:09

Dr. Gutiar Tamr
The question in Iraq is no longer: Who forms the government? Rather, it is: Is the state still capable of producing a government with genuine decision-making power? Since the November 2025 elections, the political deadlock has transcended mere procedural obstacles in the distribution of ministerial portfolios, reflecting a profound structural crisis within the very model of governance. Events have revealed that “consociational democracy,” initially Read more…

The new electricity minister pledges to find solutions to end the energy crisis in Iraq.

The new electricity minister pledges to find solutions to end the energy crisis in Iraq.

2026-05-17

Shafaq News – Baghdad
The new Minister of Electricity, Ali Saadi Wahib, pledged on Sunday to work on finding effective solutions to the chronic energy supply crisis that has plagued most regions and cities of Iraq for a long time.

This came in a speech he delivered while officially assuming his duties within Read more…

Exclusive.. Al-Eidani: Iranian gas is disrupting the electricity system in Basra

Exclusive.. Al-Eidani: Iranian gas is disrupting the electricity system in Basra

2026-05-17

Shafaq News – Basra
Basra Governor Asaad Al-Eidani confirmed on Sunday that the province is facing challenges related to the decline in electricity production, coinciding with the approach of the summer season and rising temperatures, noting that the decrease in local and imported gas supplies has directly affected the operation of power generation stations in Read more…