A message to the president: Between authorizing weapons and the pressures of a power vacuum
2026-06-06 01:05
Sirwan Saad
Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, You assumed responsibility at a pivotal moment, and as the youngest prime minister in modern Iraqi history, the hopes placed upon you extend far beyond the traditional frameworks of crisis management. The true challenge facing your project today lies not in securing parliamentary confidence, but in the ability to translate this temporary political support into lasting institutional stability.
Dependency and Interdependencies: A Reading of the Balance of Power Map
We have seen many readings and news reports that have shown that your arrival was not a coincidence, but rather the result of the intersection of international and regional Read more…
Qatar: Has the US operations center at Al Udeid Air Base gone out of service?
2026-06-06
Shafaq News – Follow-up
A military magazine revealed that the US air operations center at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar was put out of service as a result of Iranian strikes in the first weeks of the war.
Air & Space Forces Magazine quoted a senior U.S. official and sources familiar with the attack as saying that the center, which has run U.S. air campaigns in the Middle East for more than two decades, was hit directly by several Iranian missiles.
The report indicated that the US military, anticipating that Al Udeid Air Base would be targeted, had been Read more…
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A parliamentarian sets a date for the completion of al-Zidi’s government and reveals an agreement regarding Kurdistan salaries.
2026-06-06
Shafaq News – Sulaymaniyah
On Saturday, Harim Kamal Agha, a member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan in the Iraqi Parliament, confirmed that the completion of the government cabinet headed by Ali al-Zaidi will take place after the end of the parliamentary legislative recess. He also indicated that an agreement had been reached regarding the salaries of employees in the Kurdistan Region, calling for adherence to it until the 2027 budget is approved.
Kamal Agha said during a press conference attended by Shafaq News Agency that “the Iraqi Parliament has currently Read more…
Iraqi President: Efforts are ongoing to reach an understanding on disarming other factions
2026-06-06
Shafaq News – Sulaymaniyah
On Saturday, President Nizar Amidi praised the initiative of some Iraqi factions to hand over their weapons to the state and to cooperate in ensuring that this matter is exclusively in the hands of the relevant authorities, stressing the need to consolidate security and stability in the country.
Amidi said in a speech during the “Delphi” economic forum in Sulaimaniyah that efforts are continuing to reach an understanding on disarmament in a way that enhances the security and Read more…
International Monetary Fund: Iraq among the countries most vulnerable to financial pressures with rising debt in 2026
2026-06-06
Shafaq News – Baghdad
A report issued by the International Monetary Fund showed that Iraq faces increasing financial pressures during 2026, due to the rising cost of government energy subsidies, increasing public debt, and rising borrowing costs in international markets.
According to the report, which was reviewed by Shafaq News Agency, Iraq is estimated to be among the countries with high levels of energy subsidies, with the cost of subsidies reaching Read more…
Tehran accuses the IAEA of politicizing its reports.
2026-06-06
Shafaq News – Tehran
Tehran on Saturday accused the UN agency of politicizing its reports, after the International Atomic Energy Agency warned that it would be impossible to visit Iranian facilities to verify nuclear materials.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi told Iranian media, as reported by Reuters, that the agency should avoid turning technical reports into “tools of political pressure” if it wants to contribute to reaching a diplomatic solution.
He added that the agency’s inability to monitor some facilities resulted from Read more…
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Iraq denies stopping a tanker near Hormuz over Iranian transit fees
2026-06-06
Shafaq News – Baghdad
The Iraqi Oil Ministry on Saturday denied reports that a tanker loaded with Iraqi crude oil had been stopped near the Strait of Hormuz by US forces, allegedly for paying money to Iran in exchange for allowing it to pass.
The ministry said in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency that this information is false, stressing that there is no incident of this kind related to Iraqi oil exports.
She added that the Iraqi Oil Marketing Company “SOMO”, along with the Ministry, Read more…
Pavel Talabani: Regional tensions have harmed Iraq… and we do not want a government in the region similar to the current one.
2026-06-06
Shafaq News – Sulaymaniyah
The head of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Bafel Talabani, affirmed on Saturday that the tensions in the region have harmed Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, stressing that any peace agreement and understanding between America and Iran is in the interest of Sulaymaniyah and the entire region.
Talabani said in a speech on the sidelines of his participation in a special dialogue session on the sidelines of the Delphi International Economic Forum that “the region and all of Iraq have Read more…
Iraqi Dinar Guru opinions 6-5-2026
6-5-2026 Newshound/Intel Guru Mnt Goat Article: “PRIME MINISTER’S ADVISOR: IRAQ IS ON THE VERGE OF MAJOR ECONOMIC CHANGES UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF AL-ZAIDI“ Iraq is heading for a huge, radical Economic Transformation. I do not use this terminology lightly. If this holds to it promises this will lead us to what we want – the reinstatement of their dinar currency. Read more…
The World Bank approves $900 million in funding for a project to develop Iraq’s road network.
6-5-2026
Information/Baghdad
The World Bank announced on Friday that it has approved funding for a $900 million project to improve road infrastructure in Iraq.
The World Bank stated in a statement received by Al-Maalomah Agency that “the project will support economic transport corridors in Iraq, strategic investments in main road corridors that form a basic pillar for internal transport, regional integration and long-term economic growth, enhancing the safety and reliability of transport and opening up new Read more…
CENTCOM denies Iran fired warning shots at its ships and affirms: We operate freely.
2026-06-05
Shafaq News – Washington
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) denied on Friday that Iran fired warning shots at US warships in the Gulf of Oman, asserting that it continues its naval operations in territorial waters while enforcing the embargo imposed on Iran.
The command stated in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency, “Iran claims that it fired warning shots at US warships in the Gulf of Oman, forcing the US ships to ‘retreat’ towards the Indian Ocean. This claim is false.” Read more…
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Finance Minister to World Bank Representative: We are proceeding with the implementation of financial and economic reform programs.
2026/06/05
During his meeting with the World Bank representative to Iraq, Emmanuel Salinas Munoz, Finance Minister Faleh Al-Sari affirmed the ministry’s commitment to implementing financial and economic reform programs, in line with the government program’s priorities and to enhance the efficiency of public resource management.
Al-Sari indicated, according to a statement from the Ministry of Finance, a copy of which was received by Al-Furat News, that “the Ministry is determined during the next stage to adopt reform paths based on developing the financial Read more…
Looted funds and billion-dollar contracts: A battle of attrition between al-Zaydi and networks of influence
6-5-2026
Information / Report
The discussion about suspicious contract deals and the corruption files surrounding them has resurfaced, with the ongoing debate about the possibility of opening these files and holding those involved accountable, in addition to the most important aspect of recovering public funds.
After repeated attempts by previous governments, most of which failed to stop the waste of public money through suspicious contracts and deals, Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi stands out in Read more…
Daham is referring to repaying the debt… We are not seeking anything other than what is rightfully ours in Al-Zaydi’s cabinet.
6-5-2026
Information/Baghdad…
Mohammed Daham, a member of the Azm Alliance, confirmed that his alliance is not demanding more than its political and electoral entitlement in al-Zaidi’s cabinet. He also indicated that the alliance is repaying a debt related to relinquishing the position of Speaker of Parliament to ensure an end to the political deadlock.
Daham told Al-Maalouma, “The Azm Alliance is not seeking more than its electoral entitlement in the cabinet and will not demand anything more Read more…
Al-Saadawi stresses the need to find solutions before making any decision regarding the financial aspect.
6-5-2026
Information/Baghdad…
Former member of the Parliamentary Finance Committee, Abdul Hadi Al-Saadawi, stressed the need to find solutions and remedies before the government takes any decisions regarding the country’s financial situation.
Al-Saadawi told Al-Maalouma, “A series of measures must be taken before making any amendments or issuing any decisions concerning the exchange rate in local markets to ensure the preservation of the value of the Iraqi dinar.” Read more…
Urgent US warning: Do not travel to Iraq
2026-06-05
Shafaq News – Middle East
The US Embassy in Israel issued a warning Thursday evening to American citizens in the Middle East, urging them to continue exercising caution and emphasizing the need to avoid travel to a number of countries, including Iraq.
The embassy stated in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency, “Due to the high level of tension in the region, the security situation remains complex and subject to rapid change. We remind American citizens in the Middle East of the need to continue to exercise caution, and Read more…
Trump: We discussed carrying out a military operation in Iran to seize its uranium stockpile.
2026-06-05
Shafaq News – Washington
US President Donald Trump revealed that he discussed with his administration carrying out a military operation inside Iran to seize its stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said that carrying out the mission is not easy, explaining that Iranian uranium is located in fortified sites and requires significant equipment to handle.
He added: “Initially we thought about doing it, but it requires staying there for two weeks and a lot of equipment.” Read more…
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Iraqi oil exports via the Kurdistan Region pipeline are expected to stabilize in May.
2026-06-05
Shafaq News – Baghdad
Economic expert Nabil Al-Marsoumi predicted on Friday that Iraq’s total oil exports during May would remain at the same levels as April, at around 329,000 barrels per day as an additional export rate through the northern outlets and some alternative distribution channels, amid continued unrest in the region and disruption of supply chains through the Strait of Hormuz.
Al-Marsoumi explained in a post that the average export through the Kurdistan Region pipeline to the Turkish port of Ceyhan reached 233,000 barrels per day in May, of which about 20,000 barrels came from the region’s fields, Read more…
The Commander-in-Chief’s office denies any changes to security and military leadership; the Ministry of Defense warns those spreading rumors.
2026-06-05
Shafaq News – Baghdad
The spokesman for the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Sabah al-Nu’man, refuted on Friday what has been circulating recently on social media pages regarding news about changes in the senior leadership positions of the military and security institutions in the country.
Al-Nu’man confirmed in a statement that all rumors about dismissing, appointing, or rotating these positions are “completely untrue and have no basis in reality, as the current leaders Read more…
“Iraq 2035”: A government plan to raise non-oil revenues to 46%
2026-06-05
Shafaq News – Baghdad
On Friday, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, the Prime Minister’s economic advisor, confirmed that the government program has laid its strategic foundations in the field of financial and economic diversification, with the aim of achieving Iraq’s sustainable development goals.
Saleh told Shafaq News Agency that “the program will be implemented by building an integrated relationship between developing the structure of non-oil revenues within the framework of public finance for the coming years, and diversifying Read more…
