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Iraq

June 17, 2026

Baghdad 8:05 am

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Tom Barrack

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Barrack heads to Iraq as US presses Baghdad on Iran-backed militias

US envoy Tom Barrack is due to meet with Iraq’s new prime minister and other top officials in Baghdad, where he will likely press US demands for Iran-backed Shiite militias be dismantled and disarmed.

Amberin Zaman

By Amberin Zaman

Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture

Members of the Iranian national soccer team including midfielder Alireza Jahanbakhsh (R) arrive at Tijuana International Airport on June 7, 2026, in Tijuana, Mexico.

Culture

World Cup opens amid visa disputes for Iran, Iraq and Somalia

Iran says a number of team staff were denied entry into the US, with Trump administration officials touting efforts to prevent affiliates of designated terrorist groups from entering.

Latest News

Syria says Iraqi oil shipments surge as Damascus courts foreign energy investment

A long convoys of Iraqi diesel-laden tanker trucks line up along the highway Tartus-Baniyas highway as they wait to unload their cargo at the Baniyas port refinery on the Mediterranean Sea, on April 15, 2026.

Israel-Iran escalation grounds flights across parts of Middle East

An Airbus A321 airliner arrives at the Mehrabad international airport during the delivery of the first batch of planes to the Iranian state airline Iran Air in the capital Tehran on Jaunary 12, 2017. - The aircraft arrived as part of an order for 100 other Airbus planes with a list price of around $20 billion (19 billion euros) on December 22, placed after the lifting of international sanctions on the Islamic republic. It will be used for internal flights landed at Tehran's Mehrabad airport. (Photo by ATTA

Culture

10 MENA teams at 2026 World Cup: Morocco eyes title, Iran faces visa hurdles

Morocco's midfielder Azzedine Ounahi celebrates scoring with teammates during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E African qualification football match between Morocco and Niger at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat on September 5, 2025. (Photo by Abdel Majid BZIOUAT / AFP)

Analysis

Turkey pushes Iraq, Syria trade routes as Hormuz crisis disrupts Gulf shipping

Vessels are seen anchored in the Strait of Hormuz, off the port city of Khasab on Oman's northern Musandam Peninsula, on May 17, 2026.

Barin Kayaoglu

By Barin Kayaoglu

In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security

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 parliament in Baghdad.

Iraq's new government outlines priorities

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani faces multiple challenges and constituencies to move his agenda.

Iraqi Prime Mohammed Shia al-Sudani meets with his cabinet on Oct. 28, 2022 in Baghdad.

Iraq's new premier meets with cabinet

Iraq's new government has held its first cabinet meeting in Baghdad.

Muhammad Shia al-Sudani addresses parliament on Oct. 27, 2022.

Iraq's parliament votes to approve new PM, government

The Iraqi parliament gave a vote of confidence to incoming PM Muhammad Shia al-Sudani, approving his government program and his cabinet with 21 ministers. Sudani pledged to hold early elections within one year.

Iraq Human Rights Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.

Iraqi parliament set to vote on new government

One year after Iraq's elections, the designated prime minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, stands poised to form Iraq's newest government.

A protester waves an Iraqi national flag in Tahrir Square on Oct. 25, 2022.

Despite harsh stances, Iraq's Muqtada al-Sadr still useful ally for Iran

Iran sees Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr as an ally worth keeping despite his harsh criticisms of Iran and its allies in Iraq.

Iraq slum

How can Iraq help 3.5 million citizens living in urban slums?

The government and parliament in Iraq are working to address the slum housing crisis, facing obstacles and wide social and political opposition.

Iraq's newly-elected President Abdul Latif Rashid waves during his inauguration and handover ceremony at al-Salam Palace in the capital Baghdad on Oct. 17, 2022.

New Iraqi president takes office, government expected next week

Iraq's new president commenced his duties, and the designated prime minister will form his Cabinet next week.

An undated image of Rashid.

Iraqi lawmakers elect Abdul Latif Rashid as new president

The often-deadlocked parliament chose a veteran Kurdish politician as president, who in turn designated Muhammad Shia al-Sudani for the prime minister position.

Flag

Rockets hit Baghdad's Green Zone as lawmakers gather to select Iraq's president

As lawmakers were preparing to select the country's president, several rockets hit the area around the parliament building.

AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP via Getty Images

Iraqi parliament sets date to pick president

The Iraqi parliament is set to meet Thursday to select the president and from there, form a new government.

Representatives of OPEC member countries attend a press conference after the 45th Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee and the 33rd OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting, Vienna, Austria, Oct. 5, 2022.

Iraq's commitment to OPEC oil reduction won't affect exports

Iraq's oil reduction per the recent OPEC+ agreement will not affect the country's revenues, according to Iraq's oil minister.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi (2nd right) and his Jordanian counterpart, Bisher al-Khasawneh (2nd left), are seen during the launching ceremony of the electrical grid connection project between the two countries, Anbar province, Iraq, Oct. 6, 2022.

Iraq, Jordan launch electrical grid connection project

Iraq and Jordan launched a project for an electrical grid connection between the two countries in order to improve Iraq's electricity situation and boost economic ties between the two countries.