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
Iraqi Panel Promotes 'Biden Plan' For Federal Iraq The key to securing Iraq’s political future is to place administrative responsibilities in the hands of the regions, and hold power centrally in Baghdad, writes Mushreq Abbas. Iraq
Attacks on Iraqi Media Call Press Freedom Into Question Following attacks on the offices of three different Iraqi newspapers on April 1, press freedom in Iraq is once again called into question, writes Mushreq Abbas. Iraq
Iraq Lagging in Foreign Investment Iraq is still struggling to attract foreign investors amid dated laws, political instability and a conservative society, writes Mustafa al-Kadhimi. Iraq
Kurdistan Book FairShowcases Mideast Talent A book fair in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan's capital, showcased regional and international literary talent and served as a unifying event against a backdrop of violence and sectarianism, writes Abdel Hamid Zebari. Iraq
Iraqi Government Warns Kurdistan Region Against 'Smuggling' Oil The ongoing dispute over oil between the central Iraqi government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government in Erbil has intensified, writes Omar al-Shaher. Iraq
KRG Minister: Our Problem With Baghdad Lies in the Budget The Kurdistan Regional Government’s reconstruction minister talks about the ministry’s plans to revitalize the housing sector and notes that the region’s problems with Baghdad center on budget allocations, writes Abdel Hamid Zebari. Iraq
Iraq Set to Expand Free-Trade Zones Iraq is preparing to expand existing free-trade zones and create new ones throughout the country, writes Omar al-Shaher. Iraq
Iraq’s Arab-League Presidency: Wasted Opportunity? Iraq's term as president of the Arab League left no mark, writes Mustafa Al-Kadhimi. Iraq
Iraqi Aviation Industry Takes Off More than 10 years after the US invasion of Iraq, the country’s aviation industry is starting to show strong signs of recovery, reports Omar al-Shaher. Iraq
Iraqiya List Frays As Constituents Splinter As Iraq continues to struggle with widespread anti-government protests, the prominent Sunni Iraqiya list has gone through a series of defections that have dealt a serious blow to its influence, writes Ali Abel Sadah. Iraq
KRG Prime Minister Promotes Kurdish Oil on European Visit Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minster Nechirvan Barzani has used a trip to Europe to drum up interest in Kurdish oil, as the region announces plans to expand its export capabilities, writes Abdel Hamid Zebari. Iraq
Egypt’s Interest in Iraq, Iran Is Economic, Not Ideological Despite the concerns of Gulf states that Egypt’s recent rapprochement with Iraq, and by extension Iran, is founded on an ideological basis, experts assert the reason is purely economic, Abdelrahman Youssef writes. Egypt