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. Iran
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. Iraq
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Iran dismisses Trump’s ‘Economic D-Day’ threat Saudi Arabia wants Iran-backed militia 'heads to roll' in Iraq; Turkey denies military presence at Syrian base hit by Israel; and more. By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
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 KRG Prime Minister
Exclusive Saudi Arabia wants Iran-backed militia 'heads to roll' in Iraq amid talks with Tehran By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
Newsletter: Daily Briefing Syria blames Israel for strikes on military airport in Idlib By Ezgi Akin In Ankara, reporting on diplomacy, EU-Turkey ties, NATO
The political roots of the Anbar crisis The current crisis in Iraq’s Anbar province can only be solved through a political solution. Iraq
Controversy surrounds alleged Iraq-Iran arms deal An Iraqi diplomat has been reported as claiming that Baghdad will sign an arms deal with Iran, but other officials from both sides refute his alleged assertions. Iraq
Poverty rates on the rise in Iraq The security crisis in Anbar and the crisis in governance have contributed to a declining Iraqi economy. Iraq
Safeguarding Iraq’s Jewish Archive Iraq has decided to repatriate some of the Jewish historical documents found in Baghdad after the fall of the Saddam Hussein regime, while others will go on international display, providing a window for the world into Iraq’s cultural heritage. Iraq
Human Rights Watch condemns situation in Iraq Despite Iraq having numerous governmental and nongovernmental human rights groups, the state of human rights in the country is dismal, according to Human Rights Watch. Iraq
Clans play decisive role in Iraqi elections Given the weakness of the central state and a lack of overall security, citizens have continued to rely on clans and tribal affiliations, something that will play a significant role in upcoming parliamentary elections. Countries
New Iraqi retirement law full of loopholes After popular protests against very generous retirement plans for Iraqi state officials, a new and better retirement law was passed, but it still has many loopholes. Iraq
Will the Iraqi Jewish archive be off-limits to Jews? The restored Iraqi Jewish archive may soon leave the United States for Baghdad, making this piece of Jewish heritage almost inaccessible to Jews. Iraq
Iraq needs law to protect minorities Although the Iraqi constitution stipulates rights for all the country’s "components," there is a pressing need for a law that specifies and ensures minority rights in particular. Iraq
ISIS leader al-Baghdadi proves formidable enemy Contrary to his predecessors, Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has proven to be more pragmatic and devious. Iraq
Iraqi vendors diversify supplies in response to Syria, Anbar conflicts Military operations launched in the Anbar province, located along the Syrian border, have disrupted the import of goods from Syria, leading Iraqi vendors to turn to other states to import goods. Iraq
Statements on forming new Iraqi provinces cause uproar Iraq’s Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Torhan al-Mufti caused an uproar when he made statements that the government had decided to transform two Turkmen-majority districts into provinces, yet the actual governmental decisions left the matter open. Iraq