The UAE announces it is cutting trade ties with Iran.
2026-08-19
Shafaq News – Abu Dhabi
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Tuesday the suspension of all trade activities, exchanges and financial transactions with Iran until further notice.
The Director of Strategic Communications at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Afra Al Hamli, said in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency that “the United Arab Emirates denies all allegations regarding the status of its economic relationship with the Islamic Republic of Iran, and reaffirms its firm commitment Read more…
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Lifting subsidies and tightening tax collection: The Iraqi government approves a new package of economic decisions.
2026-08-19
Shafaq News – Baghdad
On Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi chaired the fifteenth regular session of the Council of Ministers, which witnessed a discussion of the latest developments in the general situation in the country, a review of the files on the agenda, and the adoption of a number of necessary decisions and measures regarding them.
The Prime Minister’s Media Office stated in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency that, as part of the government’s measures to increase export and import capacities, the recommendation regarding the purchase of Read more…
Is the United States hiding the bodies of alien beings?
2026-08-19
Shafaq News – Washington
An American astrophysicist who has worked for decades with government programs related to the UFO file has revealed that he has seen what he described as secret evidence and records indicating that the United States is keeping the bodies of extraterrestrial beings allegedly found inside the wreckage of unidentified objects that crashed to Earth.
Dr. Eric Davis said during an interview with News Nation that he had seen government records and photographs that, he claimed, documented incidents in which bodies were recovered from the wreckage of unidentified flying Read more…
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Chevron reveals to Shafaq News developments in West Qurna, Nasiriyah, and the oil pipeline through Syria
2026-08-19
Shafaq News – Washington
On Wednesday, the American company Chevron revealed progress in its negotiations regarding the West Qurna 2 and Nasiriyah oil fields, in parallel with its involvement in a potential project to establish a cross-border pipeline that would transport Iraqi oil through Syria to the Mediterranean Sea, at a time when Baghdad is seeking to expand its production and diversify its crude oil export outlets away from the Strait of Hormuz.
In an official response to questions from Shafaq News Agency, the company said that Chevron Read more…
Parties to the Mecca Agreement meet in Istanbul… and Egypt joins the table
2026-08-19
Shafaq News – Islamabad
The Pakistani Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey and Pakistan will hold a quadrilateral meeting in Istanbul later this month to discuss political developments and regional security issues.
The ministry said in a statement that the meeting comes “within the framework of continued consultations and close cooperation between the four countries regarding developments in the political situation and regional security,” indicating that the agreement on the date and place of the meeting Read more…
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British report: Pipeline projects will not free Iraq from the grip of Hormuz
2026-08-19
Shafaq News – Translation
Amid the prolonged crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, Iraq is scrambling to find new outlets and routes to export its oil products, including through some pipeline projects that face significant logistical challenges. However, the British website Sea Trade Maritime News believes that Iraq will remain primarily dependent on two-way tanker traffic through Hormuz, especially in order to meet its two Asian giant customers, India and China.
After the British website specializing in maritime trade affairs stated in a report, translated by Shafaq News Agency, Read more…
Qalibaf in Baghdad… Al-Halbousi demands “special treatment” for Iraqi oil via the Strait of Hormuz, and Al-Amidi warns against escalation.
2026-08-19
Shafaq News – Baghdad
On Wednesday, President Nizar Amidi discussed with Iranian Islamic Consultative Assembly Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf the latest regional and international developments, prospects for bilateral relations, and ways to develop them. Meanwhile, during a separate meeting with Qalibaf, Speaker of Parliament Hebat al-Halbousi called for consideration of Iraq’s “special circumstances” in exporting oil through the Strait of Hormuz.
A statement from the media office of the Presidency of the Republic, received Read more…
Iraq’s revenues decline by 42% in June 2026
2026-08-19
Shafaq News – Baghdad
The revenues of the Iraqi federal budget declined during June 2026 to about 35.946 trillion dinars, compared to 62.004 trillion dinars in the same month of 2025, a decrease of about 26.058 trillion dinars, or about 42%.
According to budget implementation data reviewed by Shafaq News Agency, oil revenues in June 2026 amounted to approximately 28.506 trillion dinars, Read more…
Iraq emphasizes to Iran the importance of prioritizing wisdom in resolving conflicts.
8-19-2026
The Iraqi Presidency stated that President Nizar Amidi discussed with Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who is visiting Baghdad, the latest developments on the regional and international scenes. It added that the President affirmed Iraq’s firm position and support for all efforts to end conflicts and resolve crises in the region, and stressed that Iraq clearly stands by any measures that contribute to strengthening regional peace and preserving the sovereignty and independence of states. Read more…
Iraqi Dinar Guru opinions 8-18-2026
8-18-2026 Newshound Guru Jeff Deleting the zeros is the very next banking reform step and being implemented in the second half of the year ’26. That’s why they brought all those articles forward yesterday…It wasn’t a coincidence. Read more…
A member of parliament calls for urgent measures to restore the Iraqi oil pipeline from Saudi Arabia.
8-18-2026
The head of the Al-Asas parliamentary bloc, Alaa al-Haidari, called on the government Tuesday to take urgent legal action to reclaim the Iraqi-Saudi oil pipeline, stressing the need to protect Iraq’s rights in this matter.
Al-Haidari told Al-Maalomah News Agency, “The Yanbu pipeline is one of the important issues that requires urgent government action to restore Iraq’s rights through established legal procedures.”
He added, “The government is required to seriously address this issue and follow up on it from all legal and technical aspects to ensure the preservation of Iraq’s interests, funds, and oil assets.” Read more…
Pakistani officials warn of renewed US-Iran war within 48 hours
2026-08-18
Shafaq News – Middle East
Pakistani officials said on Tuesday that the next 48 hours could be crucial in determining the fate of the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, warning that continued disagreement between the two sides and a failure to return to substantive negotiations could increase the risk of renewed strikes.
Pakistani sources told the Saudi website Asharq that the window for diplomacy remains open, but the gap between Washington and Tehran has widened, while regional mediation efforts are facing increasing difficulties Read more…
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Al-Zaidi and the United Nations discuss rural development and the private sector
2026-08-18
Shafaq News – Baghdad
On Tuesday, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi affirmed his commitment to developing rural areas and supporting the agricultural sector, as well as supporting and developing the private sector, in order to contribute to achieving sustainable development and diversifying the economy. This came during his meeting with the acting UN Resident Coordinator in Iraq, Peter Hawkins.
According to a statement from Al-Zaidi’s office received by Shafaq News Agency, the meeting discussed cooperation Read more…
Economist: Removing zeros will reduce inflation and withdraw money from corrupt officials.
8-18-2026
Information/Baghdad…
Economic researcher Haitham al-Khazali believes that removing zeros from the currency will reduce inflation in the financial markets and markets. He added that it will also draw cash held by citizens, merchants, and investors into banks, and compel corrupt individuals to surrender their illicit funds.
Al-Khazali told Al-Maalouma, “The government’s move to remove zeros from the currency would be a step in the right direction if it proceeds with such a transformation, as it would restore the Iraqi currency’s strength and reduce the inflation rate.” Read more…
Al-Haidari: There is no veto on any figure proven to be involved in corruption.
8-18-2026
Information/Baghdad…
Former MP Razzaq al-Haidari denied the existence of any veto against any figure proven to be involved in corruption cases, warning against favoritism in the fight against corruption.
Al-Haidari told Al-Maalouma, “The anti-corruption campaign will not exclude any figure, whether high-ranking or low-ranking, as the success of the agencies concerned with this file depends on not showing favoritism to any figure or Read more…
Al-Jalabi: Prominent political figures are secretly lobbying to halt the anti-corruption campaign.
8-18-2026
Information/Baghdad…
Zuhair al-Jalabi, a member of the Coordination Framework, revealed on Tuesday that prominent political figures linked to corruption cases are exerting pressure to halt the anti-corruption campaign. He explained that some of these figures publicly support Prime Minister Ali al-Zubaidi’s measures while secretly working to obstruct the campaign.
Al-Jalabi told the Information Agency, “There are a large number of high-ranking figures connected to Adnan al-Jumaili’s cases who publicly issue statements Read more…
Sovereignty before weapons: The resistance presents Washington and Ankara with the equation of withdrawal.
8-18-2026
Information/Report…
The political and security debate continues in Iraq regarding the issue of restricting weapons to the state, amidst escalating stances from resistance factions and political forces rejecting any move towards surrendering weapons while the American and Turkish military presence remains on Iraqi soil. They maintain that addressing this issue must begin with ending the foreign presence and achieving full sovereignty, not with disarming the factions.
This debate coincides with official and political calls Read more…
Finance Ministry: Revenues approach 36 trillion dinars, while expenditures exceed them by 18.7 trillion.
8-18-2026
The Ministry of Finance revealed on Tuesday that Iraq’s total revenues reached 35.946 trillion dinars, while oil revenues declined in their dominance of state resources, constituting approximately 80% of total revenues. A ministry statement received by Al
-Maalomah News Agency indicated that “oil revenues amounted to 28.433 trillion dinars, compared to approximately 7.513 trillion dinars in non-oil revenues, equivalent to about 20% of total revenues.” The statement further
explained that “total expenditures reached 54.673 trillion dinars, of which 50.592 trillion dinars were current Read more…
Exclusive: Iraq nears agreement with German company to transport its oil through the Strait of Hormuz with Iranian approval
2026-08-18
Shafaq News – Baghdad
An Iraqi government source revealed on Monday that the State Oil Marketing Company (SOMO) is conducting intensive negotiations with American and German oil transport companies in an attempt to secure the passage of Iraqi crude through the Strait of Hormuz, taking advantage of Iranian approval for the passage of tankers flying the Iraqi flag amid the disruptions to shipping in the waterway.
The source told Shafaq News Agency that “Iraq is seeking to capitalize on Iran’s approval for Iraqi-flagged oil tankers Read more…
Syrian court sentences Wassim al-Assad to death
2026-08-18
Shafaq News – Damascus
On Tuesday, the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus issued a death sentence by hanging against Wassim al-Assad (a cousin of former Syrian regime leader Bashar al-Assad), after convicting him of murder, torture, and crimes that the court described as crimes against humanity and war crimes.
The court stated, in a session followed by Shafaq News Agency, that investigations proved Wassim al-Assad’s involvement in forming irregular armed groups, on the orders of Brigadier General Ghiath Dalla, which targeted civilian areas in Eastern Ghouta and committed massacres against civilians, Read more…
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