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
Israeli Poet Longs for Iraq He Never Knew Ronny Someck, an Israeli poet born in Baghdad, responds in an interview with Jacky Hugi to the call by Sheikh Moqtada al-Sadr for Iraqi Jews to return home. Iraq
Iraqi Kurdistan Takes Steps To Improve Road Safety Traffic accidents remain a major problem in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, as the government takes a number of steps to address the issue and improve car safety, writes Abdel Hamid Zebari. Iraq
Anbar Protests Continue Amid Rumors of Foreign Support As anti-government protests continue in Iraq, questions have arisen over the funding of demonstrations, with some accusing protesters of receiving foreign money, writes Omar al-Shaher. Iraq
Iraqi Parliament Rejects Draft Cybercrime Bill The Iraqi parliament has voted to reject a law regulating cybercrime, after opponents claimed that it infringed on citizens’ freedoms, writes Ali Abel Sadah. Iraq
Iraqi Kurdistan Shifts Investment Approach The Kurdistan Region of Iraq is shifting its investment and development focus from housing to tourism, agriculture and other industry, writes Abdel Hamid Zebari. Iraq
Iraq's Constitutional Crisis Iraq has come far since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, but the country is still plagued by crises that are social as well as political in nature, writes Mustafa al-Kadhimi. Iraq
Iraq’s Ports Record Highest-Ever Returns Iraq’s ports are enjoying an unprecedented period of prosperity and the Iraqi government is close to opening a new container port in the south, writes Omar al-Shaher. Iraq
Sunni Sheikh Takes Larger Role In Protests Against Maliki Sheikh Abdul Malik al-Saadi has risen over the last two decades from a little-known cleric opposed to the rule of Saddam Hussein to one of Iraq’s most prominent Sunni religious leaders, writes Ali Abel Sadah. Iraq
KRG Fails to Combat Violence Against Women in Kurdistan Despite efforts by the Kurdistan Regional Government to reduce violence against women, figures recently made public show that there has been little improvement, writes Abdel Hamid Zebari. Iraq
Iraqi Housing Initiative Fails to Deliver Iraqi investment authorities have misstepped with the country’s largest residential housing project as they attempt to solve the country’s housing crisis, writes Omar al-Shaher. Iraq
Opposition Parties Accuse KRG of Mishandling Budget Kurdish oppposition politicians have accused the Kurdistan Regional Government of mismanagement ahead of deliberations on the 2013 federal budget, of which the region will receive an estimated $18 billion, writes Abdel Hamid Zebari. Iraq
Iraqi Oil Contracts Reward Kuwait, Punish Turkey The signing of the latest round of oil contracts in Iraq has been a victory for the Iraq-Kuwait detente, but comes at the cost of deteriorating relations with Turkey, writes Omar al-Shaher. Kuwait