A Chinese tanker carrying two million barrels of Iraqi oil is attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz.
2026-05-13
Shafaq News – Baghdad
Ship tracking data showed on Wednesday that a giant Chinese oil tanker carrying about two million barrels of Iraqi crude was attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz, a move that reflects the continued flow of Iraqi oil exports despite escalating security tensions in the region.
According to data from ship tracking company LSEG and the Kpler platform, Read more…
Italy intends to send minesweepers to the Strait of Hormuz on the condition that the war ends.
2026-05-13
Shafaq News – Rome
Italy announced on Wednesday that it will send two warships to the vicinity of the Gulf, making their deployment conditional on reaching a permanent truce in the region.
Defense Minister Guido Crozzetto told parliament that any potential mission Read more…
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Iraq ranked fourth in well drilling activity within OPEC during 2025
2026-05-13
Shafaq News – Follow-up
Iraq ranked fourth among OPEC countries in well drilling completion activity during 2025, an indicator that reflects continued field activity in the oil sector, despite the difference with the leading countries.
Kuwait topped the list with 755 wells, followed by Read more…
Iran: Control of Hormuz boosts revenues and prevents the passage of American weapons.
2026-05-13
Shafaq News – Tehran
Iranian military spokesman Mohammad Akrami Nia said on Wednesday that controlling the Strait of Hormuz would bring Iran economic returns equivalent to twice its oil revenues, stressing that this would enhance Tehran’s power in the field of foreign policy.
Akrami Nia added, in statements carried by the Iranian news agency Tasnim, Read more…
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“An inauspicious start”… Rights groups threaten to boycott the confidence vote session for al-Zidi’s government
2026-05-13
Shafaq News – Baghdad
On Wednesday, MP Miqdad al-Khafaji, from the parliamentary rights bloc, criticized the mechanism for presenting the cabinet of the designated government, questioning how the House of Representatives could grant confidence to a government whose members do not know the names of the candidates for ministerial portfolios or their CVs.
Al-Khafaji told Shafaq News Agency that this matter “is an unsuccessful start for the government,” noting that Read more…
Al-Sadr stipulates that Saraya al-Salam must use Chinese and Korean vehicles.
2026-05-13
Shafaq News – Najaf
On Wednesday, the leader of the Shiite National Movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, issued several directives to the leaders and individuals in the Peace Brigades, the armed wing of the movement.
According to a document received by Shafaq News Agency, Al-Sadr stipulated Read more…
Central Bank: We are continuing to reform the banking sector and call for reliance on official sources.
2026-05-13
The Central Bank of Iraq confirmed on Tuesday (May 12, 2026) the continuation of the implementation of the banking sector reform program, within its strategic vision aimed at strengthening the resilience of the financial system and developing the efficiency of banking institutions in accordance with best practices and international standards, calling for reliance on official sources Read more…
The House of Representatives will set tomorrow as the date for voting on the ministerial program and the government of the prime minister-designate.
2026-05-13
The Iraqi Parliament announced today, Wednesday, that it will vote tomorrow, Thursday, on the ministerial program and the government of the prime minister-designate. The Parliament’s media office stated in a press release that “the agenda for Parliament Session No. (24), scheduled for Read more…
An American institute expresses reservations about al-Zaidi: Iraq needs a reformer, not an administrator.
2026-05-12
Shafaq News – Special Translation
The American “Gulf International Forum” Institute presented a “pessimistic” picture of Ali al-Zaidi’s supposed term even before his government was formed, considering that the problems and challenges that Iraq suffers from require “reform, not administration,” including Read more…
The US Navy prevents an Iraqi oil tanker from sailing for “unknown” reasons.
2026-05-12
Shafaq News – Follow-up
Bloomberg reported on Tuesday that US forces imposing a naval blockade on Iran prevented a Greek ship carrying about two million barrels of Iraqi oil from continuing its journey to Vietnam for “unknown” reasons, while the Vietnamese government appealed to the United States to allow the oil shipment to proceed.
The US agency reported that Vietnam’s state-owned oil company urged the United States to allow the giant oil tanker Read more…
Al-Araji on restricting weapons: We need a balance to prevent sliding into chaos.
2026-05-12
Shafaq News – Baghdad
Iraqi National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji confirmed on Tuesday evening that the country is leveraging its good relations with both Iran and the United States to reduce tensions, noting that controlling weapons requires a delicate balance between enforcing the law and preventing Read more…
Iraqi Dinar Guru opinions 5-12-2026
5-12-2026 Exit Strategist Guru Thom SADR’S BOMBSHELL: “I WILL DISSOLVE MY MILITIA IF ALL FACTIONS DO THE SAME” Quote: “In a landmark May 8 statement, Muqtada al-Sadr announced he is prepared to hand Saraya al-Salam (his armed wing) to the Commander-in-Chief and dissolve the Promised Day Brigade — on the condition that all armed factions do the same…This is the most explicit disarmament offer from any Shia faction leader in the modern history of Iraqi politics.” SADR DISARMAMENT TRIGGERS DOMINO — SOME FACTIONS SAY YES, TWO SAY NO. Read more…
The US Department of Energy predicts a return to normal shipping in the Strait of Hormuz next month.
2026-05-12
Shafaq News – Washington
The US Department of Energy indicated on Tuesday that the Strait of Hormuz is likely to remain closed throughout this month, with navigation resuming in June.
The ministry said in a press statement: “We expect navigation in the Strait of Hormuz to return to pre-war levels Read more…
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Al-Moussawi: No date has been set for the ratification of Al-Zaidi’s government; crucial meetings are scheduled for today and tomorrow.
5-12-2026
Information/Special…
MP Mukhtar al-Moussawi confirmed on Tuesday that no date has yet been set for the parliamentary session to vote on Ali al-Zidi’s government, noting that important meetings will be held today and tomorrow to finalize political understandings.
Al-Moussawi told Al-Maalouma, “Until this moment, there is no official date Read more…
Al-Shammari: Attempts to bring back certain figures will not succeed, and the current stage requires new faces.
5-12-2026
Information/Special..
MP Mohammed Al-Shammari confirmed on Tuesday that any attempts to rearrange the political landscape in order to impose certain figures back on the forefront will not succeed, pointing to the need to move beyond the names that consumed the previous phase and caused Read more…
State of law: Oil and financial disputes may be postponed until after the vote on the cabinet.
5-12-2026
Information / Baghdad…
Imran Karkoush, a member of the State of Law Coalition, revealed on Tuesday the existence of deep disagreements among political blocs regarding the distribution of ministerial portfolios in the upcoming government. He also suggested that the decision on two sovereign ministries would likely be postponed Read more…
MP: Parliament intends to decide on committee chairmanships after the vote on the cabinet
5-12-2026
The Information Agency / Baghdad…
Member of Parliament Mukhtar al-Moussawi confirmed on Tuesday that Parliament will begin appointing the heads and deputies of parliamentary committees immediately after the vote on the cabinet, stressing the need to activate Read more…
Warnings against “ministers of failure”… Adai calls on Al-Zidi to confront the pressures of the blocs and appoint competent individuals to ministerial positions.
5-12-2026
Information / Baghdad…
MP Riyadh Adai warned the prime minister-designate on Tuesday against succumbing to pressure from certain political forces seeking to impose “incompetent” figures in the upcoming cabinet. He stressed the necessity of selecting professional ministers, free from the abhorrent Read more…
Badr predicts the cabinet will be finalized within two days.
5-12-2026
Information / Baghdad…
MP Qusay Abbas, from the Badr Bloc, indicated on Tuesday that the cabinet formation is likely to be finalized and presented to Parliament for a vote of confidence by the end of this week. He emphasized the continuation of intensive dialogues among Read more…
Tut reveals the formation of a parliamentary committee to review the draft government program and amend its provisions.
5-12-2026
The Information Agency / Baghdad…
Member of Parliament Iskandar Watout revealed on Tuesday that the Speaker of Parliament has issued a decision to form a specialized parliamentary committee to review the draft government program, following a wave of criticism that described the program as “a copy.”
Watout told the Information Agency that “the formed committee includes Read more…
