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Iraq

August 25, 2026

Baghdad 6:13 am

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Oil falls 1.8% as traders await 'toughest' sanctions on Iran

Traders are awaiting details about new US measures sure to further disrupt Iranian oil flows.

Zaidi

Iraq’s Zaidi doubles down on militia disarmament, boosting oil exports

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi made the comments amid Hormuz-related export struggles and a nearing deadline for armed groups to disarm.

Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government, gives a press conference in the autonomous region's capital Arbil on June 25, 2025.

Interview

Barzani calls for enhanced air defense for Kurdistan Region to counter drone attacks

Iraqi Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani backs US-led regional economic integration efforts and lauds US partnership in an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor.

Masrour Barzani

Masrour Barzani

KRG Prime Minister

Latest News

Exclusive

Saudi Arabia wants Iran-backed militia 'heads to roll' in Iraq amid talks with Tehran

AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP via Getty Images

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Explainer

Iraq seeks special Hormuz access from Iran in scramble to keep oil flowing

AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP via Getty Images

Iran’s Ghalibaf makes high-level visit to Iraq ahead of disarmament deadline

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf speaks during a press conference at the site where Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was killed by a US airstrike in 2020 near the airport upon his arrival in Baghdad, on Aug. 19, 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

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.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (L) meets with Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan at Beylerbeyi Palace in Istanbul November 22, 2014. REUTERS/Murad Sezer (TURKEY - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR4F5NS

Erdogan slams US on Syria again, days after Biden visit

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan calls US "impertinent" on Syria, says West likes seeing Muslim children die; Israel considers extension of Iran nuclear talks as better than a bad deal.

A member of the Saudi border guards force stands guard next to a fence on Saudi Arabia's northern borderline with Iraq July 14, 2014. Three mortar bombs landed inside Saudi Arabia last week close to its northern border with Iraq, where Islamist militants have grabbed land in a lightning advance, officials said. REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser (SAUDI ARABIA - Tags: POLITICS MILITARY CIVIL UNREST TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) - RTR3YMVB

Islamic State cell strikes Shiites in Saudi Arabia

A deadly attack by an Islamic State cell on Saudi Shiites has upped the ante in the jihadists' threat to the Saudi royal family as the guardians of Islam's most holy sites.

To promote wins against IS, Iran's Soleimani emerges

Quds Force Cmdr. Qasem Soleimani has been advising Iraqi Shiite militias with some success in the fight against the Islamic State.

Iraqi women take part in a literacy class at a school in the Hay al-Amel neighborhood of Baghdad on September 9 2008. The classes under the umbrella 'Culture For All', are funded by several charity organizations based in London also by UNICEF and the Red Crescent. 'Culture for All' runs several initiatives including teaching adult illiteracy classes and sewing classes, they also provide lawyers to advise citizens on human right issues. AFP PHOTO / ALI YUSSEF (Photo credit should read ALI YUSSEF/AFP/Getty I

Iraq looks to tackle problem of adult illiteracy

As Iraq’s population has been struggling with conflict and drought since the 1980s, many older, illiterate Iraqis are now trying to learn how to read and write under challenging circumstances.

Lebanese Hezbollah supporters march during a religious procession, to mark the burning of the tents that is part of the Ashura religious ceremony, in Nabatieh November 7, 2014. REUTERS/Ali Hashisho (LEBANON - Tags: POLITICS RELIGION) - RTR4DAZY

Hezbollah arrives in Iraq

As the battle against the Islamic State evolves, experienced members of Hezbollah arrive in Iraq to provide guidance and training.

Iraqi artist Wissam Ghadi paints a portrait of Shi'ite Imam Ali in his Al Sadr city studio on the outkirts of Baghdad December 25, 2003. Repressed under three decades of secular Arab nationalist rule, Iraq's majority Shi'ite Muslims are enjoying the new-found freedom of painting religious figures to practice their faith with impunity. Picture taken December 25, 2003. TO MOVE WITH FEATURE STORY BC-IRAQ-SHI'ITES-PAINTING REUTERS/Ali Jasim CLH/AA - RTR9AJE

Despite controversy, religious art increasingly popular in Iraq

Iraqi artists who specialize in painting imams and sacred historical figures find themselves in demand even though their art provokes a religious backlash from some.

Iraqi prime Minister Haider al-Abadi (R) speaks at a news conference with Turkey's Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Baghdad, November 20, 2014. REUTERS/Hadi Mizban/Pool (IRAQ - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR4EWED

Ankara, Baghdad turn over new leaf in relationship

Prospects for political, economic and security cooperation between Ankara, Baghdad and Erbil look much better today despite issues that have to be ironed out.

Iraq's Oil Minister, Adel Abdul-Mehdi (L) meets with Iraq's Kurdistan Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani in Arbil, north of Baghdad, November 13, 2014. REUTERS/Stringer (IRAQ - Tags: POLITICS ENERGY) - RTR4E0S5

Future uncertain for Baghdad-Erbil oil cooperation

Despite a breakthrough deal between the Iraqi federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government to cooperate on oil exports from northern Iraq, thorny issues remain.