Iraq is participating in the “largest global event” for natural gas affairs in Thailand.
2026-08-23
Shafaq News – Baghdad
A source in the Oil Ministry revealed on Sunday that a representative from Iraq will attend the world’s “biggest” natural gas event next month in Thailand.
The source told Shafaq News Agency that the Undersecretary of the Ministry for Gas Affairs, Izzat Saber Ismail, will participate in the International Natural Gas and Liquefied Natural Gas Exhibition “Gas Tech 2026 ”, in response to an invitation from the American company “Baker Hoes”, which is organizing this exhibition, which is considered “the largest global event for natural gas and liquefied natural gas affairs”. Read more…
A forthcoming meeting with Türkiye paves the way for a “Development Road” agreement.
2026/08/23
The Ministry of Transport revealed that a third meeting with the Turkish side is imminent, with the aim of finalizing the discussions and concluding a cooperation agreement to implement the Development Road project. While it reported that the completion rates of the railway project plans have reached 90 percent, it indicated that multiple options have been proposed to finance the implementation, including the oil-for-reconstruction mechanism. Read more…
2027 budget: Assumed oil price of $60-$70
2026/08/23
The Ministries of Finance and Planning are intensifying their efforts to finalize the draft federal budget law for the year (2027), in preparation for submitting it to Parliament by the end of October or the beginning of November, setting a hypothetical oil price ranging between (60 and 70) dollars per barrel as a key basis for determining revenues and the size of the budget.
Spending.
The Prime Minister’s economic advisor, Mazhar Muhammad Saleh, explained to Al-Sabah that the draft budget will Read more…
Iraq prepares to declare “full sovereignty”
2026/08/23
Political and security circles are anticipating the upcoming September 30th milestone as a crucial turning point for ending the military mission of the international coalition and achieving full national sovereignty, in parallel with parliamentary and governmental efforts to pass laws guaranteeing the decision to restrict weapons to the state.
In a dialogue session moderated by the head of the Iraqi Media Network, Abdul Karim Hammadi, as part of the “Eighth Baghdad Dialogue Conference”, President Nizar Amidi affirmed Read more…
Shiite consensus: Factional weapons to be transferred to Popular Mobilization Forces depots following the passage of the service and retirement law.
2026-08-23
Shafaq News – Baghdad
A source within the coordination framework revealed on Sunday that there is an agreement among the leaders of the “Shia House” on the need to finalize the service and retirement law for members of the Popular Mobilization Forces within the House of Representatives before the end of next September, in parallel with arrangements related to the management of the weapons of the armed factions. Read more…
Parliamentary Finance Committee: Baghdad has requested a delegation from Erbil to discuss the 2027 budget.
2026-08-23
Shafaq News – Baghdad
On Sunday, Ikhlas al-Dulaimi, a member of the parliamentary finance committee, announced that the federal Ministry of Finance had sent an official request to the Kurdistan Regional Government to send a delegation to Baghdad to discuss the region’s share in the 2027 general budget law.
Al-Dulaimi, a member of parliament from the Kurdistan Democratic Party bloc, told Shafaq News Agency that “the region’s share in the budget law has become 14% according to the latest Read more…
Ministry of Defense: September 30 is the deadline for the coalition’s withdrawal, and our forces are capable of managing security and protecting the borders.
8-23-2026
Major General Tahsin al-Khafaji, Director of Moral Guidance Media at the Ministry of Defense, confirmed that September 30th is the final date for the withdrawal of the international coalition forces according to the specified timetables. He stressed the complete readiness of the security forces to protect the country and manage the security file. Major General al-Khafaji told the official agency, “September 30th is a final date and within the timetables set by the Iraqi state in agreement with the international coalition. This matter was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but rather the result of prior planning and Read more…
Political assurances and anticipation surrounding the finalization of ministerial portfolios in Al-Zidi’s cabinet.
8-23-2026
Information/Baghdad…
Ali Hussein, a member of the Coordination Framework, confirmed on Sunday that the vacant ministerial portfolios in Al-Zidi’s cabinet will soon be filled, explaining that the failure to submit more than one candidate for each ministerial portfolio was one of the reasons for the delay in filling the government positions.
Hussein told Al-Maalomah that “the mechanism for submitting candidates for the ministerial cabinet has changed from previous sessions, where political blocs used to put forward three Read more…
An economist explains the government’s options for securing funding.
8-23-2026
Information/Baghdad…
Economic expert Safwan Qusay explained the government’s options for securing and covering expenses amidst the ongoing financial crisis and declining oil exports.
Qusay told Al-Maalouma, “There are a number of proposals currently being studied at the Ministry of Finance to reduce domestic borrowing through in-kind spending to cover the demands of contractors and farmers, in addition to some projects and companies operating in the private sector that are indebted to the Ministry of Finance.” Read more…
MP: Solar energy is a quick solution to Iraq’s electricity crisis
8-23-2026
Information/Baghdad…
MP Ali Kadhim, from the “Good News, Iraq” coalition, confirmed on Sunday that Iraq continues to suffer from a worsening electricity crisis due to the failure to address the problem over the past years. He called on the government to adopt more flexible plans to provide energy to citizens.
Kadhim told the Information Agency that “the electricity crisis has not been addressed for years, causing many problems for citizens,” stressing “the need to develop practical and rapid solutions to mitigate its repercussions.” Read more…
Maliki’s coalition submits four names of candidates to head the Ministry of Interior
8-23-2026
Information/Baghdad…
Informed sources revealed on Sunday that the State of Law Coalition has submitted four names as candidates for the Ministry of Interior portfolio in Ali al-Zaidi’s government.
The sources explained to Al-Maalouma that “the State of Law Coalition has indeed sent four names as candidates for the Ministry of Interior to the current Prime Minister, Ali al-Zaidi, for him to choose from,” indicating that “the coalition remains committed to its entitlement to the Ministry of Interior, which falls under its electoral mandate, Read more…
Maliki’s coalition settles the debate: We are sticking with “Atta and Khaza’i” for the Interior and Education portfolios.
8-23-2026
The State of Law Coalition, led by Nouri al-Maliki, affirmed on Sunday its absolute commitment to its nominees for the Ministries of Interior and Higher Education and Scientific Research, while categorically denying any political agreements to alter or reshuffle the ministerial seats allocated to the coalition. Former MP Jassim Mohammed Jaafar, a leading figure in the coalition, told Al-Maalomah News Agency, “The State of Law Coalition remains committed to its electoral and political entitlement to the Interior and Higher Education portfolios within the government formation,” revealing that “the official list of nominees has been sent to Prime Minister Ali al-Zubaidi.” Read more…
Mahmoud: Parliament and political forces are required to reject American guardianship over Iraq.
8-23-2026
Information/Baghdad…
MP Shaker Mahmoud called on the Iraqi Parliament and political forces on Sunday to reject American military and political tutelage over Iraq, stressing the need to strengthen national decision-making independence and liberate the country from economic domination.
Mahmoud told the Information Agency that “the current stage requires a clear national stance from Parliament and political forces to reject any form of American tutelage or interference in Iraqi affairs,” explaining that “Iraq’s Read more…
Al-Kaabi: Reservations about the candidates for Defense and Interior, and things are moving towards finalizing the cabinet.
8-23-2026
Information/Baghdad…
MP Hassan al-Kaabi revealed on Sunday that there are political reservations regarding the candidates for the Ministries of Defense and Interior, indicating that matters are moving towards resolution and the completion of the remaining cabinet positions.
Al-Kaabi told the Information Agency, “There are reservations regarding the Ministries of Defense and Interior, and discussions are still ongoing among the relevant political parties to reach a consensus on them.” Read more…
Goodbye to September 30th… Maliki’s coalition hints at postponing the disarmament of factions.
2026-08-23
Shafaq News – Baghdad
Zuhair al-Jalabi, a member of the State of Law Coalition, confirmed on Sunday that there is no resolution regarding the disarmament of the factions so far, while indicating that the date set for the weapons inventory announced by the government may be postponed.
Al-Jalabi told Shafaq News Agency that “the issue of restricting weapons has not been resolved yet, and this issue is postponed at the present time, and that September 30 does not represent a specific date for resolving it.” Read more…
“Al-Maliki has not backed down”… His coalition sends the names of its candidates for the Interior and Defense ministries
2026-08-23
Shafaq News – Baghdad
The media office director of Nouri al-Maliki, leader of the State of Law Coalition, denied on Thursday the existence of any understandings or agreements regarding relinquishing the Ministry of Interior, stressing that the issue is “not even on the table.”
Hisham al-Rikabi said in a statement via the website (X) that what some media outlets have reported regarding understandings or agreements related to al-Maliki giving up the Ministry of Interior is “untrue,” stressing that what is being circulated in this regard “is not based on any correct information.” Read more…
Exclusive from Washington: Tehran is behind the rebellion of Iraqi factions, and Trump’s anger awaits the leaders.
2026-08-23
Shafaq News – Washington/ Mustafa Hashim
Paul Davis, an academic and researcher at the Institute for Global Policy in Washington, ruled out on Sunday the commitment of the armed factions under the umbrella of the Popular Mobilization Forces to end their weapons within the deadline set by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zubaidi, which ends at the end of next September .
Davis explained, in exclusive statements to Shafaq News Agency, that Baghdad is facing a complex situation Read more…
Two bills for the citizen and a 55% loss in production… a call to privatize electricity in Iraq
2026-08-23
Shafaq News – Baghdad
The Eco Iraq Observatory announced on Sunday that about 55% of the electricity produced in Iraq is lost as a result of violations on the grid and irregular connections.
In a statement received by Shafaq News Agency, the observatory called for the gradual privatization of the electricity sector to raise the efficiency of production and distribution, reduce waste, and end the burden on citizens of the cost of both government electricity and private generators. Read more…
The dollar hits the 200,000 toman mark in Iran, its lowest level in history.
2026-08-23
Shafaq News – Tehran
On Sunday, the US dollar approached the 200,000 toman mark in the Iranian free market, recording a new historical level, amid accelerating demand for foreign currencies and escalating fears of a new US sanctions package, at a time when the Iranian economy is suffering from the repercussions of war, inflation and declining hard currency revenues.
Data from the Iranian Gold and Currency Information Network (TGJU) showed the dollar trading near Read more…
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Reconstruction and Development reveals when the Popular Mobilization Forces law will reach Parliament
2026-08-23
Shafaq News – Baghdad
MP Diaa al-Zidi, from the Reconstruction and Development Coalition, announced on Sunday that the draft law on the Popular Mobilization Forces will reach the House of Representatives this week, while calling on armed factions not affiliated with the Popular Mobilization Forces to hand over their weapons and submit to the authority of the state.
Al-Zaydi said during a press conference held in the parliament building and attended by a correspondent from Shafaq News Agency, that “the law on service and retirement for the Popular Mobilization Forces is one of the important laws, and the parliament will work on reading and approving it during the coming period.” Read more…
