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…
Within hours, gold prices plummeted, with losses exceeding $333.
2026-03-19 06:21
Shafaq News – Baghdad
Gold prices fell on Thursday afternoon to $4,562 an ounce, a loss of $333 compared to the opening price, despite continued geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
This sharp decline comes after statements by the US Federal Reserve, in which its Read more…
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The Iranian parliament is considering imposing fees for “safe passage” through the Strait of Hormuz.
2026-03-19 02:38
Shafaq News – Tehran
An Iranian member of parliament revealed on Thursday that a draft law is being studied to impose fees and taxes on the passage of ships and energy through the Strait of Hormuz, in exchange for what she described as Iran securing Read more…
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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…
Iraqi Dinar Guru opinions 3-18-2026
3-18-2026 Intel Guru Frank26 We’re close no doubt. But the problem is that you can see what is in the way. You know what is preventing this. We need to pray that the war ends and we are victorious and the government of Iraq is established…Like I always say, lets wait till the smoke clears..In my heart I believe it’s gong to clear before the end of this month. Read more…
NATO Secretary General: Allies are considering joint options to reopen the Strait of Hormuz
2026-03-18
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed on Wednesday that the allies are considering joint options for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, stating in a press conference: “The allies are considering joint options for reopening the Strait Read more…
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Bloomberg: China is close to tapping into its oil reserves
3-18-2026
Information/Follow-up…
China, the world’s largest importer of crude oil, is on the verge of tapping into its strategic oil reserves as the war in the Middle East continues with no sign of ending.
According to Bloomberg on Wednesday, FGE Nexant, a leading industrial consulting Read more…
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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
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
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
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
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…
Israeli Defense Minister announces assassination of Iranian intelligence chief
2026-03-18 03:16
Shafaq News – Middle East
Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz announced on Wednesday the assassination of Iranian Intelligence Minister Ismail Khatib, at a time when Tel Aviv spoke of expanding the scope of its operations and raising the level of escalation on Read more…
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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…
Trump: What if we ended the Iranian regime and left Hormuz to others?
2026-03-18 04:46
Shafaq News – Washington
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump raised questions about the future of the regime in Iran, hinting at the possibility of ending it and leaving the responsibility for managing the Strait of Hormuz to the countries that benefit from it.
Trump said in a statement broadcast a short while ago: “I wonder what would Read more…
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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.
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
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…
Iraqi Dinar Guru opinions 3-17-2026
3-17-2026 Intel Guru Frank26 I wanted this thing to happen last year. I wanted it to happen on the 1st of this year. It should have happened by now. We got a war to deal with…The reality is that war is bringing security and stability for the monetary reform. In the process Iranian influence…gone… Trump said something investing…’Look, right now we’re going through a lot of kaka, but when the kaka is cleaned up and flushed away, oh my goodness, prosperity…’ You got to wait until the smoke clears and the smoke is clearing. 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.
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…
