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 Workers Lack Laws To Protect Their Rights In an economy lacking in diversity, many Iraqis seek refuge in government employment, placing an enormous burden on a government struggling to provide legislation that will protect their rights, writes Omar al-Shaher. Iraq
Iraq Plans to Launch Satellite To Deal With Water Crisis As part of efforts to monitor desertification and growing water shortages across the country, Iraq is working to build and launch a satellite before the end of the year, writes Omar al-Shaher. Iraq
Iraqi Government Bans TV Channels Over Coverage of Protest Violence The Iraqi government has banned 10 TV channels for covering the violence in Hawija, further raising political tensions in the country, writes Mushreq Abbas. Iraq
Erbil Sends Forces to Outskirts Of Kirkuk, Enraging Baghdad Baghdad considers the Iraqi Kurdistan Region's deployment of peshmerga to the outskirts of Kirkuk to be escalatory and provocative, writes Abdel Hamid Zebari. Iraq
Saudi Wahhabi Sheikh Calls On Iraq's Jihadists to Kill Shiites A Saudi Wahhabi sheikh has issued a fatwa in which he calls on jihadists in Iraq to kill Shiites, including women and children, in another sign of the bitter sectarian conflict dividing the region, writes Haytham Mouzahem. Iraq
Iraqi Sectarian Violence Spreads After Hawija Deaths After dozens were killed when the Iraqi army stormed demonstrations in Hawija, sectarian violence seems to be escalating despite truce efforts, writes Ali Abel Sadah. Iraq
Iraqi Kurdistan Faces A Hot Political Summer Massoud Barzani faces competition in his unprecedented bid for a third term in the coming presidential elections in Iraqi Kurdistan, writes Abdel Hamid Zebari. Iraq
Iraqi Kurdistan Parties Concerned About New Electoral Law Minor political parties in Iraq’s Kurdistan region have expressed concerns that the new electoral system will not allow for proper representation, writes Abdel Hamid Zebari. Iraq
Iraqis Turn to Civil Disobedience In Anbar, Ninevah Provinces Opposition leaders have called for civil disobedience in reaction to Iraq's prime minister calling protesters "insurgents," writes Omar al-Shaher. Iraq
Iraqi Political Blocs Ponder Provincial Election Results As Iraq’s major political blocs count their gains and losses in the recently held provincial elections, Mustafa al-Kadhimi looks forward to what the future holds for politics in Iraq. Iraq
No Surprises in Early Results For Iraqi Provincial Elections The results of the latest round of provincial elections in Iraq have failed to defy expectations, with the same political problems persisting, writes Mushreq Abbas. Iraq
Low Turnout in Iraqi Elections As most of Iraq’s provinces headed to the polls, low voter turnout, technical errors and some incidents of violence served as reminders of the issues still plaguing Iraqi society, writes Ali Abel Sadah. Iraq