Analysis How Iraq’s next government could shape the US-Iran rivalry Millions of Iraqis headed to the polls last week to vote, but it could be months before a new government takes shape. By Elizabeth Hagedorn In Washington, DC, reporting on diplomacy, regional politics, human rights
Iraq’s Shiite alliance meets to chart strategy after Sudani comes first in election The final results of last week’s election showed Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s list winning 46 seats in parliament, the most of any party, though he is not guaranteed to remain in his current role. Iraq
Analysis Turkey to navigate enduring Iranian influence in Iraq following elections Ankara will have to navigate Iran-aligned factions’ influence in Iraq while safeguarding strategic ties and ongoing cooperation with Baghdad. By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Sudani ahead in early Iraq vote count, path to power uncertain Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani is not guaranteed to stay on even if his list wins. Iraq
Analysis Will Iraq’s election results reshape Iran’s role in Baghdad? By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Analysis Turkey eyes continuity in Iraq as elections test Sudani’s pro-Ankara momentum By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Intel: What Iraq is doing to avoid being caught in tug of war between US and Iran The Iraqi embassy in Washington is working overtime to avoid getting caught up in the feud between the United States and Iran. Iraq
Iraqi Kurds vote to elect new parliament Iraqi Kurdistan held its parliamentary elections one year after its failed bid for independence, but low voter turnout and claims of voter fraud are tainting the results. Iraq
Congress takes aim at pro-Iran election winners in Iraq US lawmakers are preparing sanctions as Tehran presses Baghdad to form a government friendly to its interests. Iraq
Turkey extends flight ban to Sulaimaniyah Turkey seems to be expressing its opposition to the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan's candidate for the Iraqi presidency by extending its ban on flights to Sulaimaniyah, but the move may represent the extent of Ankara's influence over political machinations in Baghdad. Iraq
Iran's influence continues to shape new Iraqi government After Iran succeeded in pushing through its preferred candidate for Iraq's parliament speaker, Tehran continued its pressure to secure the position of second deputy speaker, bringing the "score" to 2-0 against the US. Iraq
Iran 1, US 0: Iraq chooses a parliament speaker After a long delay, the Iraqi parliament has finally elected its speaker and in doing so confirmed the rising influence of Iran. Iraq
Iraq's Abadi under fire from pro-Iran political factions Pro-Iranian factions within Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units are taking advantage of the bloody events in Basra to prevent the prime minister from winning a second term, accusing him of being under US influence. Iraq
Mortars hit Iraq's Green Zone as violent protests continue As Iraq's political parties have failed to form a new government, unrest continues in Basra, where hundreds of people are being hospitalized each day due to a lack of basic services, especially clean water. Iraq
Turkey pins hopes on cleric Sadr to form Iraqi government As Turkey waits to see which Iraqi political coalition comes up with the parliamentary majority necessary to install a new government, Ankara is rooting for the bloc of cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, which it sees as most likely to minimize US and Iranian influence in the country. Iraq
Shiite split heats up as Iraqi lawmakers fail to elect speaker Two Iraqi Shiite coalitions — one favored by the United States and the other by Iran — are competing hard to gain a majority in the parliament to form the next government. Iraq
Iran-Iraq tensions rise as Tehran demands war compensation Tensions between Baghdad and Tehran grow after Iraq's prime minister said his country would abide by US sanctions against Iran, while the latter demands compensation for damages in the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War. Iraq
