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
US sets expectations for Iraq’s next PM to confront Iranian militias The Trump administration is cautiously sizing up Iraq’s new prime minister-designate, Ali al-Zaidi, as a potential partner in pushing back on Iranian influence. Iran
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. 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
Iraqi Kurdish Opposition Challenges Draft Constitution With elections slated to take place in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region this fall, opposing political figures have begun to exchange accusations. Iraq
Iraqi First Deputy Speaker, From Sadr Bloc, Resigns Amid Queries The unexpected resignation of Iraqi parliamentary first deputy speaker Qusay al-Suhail has raised questions on all sides of the Iraqi political spectrum. Iraq
Iraqis Question Costly Pensions For Parliament Members Reactions to a draft law from Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s State of Law Coalition to do away with costly MP pensions are further embroiling the Iraqi political scene in controversy. Iraq
Iraqi Political Will Lacking For New Electoral Law Most observers consider it unlikely that Iraq will consider revising its electoral law ahead of the 2014 elections. Iraq
Iraqi Politicians Find Common Ground Elusive As Iraq’s political crisis intensifies, political parties should focus on areas of agreement, not escalting differences. Iraq
Maliki’s Losses in Local Elections Reflect Failed Economic Policies Losses by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s State of Law Coalition in recent provincial elections are the result of growing frustration with failed economic policies. Iraq
Black Iraqis Struggle To Shake Legacy of Racism Although Iraqis of African descent have had a significant presence in the country since the days of slave trade, particularly in the port of Basra, this community continues to face racism today, as it has for centuries. Iraq
Iraq to Receive Russian Military Helicopters The Iraqi government is expanding its armed forces. Iraq
UN to Decide on Ending Sanctions Against Iraq The UN Security Council will consider this month whether to remove Iraq from UN Chapter VII regulations, but Iraqi-Kuwaiti relations still require permanent solutions to overcome the past. Kuwait
Turkey's Sunni Identity Test The Turkish government’s sectarian impulse, resurging whenever foreign policy fails, reverberates in domestic politics and fans social unrest. Iraq
Iraqi Shiite Cleric: Iraqi Extremism A 'Transitory Phase' In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Iraqi Shiite authority Hussein al-Sadr shares his perspective on the state of affairs in Iraq 10 years after the fall of Saddam Hussein. Iraq
Turkey-Kurdish Peace Process on Hold? Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government says the talks are on track, but the Kurdish side is warning of a break in the process. Iraq