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Iraq

May 7, 2026

Baghdad 12:14 am

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Zaidi

Analysis

Iraq’s Zaidi offers economic promise for Turkey but unknowns loom

Iraq’s prime minister-designate, Ali al-Zaidi, is expected to sustain growing economic and strategic ties with Turkey thanks to his business-oriented approach, though uncertainty over his political stance could test cooperation on sensitive issues.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

Ali Al-Zaidi

Analysis

US banking on Iraqi turnaround with nomination of Zaidi as new PM

Trump signals hope for a "tremendous new chapter” in US-Iraq ties with the nomination of Ali Al-Zaidi as prime minister.

Week in Review

By Week in Review

Crops of wheat and barley in Terbol village on May 10, 2022, in Bekaa Valley, Lebanon.

Analysis

MENA wheat importers face food security risks as Hormuz crisis festers

Home to many of the world's largest wheat importers, the Middle East and North Africa face acute food security risks as the US-Israel-Iran war disrupts global fertilizer flows and pushes up prices.

Samuel Wendel

By Samuel Wendel

In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech

Iraq's prime minister-designate, Ali al-Zaidi, at Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's office on April 28, 2026.

Trump congratulates Iraq PM-designate Zaidi in call: What to know

The US President was openly critical of previous nominee Nouri al-Maliki, seen as too close to Iran, but is now welcoming the new candidate put forward by Iraq’s leading Shiite bloc.

Latest News

Meet Ali al-Zaidi, businessman and Iraq's new prime minister-designate

Prime Minister Mohammed S. al-Sudani met with Prime Minister-designate Ali Faleh al-Zaidi on April 28, 2026.

Iraq's Shiite alliance nominates Ali al-Zaidi as PM candidate: What to know

Ali al-Zaidi

Split over Maliki, Iraq’s Shiite bloc delays PM vote as deadline nears: What to know

Qais al-Khazali (L), head of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq group, stands along with former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki after casting their ballots at a polling station in Baghdad on Nov. 11, 2025.

How Syria's border opening with Iraq redefines Turkey-Kurd balance

Members of Iraq's security forces stand guard on the the al-Rabia border crossing with Syria on April 20, 2026.

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 worker checks the valve gears in a natural gas control centre of Turkey's Petroleum and Pipeline Corporation, 35 km (22 miles) west of Ankara, February 14, 2012. REUTERS/Umit Bektas (TURKEY - Tags: BUSINESS ENERGY) - RTR2XU2U

In natural gas, all pipelines go through Turkey

Natural gas from Iraq is to reach Turkey in 2017, Azeri gas is to arrive in 2018 and Iran, Russia and Israel also want to sell their natural gas via Turkey.

Shi'ite pilgrims gather at the Imam Hussein shrine during a ceremony marking Ashura in the holy city of Kerbala, 110 km (68 miles) south of Baghdad December 6, 2011. The festival, commemorated by Shi'ite Muslims, marks the martyrdom of the Prophet Mohammad's grandson Hussein in the battle of Karbala in Iraq in the year 680. REUTERS/Mushtaq Muhammed (IRAQ - Tags: RELIGION) - RTR2UWJ7

Hoping for miracles, Shiites walk Iraq's Arbaeen pilgrimage

Arbaeen is a religious commemoration that Shiites from around the world celebrate as a religious obligation and a social deed, and some witness miracles performed by Imam Hussein ibn Ali.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (L) Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi (CL) and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (CR) attend a round table meeting of the global coalition to counter the Islamic State militant group at NATO headquarters in Brussels December 3, 2014. REUTERS/Eric Vidal (BELGIUM - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) - RTR4GIZ7

What happened at anti-IS coalition meeting?

A diplomatic source participating in the gathering of the international coalition against the Islamic State told Al-Monitor that Turkey sought to undermine its regional rivals for its own interests.

Abdul-Mahdi: Now real work begins for Baghdad, Erbil

Although the oil deal between Baghdad and Erbil is a positive development, Turkey is sidelined by it and risks becoming a “geopolitical bystander” because of Russia's decision to cancel the South Stream gas project.

Iraqi workers walk through the Taq Taq oil field in Arbil, in Iraq's Kurdistan region, August 16, 2014. Picture taken August 16, 2014. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari (IRAQ - Tags: ENERGY BUSINESS COMMODITIES) - RTR43SUK

Oil deal a sign of hope between Baghdad, Erbil

An oil agreement signed by the Iraqi and Kurdish governments over the management of oil proceeds could be a new step in the normalization of relations between them.

A man uses an ATM machine at a bank in Baghdad March 4, 2012. The lack of efficient banking is holding the country back as it rebuilds its economy after the underinvestment of the Saddam Hussein years and the turmoil that followed the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. Without banks that are integrated into the global financial system, foreign investors outside the oil sector are likely to continue hesitating to commit large sums to Iraq. Picture taken March 4, 2012. To match Feature IRAQ-BANKING/ REUTERS/Mohamme

Iraq investigates private banks for money laundering

88% of private banks in Iraq are under investigation on charges of money laundering, which have become rampant in the country in the absence of efficient audits by the Central Bank.

Military personnel and policemen march during a parade for their graduation ceremony in Kirkuk, 250 km (155 miles) north of Baghdad February 15, 2010. The "Golden Lions", a mixed squad consisting of U.S. military personnel, Iraqi and Peshmerga soldiers as well as policemen graduated from the academy in Kirkuk after finishing a month of training on Monday, police official said. REUTERS/Ako Rasheed (IRAQ - Tags: MILITARY POLITICS) - RTR2AAYS

Anti-IS coalition's 'train-and-equip' program not enough

The problem with the US-led coalition's "train-and-equip" program is not finding committed soldiers willing to fight but rather finding dedicated, capable leaders to command them.

EDITORS' NOTE: Reuters and other foreign media are subject to Iranian restrictions on leaving the office to report, film or take pictures in Tehran.

An Iranian AirForce F-5F fighter plane takes off during manoeuvres in southern Iran June 24, 2009. REUTERS/Fars News (IRAN MILITARY) - RTR24ZCE

Iran denies cooperating with US on IS strikes

Iranian officials have not confirmed whether Iran has conducted airstrikes against the Islamic State in Iraq but continue to officially reject cooperation with the US-led coalition.

Iraqi Army personnel take part during an intensive security deployment against Islamic State militants in Jurf al-Sakhar October 27, 2014. Picture taken October 27, 2014. REUTERS/Mahmoud Raouf Mahmoud (IRAQ - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS MILITARY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) - RTR4BVO5

Addressing corruption just one part of Iraqi security

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's efforts to reform the security and military institutions are necessary to eliminate corruption but not enough to restore Iraq’s security.

People work at the West Qurna oilfield in southern Basra October 13, 2014. Oil prices are hovering just above $90 per barrel, a level last seen in June 2012, putting a strong spotlight on OPEC producing countries. They face calls to cut output at, or before, a policy meeting in late November to prop prices up as some are already feeling the pinch of sub-$100 oil through increased budget pressure. Global oil prices are collectively reflecting the sweeping impact of a U.S. shale oil boom, with its production

Iraq faces budget cuts

Iraq may be planning austerity measures across its institutions, potentially cutting the salaries of 4 million public employees, to face the dropping price of oil and the war against the Islamic State.

Shi'ite volunteers, who have joined the Iraqi army to fight against militants of the Islamic State, formerly known as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), carry a picture of Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani during a graduation ceremony after completing their field training in Najaf, August 16, 2014. School is out, but northern Baghdad's classrooms are packed - not with students, but with people who have travelled further than most to escape the Sunni militant onslaught splitting Iraq. REUTERS/Alaa Al

Sistani denies supporting Soleiman's involvement in Iraq

The office of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani has denied allegations that he supports the Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani's presence and Iranian involvement in Iraq in the fight against the Islamic State.

Iraqi artist's work spans East, West

In an interview with Al-Monitor, Iraqi artist Ahmed Alsoudani talks about his humble beginnings and his rise to prominence in the global art world.