Iraq’s Sadr says 'exclude' armed groups from next government as pressure builds The cleric's call comes as Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi tries to form a government amid political divisions and US demands to curb the influence of Iran-backed actors. Iraq
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Hormuz clashes cloud diplomacy as US awaits Iran response US strikes and renewed exchanges in Hormuz cast doubt on the ceasefire as the Trump administration awaits Tehran’s response to a new proposal. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
US sets expectations for Iraq’s next PM to confront Iranian militias The Trump administration is cautiously sizing up Iraq’s new prime minister-designate, Ali al-Zaidi, as a potential partner in pushing back on Iranian influence. Iran
Analysis Iraq’s Zaidi offers economic promise for Turkey but unknowns loom Iraq’s prime minister-designate, Ali al-Zaidi, is expected to sustain growing economic and strategic ties with Turkey thanks to his business-oriented approach, though uncertainty over his political stance could test cooperation on sensitive issues. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Analysis MENA wheat importers face food security risks as Hormuz crisis festers By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Controversy surrounds alleged Iraq-Iran arms deal An Iraqi diplomat has been reported as claiming that Baghdad will sign an arms deal with Iran, but other officials from both sides refute his alleged assertions. Iraq
Poverty rates on the rise in Iraq The security crisis in Anbar and the crisis in governance have contributed to a declining Iraqi economy. Iraq
Safeguarding Iraq’s Jewish Archive Iraq has decided to repatriate some of the Jewish historical documents found in Baghdad after the fall of the Saddam Hussein regime, while others will go on international display, providing a window for the world into Iraq’s cultural heritage. Iraq
Human Rights Watch condemns situation in Iraq Despite Iraq having numerous governmental and nongovernmental human rights groups, the state of human rights in the country is dismal, according to Human Rights Watch. Iraq
Clans play decisive role in Iraqi elections Given the weakness of the central state and a lack of overall security, citizens have continued to rely on clans and tribal affiliations, something that will play a significant role in upcoming parliamentary elections. Countries
New Iraqi retirement law full of loopholes After popular protests against very generous retirement plans for Iraqi state officials, a new and better retirement law was passed, but it still has many loopholes. Iraq
Will the Iraqi Jewish archive be off-limits to Jews? The restored Iraqi Jewish archive may soon leave the United States for Baghdad, making this piece of Jewish heritage almost inaccessible to Jews. Iraq
Iraq needs law to protect minorities Although the Iraqi constitution stipulates rights for all the country’s "components," there is a pressing need for a law that specifies and ensures minority rights in particular. Iraq
ISIS leader al-Baghdadi proves formidable enemy Contrary to his predecessors, Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has proven to be more pragmatic and devious. Iraq
Iraqi vendors diversify supplies in response to Syria, Anbar conflicts Military operations launched in the Anbar province, located along the Syrian border, have disrupted the import of goods from Syria, leading Iraqi vendors to turn to other states to import goods. Iraq
Statements on forming new Iraqi provinces cause uproar Iraq’s Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Torhan al-Mufti caused an uproar when he made statements that the government had decided to transform two Turkmen-majority districts into provinces, yet the actual governmental decisions left the matter open. Iraq
Al-Qaeda now frontline threat to Israel With gains in Syria, Lebanon and Egypt, al-Qaeda and its affiliates threaten Israel more than ever. Iraq