Newsletter: Daily Briefing Trump says removing Iran’s uranium is more about optics Trump downplays Iran uranium removal after China talks, the UAE moves to bypass Hormuz and Iraq ends months of political deadlock. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
Iraq parliament approves government of Prime Minister Zaidi Ali al-Zaidi, a prominent businessman with limited political experience, has backing from both the US and Iran. Iraq
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
Analysis Iraq’s Zaidi offers economic promise for Turkey but unknowns loom 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
Is Maliki Considering Postponing Iraq's Parliamentary Elections? There is speculation in Baghdad that Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki may consider postponing Iraq's parliamentary elections scheduled for next year. Iraq
Slowly, Surely Iraqi Women Increase Visibility, Role in Society Although religious and conservative groups call for limiting the role of women in Iraqi society, women continue to flourish in the business and educational worlds. Iraq
How Iraqis Assess Egypt's Coup Iraqis who view the Middle East’s developments from a purely sectarian perspective would do well to reconsider that approach as regional events play out. Iraq
Iraqi Government Suppresses Baghdad Demonstrations The Iraqi government exercises its power to allow and reject popular demonstrations at will. Iraq
Iraq’s Civilian Activists Under Siege Civilian activists in Iraq have increasingly been subject to attacks, killings and threats from the authorities, militias and terrorist organizations. Iraq
Iraqi Women Endure Sexual Harassment Increasing awareness of sexual harassment and abuse endured by Iraqi women on a daily basis has shed light on the need for social institutions to combat this kind of injustice. Iraq
Iraqi Politician Calls On Maliki to Step Down Iraqi politician Fakhri Kareem has called on Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to form a national salvation government and step down. Iraq
Israel's Iraq Channel Exiled Iraqi Jews in Israel and elsewhere are convinced that the moment has come for Israel to build bridges to Iraq. Iraq
Iraq’s Security Services in Crisis Iraq's security services are finding themselves unable to prevent terrorism. Iraq
OPEC Again Excludes Iraq from Oil Quotas Decades of war and international sanctions have greatly hindered Iraq’s oil production potential, an issue the current government is struggling to address. Iraq
Iraq Suffers Power Crisis As Temperatures Soar Frustration continues to mount in Iraq with the government unable to deliver sufficient electricity despite eight years of promises by officials. Iraq
Shiite Seminaries Divided On Fatwas for Syrian Jihad While Shiite clergy in Iran and Iraq mostly prefer to stay out of issuing fatwas, a minority is calling for jihad in Syria against salafist groups. Iraq
