The Trump administration sends a decisive message to Baghdad: The era of ambiguity regarding Iran is over.
2026-06-26
Shafaq News – Special Translation
The administration of US President Donald Trump is no longer willing to accept the ambiguity of Iraq’s position through its rapprochement with Iran, as it believes that Baghdad should turn westward instead of eastward, and strengthen its friendship with the United States and the surrounding Arab countries.
Washington now expects changes in government that will strengthen Iraqi sovereignty, noting that Prime Minister Read more…
Ship tracking data shows normal maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz
2026-06-26
Shafaq News – Follow-up
Ship tracking data on Friday indicated that maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz was proceeding normally despite yesterday’s attack.
Bloomberg reported that shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz continued in both directions on Friday and that ship passage was proceeding normally despite the attack on a container ship on Thursday.
She noted that four empty oil tankers are currently sailing towards Read more…
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The Gulf Cooperation Council: We have evidence that the recent attacks originated from Iraq.
2026-06-26
Shafaq News – Riyadh
The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jassim Al-Badawi, confirmed on Friday that the Council possesses evidence, coordinates, and images confirming that the “recent attacks” on the Gulf states originated from Iraq.
On another note, Al-Badawi expressed in press statements the GCC countries’ rejection of imposing fees Read more…
Iraqi Dinar Guru opinions 6-25-2026
6-25-2026 Intel Guru Reset Intelligence Bessent…walked through who is coming back…Venezuela, sanctioned and shut out, is coming back to invoice in dollars. The Iranians…”will be invoicing in dollars.” Russia…would want back in once the war in Ukraine ends…The sanction is the stick. The dollar is the door. Clean books are the toll…Notice Iraq was not on Bessent’s list…because Baghdad is furthest along that road…Venezuela and Iran are being told to do what Baghdad has already spent more than 3 years on. Washington cut off many of Iraq’s banks in late 2022. Iraq has been rebuilding its dollar access under American supervision ever since, working down the checklist…On June 22 the central bank said its restricted banks are in the final stages of reintegration, and in the same breath denied any plan to change the exchange rate. That denial is the tell. Read more…
Soon, Baghdad will host international figures: oil, electricity, and strategic partnerships.
2026-06-25
Shafaq News – Baghdad
Informed sources revealed on Thursday that important visits by international figures to Baghdad are expected, to conduct economic understandings that will bring mutual benefit to the parties concerned, just hours after reports spoke of the possibility of Iraq withdrawing from OPEC, and the repercussions of this decision on the global energy market.
A government source told Shafaq News Agency that “figures and representatives from Read more…
Iraq begins marketing internet transit capacity and receives its first payment in hard currency.
2026-06-25
Shafaq News – Baghdad
On Thursday, Communications Minister Mustafa Sand announced an agreement with the Qatari company GBI to market cross-border (transit) internet capacities through the “Road of Civilizations” project, confirming the receipt of the first financial payment in hard currency within the project.
Sand said, in a statement seen by Shafaq News Agency, that the agreement was concluded according to the long-term right of use (IRU) system for leasing fibers from Read more…
Iraq reduces its dollar sales by 36% during the first five months of 2026
2026-06-25
Shafaq News – Baghdad
The Central Bank of Iraq’s sales of foreign currency declined by 36% during the first five months of 2026, reaching $22.531 billion, compared to $35.201 billion during the same period in 2025.
Data from the Central Bank of Iraq, reviewed by Shafaq News Agency, showed that the bank’s sales during the period from January to May 2026 were distributed as follows: Read more…
Broccoli extract protects the elderly from muscle atrophy.
6-25-2026
A recent medical study published in the scientific journal “Nutrients” revealed that Chinese scientists have developed an innovative nutritional treatment that combines compounds extracted from broccoli with an amino acid known as leucine to help slow age-related muscle loss. In their laboratory experiments, researchers used a model of sarcopenia (a severe decline in muscle mass and strength in the elderly). The mice were subjected to an eight-week treatment program using broccoli peptides and leucine in combination. Laboratory
and tissue analyses showed the following: Physical Performance: Read more…
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The coordination framework warns against American interference in the selection of security ministries.
6-25-2026
Information/Baghdad…
Ali al-Zubaidi, a member of the Coordination Framework, warned on Thursday of the dangers of American interference in the selection of ministers for the vacant ministries in Ali al-Zubaidi’s government.
Al-Zubaidi told the Information Agency that “there is increasing American pressure regarding the selection of the nine remaining ministers to complete Prime Minister Ali al-Zubaidi’s cabinet,” explaining that “America wants to choose ministers who align with its own interests, especially in Read more…
Al-Hamami calls for the formation of a national committee to audit local government contracts.
6-25-2026
The former MP, Arif al-Hamami, called on Thursday for the formation of a high-level national committee to audit all contracts concluded by local governments in recent years, warning of suspected financial and administrative corruption that could reveal “major surprises.”
Speaking to Al-Maalomah, al-Hamami said, “The scourge of corruption necessitates a firm response through a clear and systematic plan based on forming a high-level committee to audit all files and contracts concluded by local governments in various service sectors over the past years.”
He added, “There are suspicions of financial and administrative corruption Read more…
Al-Jubouri: Completing the cabinet is at the top of Parliament’s priorities
6-25-2026
Information / Special…
MP Iyad al-Jubouri, from the Azm Alliance, confirmed today, Thursday, that the Parliament is moving towards completing the cabinet and monitoring the implementation of the government program at the start of the next legislative session.
Al-Jubouri told the Information Agency, “The upcoming legislative session will witness parliamentary action to finalize the cabinet and fill the remaining Read more…
Parliamentary opposition: a “safety valve” preventing governments from slipping into the quagmire of corruption.
6-25-2026
Information/Special..
Political analyst Jassim Al-Moussawi confirmed today, Thursday, that the presence of a parliamentary opposition under the dome of parliament represents a “very healthy situation” for the political process, noting that previous experiences revealed the absence of a real and constructive opposition throughout the period of successive governments.
Al-Moussawi told Al-Maalouma that “the nature of the Iraqi parliament is based on understandings between political forces, which determine the selection of the three presidencies by Read more…
Iraq announces its “full” solidarity with Venezuela following two devastating earthquakes that struck the country.
2026-06-25
Shafaq News – Baghdad
The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed on Thursday its “deepest” solidarity and condolences to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, following the two earthquakes that struck the country, resulting in a number of casualties and injuries, as well as the severe material damage inflicted on the affected areas.
The Ministry said in a statement that the Republic of Iraq, while sharing the feelings of sorrow of the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and its friendly people in this painful circumstance, affirms its support Read more…
Gold falls below $4,000 an ounce as the dollar rises and the Federal Reserve awaits its decision.
2026-06-25
Shafaq News – Follow-up
Gold prices fell on Thursday, remaining near their lowest levels in more than seven months, as the US dollar remained strong and market expectations grew regarding an interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve.
The price of gold in spot transactions fell by 0.4% to $3,985.89 an ounce, after hitting its lowest level since November 2025 in the previous session. US gold futures for August delivery also declined by Read more…
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The US Congress reverses its vote in favor of Trump regarding the Iran war.
2026-06-25
Shafaq News – Washington
The US Senate voted on a resolution supporting President Donald Trump in waging war on Iran, one day after the Senate passed a completely different resolution.
Fifty members of Congress had voted on Tuesday on a resolution stripping Trump of the authority to wage war on Iran without the approval of the House, before the result changed on Wednesday night in favor of the resolution.
Senators Rand Paul and Bill Cassidy, both Republicans, reversed their decision Read more…
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After the closure of Hormuz, how did Brazil become China’s oil savior at the expense of Iraq?
2026-06-25
Shafaq News – Baghdad
The “Iraq Future” Foundation for Economic Studies and Consultations confirmed on Thursday that what happened in the Strait of Hormuz during the month of March, as a result of the escalation of tensions in the region, was not just a passing logistical disruption, but a complete reshaping of the map of oil suppliers to the largest importer in the world.
Comparing China’s imports for the period (March–May 2026) with those of the previous year reveals a striking paradox: the value Read more…
Corruption is a system, not just individuals, and the big fish are too big to be caught by chance.
2026-06-25 02:32
Ali Qasim Al-Kaabi
Every day, the media and social media platforms are rife with news of corruption, to the point that this shameful word has become commonplace, no longer eliciting the shock or surprise it once did. We have grown accustomed to hearing it hundreds, even thousands of times, in conversations at cafes, in government offices, in mosques, and even within homes and among family members. Thus, corruption has transformed from a phenomenon that demanded attention and accountability for its perpetrators into a normal part of daily life. Indeed, some corrupt individuals are now presented as influential and beloved figures Read more…
As confirmed by Shafaq News, Iraqi oil officials are threatening to withdraw from OPEC.
2026-06-25
Shafaq News – Baghdad
The Iraqi Oil Ministry hinted on Thursday at the possibility of withdrawing from OPEC if the production level allocated to Iraq is not increased in line with its production capabilities and future needs.
Oil Ministry spokesman Salim al-Rikabi said in a comment seen by Shafaq News Agency, “The ministry currently has no intention of withdrawing from OPEC, and we remain Read more…
Iraqi Oil: OPEC responded to the review of production ceilings
2026-06-25
Shafaq News – Baghdad
The Iraqi Oil Ministry confirmed on Thursday that what was raised regarding Iraq’s threat to end its membership in the “OPEC” organization does not reflect the official position of the Iraqi government, noting that the organization and its allied countries responded to Baghdad’s approach regarding reassessing production ceilings in line with the sustainable production capacities of member states.
The ministry said in a statement, received by Shafaq News Agency, that the Prime Minister and the Iraqi government did not raise the issue of withdrawing from OPEC, but rather stressed the importance Read more…
The coordination framework reveals the truth about the move towards creating two new ministries within Al-Zidi’s government.
2026-06-25
Shafaq News – Baghdad
The coordination framework revealed today, Thursday, the truth about the trend towards creating two new ministries within the ministerial cabinet of Al-Zidi’s government in the next few days.
MP Mukhtar al-Moussawi told Shafaq News Agency that “the news circulating about the decision to create two new ministries within the cabinet of Prime Minister Ali al-Zidi, namely the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Governance, is still within the framework of ongoing discussions and studies, and there is no final decision on this matter, either from Read more…
