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Iraq

August 27, 2026

Baghdad 8:21 pm

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Iraq summons Iran envoy over 'Persian Gulf' post, Baghdad name origins: What to know

The move comes amid heightened tensions in the region, including over the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the controversially referenced gulf to the Arabian Sea.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi delivers a speech in Baghdad, May 16, 2026.

Exclusive

Iraq's Zaidi set to make European debut with Macron in France

The Iraqi prime minister is expected to sign several memorandums of understanding with France during his Sept. 14 meeting with Macron as Baghdad seeks to diversify its diplomatic and security ties.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Latest News

Oil falls 1.8% as traders await 'toughest' sanctions on Iran

Leon Neal/Getty Images

Iraq’s Zaidi doubles down on militia disarmament, boosting oil exports

Zaidi

Interview

Barzani calls for enhanced air defense for Kurdistan Region to counter drone attacks

Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government, gives a press conference in the autonomous region's capital Arbil on June 25, 2025.

Masrour Barzani

Masrour Barzani

KRG Prime Minister

Amberin Zaman

Chief Correspondent

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Jared Szuba

Defense and Security Correspondent

In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military

Beatrice Farhat

Associate Editor (Lebanon)

In Beirut, reporting on regional news, culture, conflict

Suadad al-Salhy

In Baghdad, reporting on politics and security

Lyse Mauvais

In Amman, reporting on humanitarian crises

Winthrop Rodgers

In Sulaymaniyah, reporting on Kurdish issues

A supporter of Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr sits with his portrait during the weekly Friday prayers.

Sadr announces hunger strike as 20 killed in Baghdad clashes

Clashes between rival Shiite groups, the Sadrists and the Popular Mobilization Units, have left more than 20 dead and hundreds injured.

Iraqi police are pictured standing guard at the closed gate of the government headquarters.

Iraq issues arrest warrants for Sadrist leaders after judiciary storming

The Iraqi judiciary issued arrest warrants and travel bans against key Sadrist movement leaders amid violent political conflicts, but their enforcement could be a sensitive task.

A supporter of Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr carries bullet casings and a spent shotgun shell.

US: No plans to evacuate embassy in Baghdad, monitoring clashes

White House official calls for calm in Iraq following Muqtada al-Sadr's resignation from politics.

A supporter of Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr carries the Iraqi flag.

Kuwait asks citizens to leave Iraq amid Baghdad unrest

Protests are happening throughout Iraq following cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's announcement declaring he has given up on politics.

DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP via Getty Images

Iran-linked attacks on US forces in Syria rekindle Iraq border concerns

Tit-for-tat attacks by US and Iran-linked forces in eastern Syria have raised regional tension levels and questions about Iraq’s control of its western border and an area long controlled by Kataib Hezbollah in the center of the country.

SAFIN HAMED/AFP via Getty Images

KRG responds to Baghad's threat of legal action over oil dispute

The federal Iraqi government argues that the autonomous region’s independent oil deals are unconstitutional.

A man stands outside the headquarters of the Supreme Judicial Council.

Iraqi PM warns security forces to stay out of political conflicts

The Iraqi judiciary resumed its work the day after powerful Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr ordered his supporters to withdraw from the Supreme Judicial Council.

A view of the platform of the Leviathan natural gas field in the Mediterranean Sea is pictured from the Israeli northern coastal city of Caesarea on January 25, 2022. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Middle East is building a big lead in global hydrocarbon investments

Gerald Kepes

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional energy trends

A supporter of Iraqi Muslim Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr raises his portrait.

Sadrist protesters withdraw from Iraq's Judiciary after condemnation

Sadrist protesters stormed the Judiciary this morning, raising concerns over stability in Iraq.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi attended a summit today in Egypt’s New Alamein city.

Iraq's prime minister attends Arab summit in Egypt’s New Alamein

Leaders of Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain met today in Egypt's New Alamein city to discuss regional security and cooperation.

Supporters of Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr continue their sit-in.

Will Iraq's Sunnis, Kurds support early elections?

Iraq’s Sunni and Kurdish forces are closely watching developments between the Sadrist movement and the Coordination Framework, so as to take a political position on whether to dissolve parliament and hold early elections.

Kadhimi

Kadhimi hosts national dialogue of Iraqi leaders to end political deadlock

Iraqi political leaders joined today to discuss a roadmap for ending current political crisis, as part of an initiative for national dialogue, with all major parties except the Sadrists represented.