Iraq taps Krikor Der-Hagopian as first Armenian Christian ambassador to US Baghdad’s pick of a US-educated Armenian Christian adviser as envoy to Washington underscores a bid to reset US-Iraq ties and broaden the country’s diplomatic profile. Iraq
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Region welcomes US-Iran deal Gulf states, Turkey and Lebanon cautiously praise the framework while urging full implementation and protection of maritime trade routes. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Exclusive Barrack heads to Iraq as US presses Baghdad on Iran-backed militias US envoy Tom Barrack is due to meet with Iraq’s new prime minister and other top officials in Baghdad, where he will likely press US demands for Iran-backed Shiite militias be dismantled and disarmed. By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Culture World Cup opens amid visa disputes for Iran, Iraq and Somalia Iran says a number of team staff were denied entry into the US, with Trump administration officials touting efforts to prevent affiliates of designated terrorist groups from entering. Iran
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Trump says Iran will 'pay the price’ for dragging out talks By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Iraqi PM stresses need for regional reconciliation at summit in Jordan Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani attended the second round of the Baghdad conference today in Jordan and expressed Iraq's willingness to push forward on regional cooperation and partnership. Iraq
Latest Islamic State attack highlights security challenges facing Iraq The Islamic State continues to carry out attacks in northern Iraq, creating serious security challenges for the country. Iraq
Yazidis in Iraqi Kurdistan face 'extinction,' community leaders say As Yazidis struggle to survive in displacement camps in Iraq, one community leader continues to help women survivors of the Islamic State genocide to resettle in Europe. Iraq
World Bank says debt increasing in Middle East countries Egypt, Iran and Turkey’s debt rose significantly last year. Legacy: Gulf
Arab influx to Iraqi Kurdistan helps revive economy but corrupts local culture, critics say Iraqi Kurds are alarmed by the influx of Arabs into their region, fearing they will dilute their ethnic identity and corrupt their values. Yet the Arabs are critical to the region's economy, which increasingly caters to their needs. Iraq
In press freedom index, Middle Eastern countries go from bad to worse Press freedom and journalist safety remain “very bad” in the majority of the Middle East and North Africa nations, Reporters Without Borders' 2022 index shows. Syria
Iraqi PM calls for closer ties with China During the Arab-China Summit in Riyadh, Muhammad Shia al-Sudani expressed Iraq's willingness to join the Belt and Road Initiative and expand ties and relationship with China. Iraq
Analysis Iran looms large over Iraqi PM’s reform agenda Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s government is seeking a fast start amid uncertainty in Iran. By Week in Review
Family feuds among Iraq’s Kurdish leaders embolden Iran Iraqi Kurdish leaders are at each other’s throats instead of closing ranks as Iran rains cross-border missile and drone attacks on the region and threatens a ground invasion. Iraq
Iraqi startup Lezzoo expands with purchase of Saydo The delivery startup is one of several in the autonomous Kurdistan Region, and the autonomous government is hoping to spur more startup growth. Iraq
Protests erupt in southern Iraq as man sentenced for tweeting against PMU Security concerns for southern Iraq have risen following an attempted suicide attack near Karbala and deadly protests in Nasiriyah sparked by a prison sentence for a man accused of insulting security forces. Iraq
Iraq's Sadr takes aim at LGBTQ community Leader of the Sadrist movement Muqtada al-Sadr made the headlines again in Iraq by announcing his opposition to homosexuality, several months into his withdrawal from the political process. Iraq