Al-Moussawi: The framework is moving towards a “compromise candidate,” and Al-Badri is the closest to the premiership.

Al-Moussawi: The framework is moving towards a “compromise candidate,” and Al-Badri is the closest to the premiership.

4-18-2026

Information / Baghdad…
MP Jassim al-Moussawi, a member of the Coordination Framework, revealed on Saturday that political forces within the framework are leaning towards selecting a “compromise candidate” for the position of Prime Minister, confirming that Read more…

Tensions are high inside the Green Zone… Will Saturday’s meeting break the deadlock in the framework disputes, or will it be postponed until further notice?

Tensions are high inside the Green Zone… Will Saturday’s meeting break the deadlock in the framework disputes, or will it be postponed until further notice?

4-18-2026

Baghdad/Report…
Political and public attention is focused on the anticipated meeting of the leaders of the Coordination Framework, scheduled for this Saturday evening. Conflicting reports circulate regarding the possibility of all factions convening under one roof, or whether the meeting will be postponed at the last minute.
This meeting, described as a “decisive meeting,” comes at a critical Read more…

Coordination framework: Three names are still being considered for the premiership, with a final decision to be made in an official statement.

Coordination framework: Three names are still being considered for the premiership, with a final decision to be made in an official statement.

4-18-2026

Information/Baghdad…
On Saturday, Abdul Samad al-Zarkoushi, a member of the Coordination Framework, confirmed that three names remain under consideration for the position of Prime Minister in the next government. He emphasized that the final decision will be made Read more…

Moody’s downgrades its outlook for Iraq to “negative” amid regional risks

Moody’s downgrades its outlook for Iraq to “negative” amid regional risks

2026-04-18

Shafaq News – Baghdad
Moody’s credit rating agency has lowered its outlook for Iraq from stable to negative, amid escalating risks associated with the conflict in the Middle East and its impact on the stability of the Iraqi economy.

The agency explained in a report, which was reviewed by Shafaq News Agency, Read more…

Uncertainty surrounds the fate of the “crucial” framework meeting for the position of Prime Minister.

Uncertainty surrounds the fate of the “crucial” framework meeting for the position of Prime Minister.

2026-04-18

Shafaq News – Baghdad
An informed source suggested on Saturday that the coordinating framework that includes the ruling Shiite political forces in Iraq may resort to postponing its “crucial” meeting to present a candidate for the position of Prime Minister Read more…

International Monetary Fund: Sharp contraction to hit Iraq’s economy in 2026

International Monetary Fund: Sharp contraction to hit Iraq’s economy in 2026

2026-04-18

Shafaq News – Baghdad
The International Monetary Fund’s Regional Economic Outlook report revealed expectations that the Iraqi economy will contract significantly during 2026, due to the repercussions of the war and disruptions to trade and production in the region.

According to the report, issued in April and reviewed by Shafaq News Agency, Read more…

A new US aircraft carrier is approaching the Strait of Hormuz.

A new US aircraft carrier is approaching the Strait of Hormuz.

2026-04-18

Shafaq News – Tehran
The Associated Press quoted officials on Saturday as saying that the US aircraft carrier Gerald Ford had entered the Red Sea, accompanied by two US Navy destroyers.

According to officials, the carrier is heading towards areas near the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that this move comes within Read more…

US military officials: The Revolutionary Guard launched three attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

US military officials: The Revolutionary Guard launched three attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

2026-04-18

Shafaq News – Washington/London/Tehran
US military officials revealed that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard launched three attacks targeting commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, as Tehran closed it again to maritime traffic.

For its part, the British Maritime Operations Authority announced Read more…

Iraq continues loading a Greek oil tanker despite another being intercepted in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iraq continues loading a Greek oil tanker despite another being intercepted in the Strait of Hormuz.

2026-04-18

Shafaq News – Basra
An informed source confirmed on Saturday that a Greek oil tanker has continued loading crude oil from Basra ports since Friday, despite the Iranian Revolutionary Guard intercepting a ship loaded with Iraqi oil in the Strait of Hormuz.

The source told Shafaq News Agency that the tanker, which flies the Maltese Read more…

Ministry of Oil: We will resume exports from all fields within the next few days.

Ministry of Oil: We will resume exports from all fields within the next few days.

2026-04-18

The Ministry of Oil confirmed on Saturday that it will resume oil exports from all fields within the next few days. It indicated that expediting exports will foster stability and meet the demand Read more…

Iraqi Dinar Guru opinions 4-17-2026

Iraqi Dinar Guru opinions 4-17-2026

4-17-2026 Intel/Newshound Frank26 They showed the Iraqi citizens…a 25,000 note and a 25 note in front of it [See Image Below]. That’s a lower note. I don’t know if that’s a new one. It could be an old one. But they’re telling the Iraqi citizens your 25k note is going to become 25 because you’re going to have purchasing power added to that 25… Read more…

Sudani calls for a “non-subservient” partnership with America and asserts: The real challenge lies in controlling weapons.

Sudani calls for a “non-subservient” partnership with America and asserts: The real challenge lies in controlling weapons.

2026-04-17

Shafaq News – Translation
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani affirmed that Iraq is moving towards a new phase of strategic partnership with the United States, stressing the need to move the relationship from crisis management to long-term cooperation based on Read more…

One vote remains… Al Jazeera sources suggest the name of the new Iraqi Prime Minister

One vote remains… Al Jazeera sources suggest the name of the new Iraqi Prime Minister

17/4/2026

Baghdad – After realizing the inability to reach a consensus on the selection of the new Iraqi Prime Minister, informed sources told Al Jazeera Net that the forces within the Coordination Framework , the bloc that holds the largest number of members in the Iraqi Parliament , are moving towards agreeing to pass the candidate for Prime Minister, Read more…

A member of the State of Law coalition: We will witness unprecedented unity within the framework on Saturday.

A member of the State of Law coalition: We will witness unprecedented unity within the framework on Saturday.

2026/04/17

Salah Boushi, a member of the State of Law Coalition, confirmed that the coordination framework is moving towards an unprecedented unity of position to resolve the issue of the premiership next Saturday.

During his appearance on the “Free Talk” program Read more…

The coordinating framework will hold a crucial meeting tomorrow to decide on the candidate for prime minister.

The coordinating framework will hold a crucial meeting tomorrow to decide on the candidate for prime minister.

4-17-2026

Information/Baghdad…
Abdul Samad al-Zarkoushi, a member of the Coordination Framework, confirmed on Friday that the Framework is determined to hold an important meeting tomorrow to decide on its candidate for the next prime minister.
Speaking to Al-Maalouma, al-Zarkoushi said, “The Coordination Framework is Read more…

After announcing its reopening, Trump said: The Strait of Hormuz will remain blockaded.

After announcing its reopening, Trump said: The Strait of Hormuz will remain blockaded.

2026-04-17

Shafaq News – Washington
US President Donald Trump confirmed on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz will remain blocked, after Tehran announced it was fully open to ships.

Trump said in a post on Truth Social that “Iran has just announced that the Strait of Hormuz is fully open and ready for full passage,” adding that “our process with Iran should Read more…

Following the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, oil prices fell by 10%.

Following the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, oil prices fell by 10%.

2026-04-17

Shafaq News – Follow-up
Oil prices fell by 10% in global markets on Friday afternoon after Iran announced it was reopening the Strait of Hormuz to commercial and other vessels.

Agence France-Presse reported that the price of a barrel of Brent North Sea crude for June delivery fell by 10.42% to Read more…

For the first time since the war, a tanker is in Basra ports to load two million barrels of Iraqi oil.

For the first time since the war, a tanker is in Basra ports to load two million barrels of Iraqi oil.

2026-04-17

Shafaq News – Basra
An informed source in Basra province reported on Friday afternoon that an oil tanker had arrived at Basra’s oil ports for the first time since the outbreak of war in the region at the end of February.

According to the source who spoke to Shafaq News Agency, the tanker will load Read more…

Germans are angry about continued support for Ukraine: Zelensky sees us as a “cash cow”

Germans are angry about continued support for Ukraine: Zelensky sees us as a “cash cow”

2026-04-17

Shafaq News – Berlin
German citizens have expressed their discontent with what they consider a “drain” on their country’s economy due to the aid Berlin is providing to Ukraine in its war with Russia, coinciding with energy supply shortages and other problems.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s statement, in which he described Read more…

Barak: We may reach normalization between Syria and Israel before Lebanon.

Barak: We may reach normalization between Syria and Israel before Lebanon.

2026-04-17

Shafaq News – Washington
US envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, confirmed on Friday that international efforts to achieve a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will proceed in gradual stages, stressing the need to review the failures of the 2024 agreement to avoid Read more…