IRAQI DINAR POLITICS & ECONOMY

Al-Karawi: Question marks surround the government’s failure to export oil through the Strait of Hormuz.

Al-Karawi: Question marks surround the government’s failure to export oil through the Strait of Hormuz.

3-20-2026

Information/Baghdad…
The head of the organizing body for the popular movement for the Belt and Road, Hussein Al-Karawi, questioned the reasons why the government has not exported Iraqi oil through the Strait of Hormuz.

Al-Karawi told Al-Maalouma, “There are question marks surrounding the Iraqi government’s refusal to export oil through the Strait of Hormuz, despite the Islamic Republic of Iran allowing the passage of ships and tankers carrying Iraqi oil, except for tankers Read more…

A politician stated that the ongoing war necessitates expediting the selection of the president and the formation of the government.

A politician stated that the ongoing war necessitates expediting the selection of the president and the formation of the government.

3-20-2026

Information/Baghdad…
Political analyst Qasim al-Tamimi believes that the ongoing war in the region necessitates expediting the selection of the president of the republic, and proceeding with the appointment of the prime minister and the formation of the new Read more…

Abdul Hadi: There are no Kurdish indications of a decision regarding the presidency.

Abdul Hadi: There are no Kurdish indications of a decision regarding the presidency.

3-20-2026

Information / Baghdad..
On Friday, Coordination Framework member Uday Abdul Hadi confirmed that there were no positive signals from the Kurdish forces regarding the resolution of the presidential post, noting that the constitutional timeframe Read more…

NATO withdraws its mission from Iraq due to the security situation.

NATO withdraws its mission from Iraq due to the security situation.

2026-03-20 06:39

Shafaq News – Baghdad
Agence France-Presse reported on Friday that NATO had temporarily withdrawn its mission from Iraq as the war in the Middle East continued, citing security officials in the Iraqi Joint Operations Command.

A command official said that “the NATO mission has left Union III base except for Read more…

Kurdistan’s oil exports to Türkiye stabilize at 250,000 barrels per day

Kurdistan’s oil exports to Türkiye stabilize at 250,000 barrels per day

2026-03-20 04:11

Shafaq News – Kirkuk
Sources at the North Oil Company reported on Friday that exports from the Kurdistan Region via the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline have stabilized at 250,000 barrels per day, with pumping operations resuming after a period of suspension .

Sources within the company told Shafaq News Agency that “export operations are Read more…

State of law: Government formation “postponed” until the end of the Zionist-American aggression

State of law: Government formation “postponed” until the end of the Zionist-American aggression

3-19-2026

Information / Baghdad…
Jassim Mohammed Jaafar, a leader in the State of Law Coalition, confirmed that the current regional circumstances, represented by the American-Zionist aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran and the targeting of the Popular Mobilization Forces, necessitate a delay in the formation of the new government. Read more…

Following a strongly worded warning from Washington, Iraqi pressure led to the suspension of attacks on the US embassy.

Following a strongly worded warning from Washington, Iraqi pressure led to the suspension of attacks on the US embassy.

2026-03-19 03:59

Shafaq News/Baghdad
Informed Iraqi sources revealed on Thursday that the decision by armed factions to stop targeting the US embassy in Baghdad came as a result of intense political, governmental and judicial pressure, as well as strongly worded warning messages Read more…

Al-Saadi: Al-Maliki is still the framework candidate to form the government, and the American veto will not affect him.

Al-Saadi: Al-Maliki is still the framework candidate to form the government, and the American veto will not affect him.

3-18-2026

Information / Baghdad..
Former MP Baqir al-Saadi confirmed on Wednesday that Nouri al-Maliki is still the candidate of the coordination framework for forming the government, while he indicated that the American veto will not affect the decision Read more…

MP: Voting on Nizar Amidi next week and forming a government is necessary to face the challenges

MP: Voting on Nizar Amidi next week and forming a government is necessary to face the challenges

3-18-2026

Information / Baghdad..
MP Mansour Hussein revealed on Wednesday that there is a move to hold a parliamentary session next week to vote on the presidential candidate Nizar Amidi, calling for speeding up the completion of constitutional requirements and the formation of the government.

Hussein told Al-Maalomah News Agency that “resolving the presidential issue is Read more…

MP: No agreement within the coordination framework on a prime ministerial candidate

MP: No agreement within the coordination framework on a prime ministerial candidate

3-18-2026

The Information Agency / Baghdad…
MP Duha al-Sadkhan confirmed on Wednesday that the Coordination Framework forces have not yet reached a final agreement on a prime ministerial candidate, noting that consultations among political leaders are ongoing.
Al-Sadkhan told the Information Agency that “discussions within the framework are Read more…

Iraqi electricity company announces a complete halt to Iranian gas supplies

Iraqi electricity company announces a complete halt to Iranian gas supplies

2026-03-18 06:53

Shafaq News – Baghdad
The Iraqi Ministry of Electricity announced on Wednesday that Iranian gas supplies had completely stopped, resulting in a loss of more than 3,000 megawatts of production capacity, following the targeting of the “largest and most important” gas Read more…

Oil price decline threatens Iraq’s credit rating

Oil price decline threatens Iraq’s credit rating

2026-03-18 01:05

Shafaq News – Baghdad
Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings placed Iraq’s sovereign credit rating at “B-” on negative watch, warning of a possible downgrade due to the repercussions of regional tensions and declining oil production.

The agency stated, according to a report published Read more…

Sadiqun holds the coordination framework responsible for the delay in forming the government: The Sudanese are the most likely to succeed.

Sadiqun holds the coordination framework responsible for the delay in forming the government: The Sudanese are the most likely to succeed.

2026-03-18 03:24

Shafaq News – Baghdad
On Wednesday, MP Mohammed Al-Baldawi, from the Sadiqun parliamentary bloc, held the coordination framework responsible for the delay in forming the new government, while indicating that outgoing Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani is currently the most likely candidate.

Al-Baldawi told Shafaq News Agency that “linking the formation of the new Iraqi Read more…

The Ceyhan oil pipeline is revived… Baghdad and Erbil overcome the “oil impasse” with a political settlement under the pressure of crises.

The Ceyhan oil pipeline is revived… Baghdad and Erbil overcome the “oil impasse” with a political settlement under the pressure of crises.

2026-03-18 05:03

Shafaq News – Kirkuk
The recent agreement between Baghdad and Erbil to resume oil exports through the Ceyhan port constitutes a political settlement imposed by complex internal and regional circumstances, and does not represent a final solution to the outstanding disputes and issues between the two sides.

In this regard, Kirkuk Provincial Council member Ahmed Fateh Mustafa stressed Read more…

Statistics show that Iraq’s oil exports to America exceeded 90 million barrels in 2025.

Statistics show that Iraq’s oil exports to America exceeded 90 million barrels in 2025.

2026-03-18 05:16

Shafaq News – Follow-up
US data showed that Iraq’s exports of crude oil and petroleum products to the United States exceeded 90 million barrels during the past year, 2025, with a notable annual decline.

Shafaq News Agency followed up on tables and charts published by the US Energy Read more…

Ministry of Oil: Resumption of pumping and exporting Kirkuk oil via the Ceyhan port at a capacity of (250) thousand barrels

Ministry of Oil: Resumption of pumping and exporting Kirkuk oil via the Ceyhan port at a capacity of (250) thousand barrels

2026-03-18

The Ministry of Oil announced on Wednesday the resumption of pumping and exporting Kirkuk oil through the Ceyhan port at a rate of (250) thousand barrels. The ministry stated in a statement that “in implementation of the directives of the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister Read more…

The Iraqi presidency stresses the need to find a solution for oil exports and calls on the governments of Baghdad and Erbil to cooperate.

The Iraqi presidency stresses the need to find a solution for oil exports and calls on the governments of Baghdad and Erbil to cooperate.

2026-03-17 09:43

Shafaq News – Baghdad
The Iraqi Presidency called on the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government on Tuesday evening to find an alternative route to the Strait of Hormuz for oil exports, stressing the importance of cooperation and joint action between Baghdad and Erbil to resolve all outstanding disputes Read more…

MP: The Strait of Hormuz is Iraq’s only lifeline, and halting exports would be an economic “catastrophe”.

MP: The Strait of Hormuz is Iraq’s only lifeline, and halting exports would be an economic “catastrophe”.

3-17-2026

Information / Baghdad…
MP Duha al-Bahadli warned on Tuesday of the dangers of Iraq’s complete reliance on a single sea outlet for its oil exports, stressing that any conflict in the region would make the Iraqi economy the most affected due to the disruption of trade Read more…

New rocket attacks target the US embassy in Baghdad

New rocket attacks target the US embassy in Baghdad

2026-03-17

Shafaq News – Baghdad
A security source reported early Tuesday that new rocket attacks targeted the US embassy in Baghdad, and that air defense systems were activated to counter the attack inside the Green Zone.

The source told Shafaq News Agency that sirens and the sound of interceptions were Read more…

Iraqi oil exports have fallen by 70% due to the war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iraqi oil exports have fallen by 70% due to the war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

2026-03-17 02:05

Shafaq News – Baghdad
Iraqi oil exports saw a significant decline during the past week, amid escalating regional tensions, the ongoing US-Iranian war, and the near-total closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has broadly affected oil flows from the Middle East region.

According to data from Kpler, Iraq’s average exports of crude oil, condensates and Read more…