Analysis What Zaidi's Washington visit means for US investment in Iraq Iraq could greatly benefit from US investment in gas capture, which could help reduce the country's dependence on neighboring Iran. By Adam Lucente In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change
In Trump meeting, Iraq PM says US troops to withdraw by Sept. 30 The White House appeared to support a deadline to remove remaining American counter-ISIS troops from Iraq, but security concerns among Washington's Kurdish partners and US business firms remain. By Jared Szuba In Washington, DC, reporting on defense, national security, military
Trump hosts Iraqi PM Zaidi as Iran war intensifies President Donald Trump emphasized Iraq’s “tremendous oil reserves” and possible deals with US companies. Iraq
Analysis On first foreign trip, Iraqi PM Zaidi woos Trump but Iran casts long shadow Iraq's new prime minister is in Washington promising business deals and closer ties with the United States, but convincing the Trump administration he can rein in Iran-backed militias may prove his toughest challenge. By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Analysis Can Iraq absorb Iran-backed militias without deepening Tehran’s influence? By Adam Lucente In New York City, reporting on regional news, militancy, climate change
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
As Iraq wraps up election recount, is a new government in sight? In the midst of intensive negotiations by the winning parties in the elections to form a new government, the Independent High Electoral Commission has completed the process of manual counting, without expecting a significant change in the results. Iraq
