US tariffs open the door to partnership: Iraq calls for activating the economic agreement with Washington.
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The Prime Minister's Advisor for Investment Affairs, Mohammed Al-Najjar, affirmed on Sunday that the recent US tariffs imposed on Iraqi products represent an opportunity to activate the joint economic agreement between the two countries, while noting that they do not affect the volume of trade exchange.
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Al-Najjar said in a statement monitored by Al-Mada that "the customs duties imposed by the United States on Iraqi products can be transformed from a challenge into a real opportunity to support the national economy and enhance joint cooperation."
He explained that "the new customs duties do not currently have a direct impact on the volume of trade between Iraq and the United States, given that Iraqi exports to the United States primarily rely on oil, which is not subject to such duties." He noted that "if Iraq diversifies its exports in the future, the impact will be significant, which calls for investing in this step to strengthen economic dialogue between the two countries."
He added, "These developments represent an opportunity to activate the provisions of the Iraq-US Framework Agreement, the economic aspects of which have not yet been implemented due to US producers' lack of familiarity with the Iraqi market compared to markets in Asia, Latin America, and Europe, in addition to the challenges facing Iraqi importers, such as high transportation costs, difficulty obtaining visas, and weak direct transportation routes."
Al-Najjar explained that "the Iraq Development Fund, whose idea was proposed about seven months ago in cooperation with the American side, is considered one of the important tools for encouraging trade exchange and joint investment," noting that "there is a response from American authorities to this approach."
He stressed that "work is underway to reach advanced stages in establishing this fund, which will provide a direct channel linking Iraqi importers with American products and, in turn, enable American investors to enter the Iraqi market."
He stated, "We view these developments as an important opportunity to strengthen the national economy and open broader horizons for cooperation and partnership between Iraq and the United States, in a way that serves the interests of both parties."
The Central Bank of Syria "ignores" the Iraqi dinar from its exchange rate bulletin.
The Central Bank of Syria ignored the Iraqi dinar from its exchange rate bulletin on Sunday (July 13, 2025).
According to a document monitored by Baghdad Today, "The exchange rate of the Syrian pound against foreign currencies, according to the official bulletin of the Central Bank of Syria issued this morning, is devoid of the Iraqi dinar."
The document also states below:
Al-Sudani receives the US Chargé d'Affaires to discuss bilateral relations and the regional situation.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani received, today, Sunday (July 13, 2025), the US Chargé d'Affaires to Iraq to discuss bilateral relations and the regional situation.
Al-Sudani's media office stated in a statement received by Baghdad Today that "the latter received the Chargé d'Affaires of the United States Embassy in Iraq, Stephen Fagin, where they discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and reviewed the most prominent files of joint cooperation in various fields."
The statement added that "the meeting discussed the overall situation in the region and the need for the international community to take immediate steps to prevent the region from sliding into a cycle of war."
Economic Report: 35 Private Banks Banned from US Dollars... Crisis and Card Ban
35 private banks are outside the US dollar system, and liquidation threatens some of them.
An informed source in the Iraqi financial sector revealed the escalating crisis facing the private banking sector, confirming that approximately 35 private banks have been completely banned from dealing in US dollars, a move the source described as having led to a gradual collapse in the performance of these banks over the past months.
The source, who spoke to Al-Mustaqilla on Sunday on condition of anonymity, indicated that US sanctions imposed on some banks played a pivotal role in exacerbating the crisis. He emphasized that the coming period will witness the liquidation of a number of private banks due to their inability to continue financial operations and the loss of confidence in the market.
In a related context, the source revealed that a number of electronic cards (Ki Card and MasterCard) belonging to private and government banks have been suspended due to the discovery of fake cards issued over the past years, prompting the relevant authorities to take strict measures to curb financial fraud.
He noted that some government banks, in collaboration with private e-payment companies, are moving toward restricting the use of e-payment cards in the coming days, warning that this move could lead to a "sudden shutdown" of a number of cards currently used by citizens, which could negatively impact the economic and financial activity of individuals and businesses.
These developments come at a time when Iraqi markets continue to experience increasing tensions due to fluctuating exchange rates and declining dollar trading volume, amid a clear lack of a comprehensive government vision to address the mounting challenges facing the banking sector.
A confidence crisis is hitting the banking sector in Iraq.
Recent data reveals that Iraq's private banking sector has entered a critical phase, due to a combination of internal and external factors. On the one hand, US sanctions and the ban on dollar transactions have choked off liquidity and disrupted the vital activities of private banks, which previously relied heavily on dollar transfers and financing. On the other hand, security concerns surrounding fake electronic cards have further eroded public confidence in the banking system, both private and government.
This deterioration reflects not only the weakness of oversight in recent years, but also the fragility of the financial sector's infrastructure, which still lacks transparency and modern governance systems. The tendency of some banks toward liquidation and the sudden suspension of cards represent a dangerous indicator of the beginning of a collapse in the banking system if swift and thoughtful intervention is not undertaken.
What exacerbates the situation is the absence of clear government rhetoric and the lack of official reassurances or an economic rescue plan for citizens and investors alike. If this silence continues, we face the possibility of an accelerated run on deposits and the transformation of the market into an unregulated cash economy, which could return Iraq to square one in financial reform.
The Baghdad-Erbil file is nearing a solution. The ministerial committee completes its report, but salaries remain pending.
An informed source revealed, today, Sunday (July 13, 2025), that the government committee formed by the Council of Ministers and tasked with discussing the dispute between Baghdad and Erbil, will complete its report today.
The source told Baghdad Today, "The committee will complete its report today and submit the final version to the Council of Ministers, which will discuss it during the cabinet session scheduled for next Tuesday."
He added, "The issue of local revenues and the region's handover of 50% of them to Baghdad has been agreed upon, and there is a near-agreement on the resettlement issue. It has also been agreed to resume oil exports." He explained that "the only remaining point of contention relates to the quantity the region needs for local consumption. The federal government believes it is 46,000 barrels, while Kurdistan is demanding 65,000 barrels, with the possibility of reaching a compromise before the next cabinet session."
In the same context, the Prime Minister's Media Office announced, on Tuesday (July 8, 2025), that Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani had directed the formation of a special ministerial committee to discuss the financial obligations between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government, in light of the budget law and the decisions of the Federal Court.
The statement, received by Baghdad Today, stated that "the Council of Ministers discussed two papers submitted by the relevant federal authorities and the Kurdistan Regional Government, related to the delivery of oil and non-oil revenues, the file of salaries for the region's employees, and the mechanism for their localization."
The statement explained that "Al-Sudani directed the formation of a committee headed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning Mohammed Tamim, and including the Ministers of Construction and Housing, Higher Education, Justice, and Health, to discuss the two papers with relevant authorities in the federal and regional governments and submit recommendations to the Council of Ministers to make the appropriate decision as soon as possible."
A government source told Baghdad Today that the Council of Ministers had not made any decision regarding the disbursement of salaries to Kurdistan Region employees during its regular session, but had instead formed a ministerial committee to follow up on the issue. The committee, which includes Minister of Planning Mohammed Tamim (chair), and the ministers of finance, justice, health, and higher education, was tasked with overseeing the matter.
This comes as negotiations continue between a delegation from the regional government and the federal government regarding a draft agreement that includes the delivery of 300,000 barrels of oil per day to Baghdad and the transfer of 90 billion dinars in port revenues to the federal treasury, in exchange for the government's commitment to distribute petroleum products in the region at subsidized prices.
The issue of salaries remains unresolved, as it has not yet been decided whether they will be disbursed through the "My Account" platform or through localization at federal banks.
The House of Representatives publishes the agenda for its second session for tomorrow, Monday.
Republic of Iraq Council of Representatives
Fifth Electoral Cycle, Fourth Legislative Year, Second Legislative Break
Session Agenda No. (2)
Monday, July 14, 2025
Reciting Verses from the Holy Quran
Komari Iraq Na Nujumah Ni Nowineh Ran
Department of Affairs
First: Voting on the Chairman and Members of the Federal Service Council.
Second: Voting on the Chairman of the Council of State.
Representatives
Third: Voting on the Proposed Law for the First Amendment to Law No. (20) of 2020 on the Principles of Equivalence of Arab and Foreign Academic Certificates and Degrees (Higher Education and Scientific Research Committee), (18) Articles.
Fourth: Voting on the Draft Law Ratifying the Agreement for the Encouragement and Mutual Protection of Investment between the Government of the Republic of Iraq and the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Foreign Relations Committee)
(2) Articles.
Fifth: Report and discussion (second reading of the proposed law amending the first amendment to the Ministry of Education Law No. (22) of 2011, Education Committee) (5 articles).
Sixth: Report and discussion (second reading) of the proposed law on environmental protection and improvement. (Health and Environment Committee).
Seventh: Report and discussion of the second reading of the draft law on the accession of the Republic of Iraq to the agreement signed on July 28, 1994, regarding the implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. (Foreign Relations Committee).
Eighth: Report and discussion of the second reading of the proposed law amending the Council of Representatives and its formations Law No. (13) of 2018. (Legal Committee).
The session begins at 1:00 PM.
Launching the "largest campaign" to monitor prices in markets in Baghdad and the governorates.
Minister of Trade, Athir Dawood Al-Ghariri, announced the launch of the "largest campaign" to monitor prices in markets in the capital, Baghdad, and other Iraqi provinces.
In a statement to the official news agency on Sunday, July 13, 2025, the minister said, "Inspection campaigns are continuing by the Commercial Control Department, in cooperation with security agencies and supporting bodies, to monitor commercial markets and agents."
He stressed, "We will not allow commodity prices to rise or any instances of commercial or industrial fraud or monopoly to occur, and these violations will be dealt with firmly."
The minister explained that "the campaign launched today in the markets of Baghdad and all governorates," noting that "this campaign will be unique, as we have indicators confirming the existence of cases of monopoly and commercial and industrial fraud, and they will be dealt with forcefully and in accordance with the law."
US tariffs open the door to partnership: Iraq calls for activating the economic agreement with Washington.
link
The Prime Minister's Advisor for Investment Affairs, Mohammed Al-Najjar, affirmed on Sunday that the recent US tariffs imposed on Iraqi products represent an opportunity to activate the joint economic agreement between the two countries, while noting that they do not affect the volume of trade exchange.
Al-Najjar said in a statement monitored by Al-Mada that "the customs duties imposed by the United States on Iraqi products can be transformed from a challenge into a real opportunity to support the national economy and enhance joint cooperation."
He explained that "the new customs duties do not currently have a direct impact on the volume of trade between Iraq and the United States, given that Iraqi exports to the United States primarily rely on oil, which is not subject to such duties." He noted that "if Iraq diversifies its exports in the future, the impact will be significant, which calls for investing in this step to strengthen economic dialogue between the two countries."
He added, "These developments represent an opportunity to activate the provisions of the Iraq-US Framework Agreement, the economic aspects of which have not yet been implemented due to US producers' lack of familiarity with the Iraqi market compared to markets in Asia, Latin America, and Europe, in addition to the challenges facing Iraqi importers, such as high transportation costs, difficulty obtaining visas, and weak direct transportation routes."
Al-Najjar explained that "the Iraq Development Fund, whose idea was proposed about seven months ago in cooperation with the American side, is considered one of the important tools for encouraging trade exchange and joint investment," noting that "there is a response from American authorities to this approach."
He stressed that "work is underway to reach advanced stages in establishing this fund, which will provide a direct channel linking Iraqi importers with American products and, in turn, enable American investors to enter the Iraqi market."
He stated, "We view these developments as an important opportunity to strengthen the national economy and open broader horizons for cooperation and partnership between Iraq and the United States, in a way that serves the interests of both parties."
The Iraqi Parliament intends to host Taif Sami to resolve a matter related to employees.
The Finance Committee of the Iraqi Parliament intends to host Federal Finance Minister Taif Sami in the chamber to determine the fate of bonuses and promotions for state employees.
Committee member Mohammed Nouri told Shafaq News Agency, "The Ministry of Finance suspended bonuses and promotions for state employees in an official letter dated January 9, 2025, pending the approval of the budget law schedules. However, the delay in approving the schedules led to their delay and the suspension of work on them."
He added, "The Ministry of Finance has issued instructions to calculate bonuses and promotions for state employees working for profitable companies. In light of this, the Parliamentary Finance Committee has taken action and sent an inquiry to the ministry regarding this matter."
Nouri explained that "the Parliamentary Finance Committee is working to host Finance Minister Taif Sami and hold a joint meeting with the minister to discuss the launch of bonuses, promotions, and the calculation of certificates for state employees."
In late May, the Parliamentary Finance Committee confirmed that bonuses, promotions, and job allocations are not related to the general budget schedules and fall under the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance, which must release them without delay.
In mid-May, the Federal Ministry of Finance announced promotions, bonuses, and the calculation of certificates for employees working within its departments only.
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Customs discusses with ASYCUDA procedures for unifying the customs system between the central and regional authorities.
The General Authority of Customs discussed, on Sunday, with the ASYCUDA national team and a delegation from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, the mechanisms for implementing Resolution 270, the application of the 2017 Harmonized System Code, the steps for institutional integration, and the unification of customs procedures between the center and the region. The Authority indicated that the next phase will witness a direct link and immediate exchange of customs information between the two parties.
Iran is losing its stranglehold over Iraq
link The Economist
The Shia militias that Iran used as proxies sat out the war with Israel and America
HE WAS KILLED by an Israeli air strike in Lebanon last year. Yet the face of Hassan Nasrallah, formerly the boss of Hizbullah, is still plastered on posters all over Baghdad, Iraq’s capital. Alongside them are images of other Shia militia leaders from Iraq, Iran and Lebanon. They have one thing in common: their outfits are backed by Iran.
The posters are testament to Iran’s long-standing influence in Iraq. Yet they also mask a growing dissatisfaction among Iraqis about their country’s alignment with its bigger neighbour, particularly among the young. Many dreaded being dragged into Iran’s war with Israel and America, and were relieved that their government stayed out of it. The response to calls by the militias to march on the American embassy during the war in June, which ended with a ceasefire after just 12 days, was lacklustre. As its influence wanes across the region, Iran cannot rely on Iraq the way it used to.
The relationship between the neighbours, which share a 1,600km-long border, has waxed and waned. Their religious leaders compete for influence among Shia Muslims around the world. In the 1980s they fought a war in which hundreds of thousands of people died.
Yet in the years since America toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 2003 Iraq has been a staging ground for Iran to project power across the region. With extensive Western sanctions in place to stymie Iran’s nuclear programme, Iraq’s economy has been one of the few lifelines for its beleaguered neighbour. For years the regime in Tehran manipulated the Iraqi central bank’s daily dollar auctions to secure hard currency to pay for imports, circumventing sanctions. Only America’s blacklisting of Iraqi banks in 2023 slowed the practice. Iraq is also a crucial market for Iranian exports. Iran presses Iraqi government departments and ministries to prioritise Iranian goods over those from elsewhere, according to businesspeople in Baghdad. “If the Americans occupied Iraq militarily,” says one banker from the region, “then Iran has done so economically.”
Even more important has been Iran’s exertion of military influence through militias backed by its Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). The rise in Iraq of Islamic State (IS), a Sunni extremist group, in 2014 triggered a call to arms from Shia religious authorities in both Iraq and Iran. Iran supported the establishment of a number of Shia armed groups in Iraq. They battled IS and eventually helped to degrade it significantly. But they also provided Iran with a way to control much of Iraq’s politics and economy.
The militias’ unmarked pickup trucks still roam the streets of the capital. Their members have vast business interests and control important ministries, including those in charge of oil and metals exports. Until recently they exerted significant influence over the supreme court.
Much of that control was exerted by Qassem Suleimani, who as head of the Quds force, the IRGC’s elite arm, helped co-ordinate Iran’s foreign-influence activities. But Iran’s hold over the militias has diminished since an American drone strike killed Suleimani in 2020. Even as some joined Iran’s “axis of resistance”, others turned inward, focusing on domestic affairs.
One reason is that Esmail Qaani, Suleimani’s successor, lacks his predecessor’s deft touch in managing the factions’ competing interests, says a veteran Iraqi lawmaker. “The requests became demands,” he says. Another is that Iran’s allies in Iraq have grown rich and now have much to lose from getting dragged into a conflict with America or Israel. Some still believe in Iran’s Islamic revolution and the need to fight Israel. But others are increasingly resentful of their country’s status as its neighbour’s satrap.
Perhaps most important, a younger political class that grew out of anti-government protests in 2020 has become increasingly vocal about its opposition to the militias. The armed groups are “corrupted and have built economic empires”, says Muhi Ansari, who heads the Iraqi House foundation, a new civil-society group. “The concept of resistance [to Israel] is hollow in Iraq,” he says.
That sentiment was on full display during Iran’s brief war against Israel and America last month. Even Iran’s closest allies in Iraq were too wary of retaliation by America or Israel to offer much help. As Abu Meethaq al-Amsari, a political analyst close to Badr, one of the biggest Iran-backed factions, explained on national television on June 21st: “The brothers in the factions are practising a high degree of self-restraint and rationality.”
Israel’s decimation of the IRGC’s high command during the dozen-day war and America’s strike on Iran’s nuclear programmes have raised hopes among some Iraqis that Iran’s hold over Iraq’s politics and economy will diminish. As militias and politicians loyal to Iran find themselves adrift, a space could open up for other, homegrown political forces. “Whatever they say in public,” says a civil servant, “we’re not sad to see Iran weakened.”
Fuad Hussein: Baghdad Promises to Resolve Salary Issue Soon
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein announced that the federal government in Baghdad has pledged to resolve the issue of salary disbursements to the Kurdistan Region in the coming days.
According to a statement from the office of KRG President Nechirvan Barzani, Hussein returned to the Kurdistan Region after holding meetings with Iraqi political leaders and government officials. He informed the Political Bureau of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) that both the government and key political figures in Baghdad have expressed commitment to ending the salary delay.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has not received public sector salaries from Baghdad for 73 days, prompting growing concerns among employees and political parties in the region.
130 laws stalled in Parliament, including conscription, the Federal Court, and the salary scale
On Sunday, July 13, 2025, the Parliamentary Legal Committee revealed the number of laws stalled in the Iraqi Parliament. It indicated that the failure to pass these laws, which include the law on compulsory military service, the Federal Court, and the salary scale, is due to political disagreements.
Committee Chairman Mohammed Anouz told Al-Jabal Platform, "There are more than 130 suspended laws in the Iraqi parliament, some of which have been suspended since previous parliamentary sessions due to political disagreements. These disagreements have deepened during the current session, leading to the continued suspension of these laws, along with the significant and dangerous disruption of sessions and the parliament's oversight role."
Anouz explained that "among the most prominent of these suspended laws are: the Oil and Gas Law, the Popular Mobilization Law, the Military Service Law, the National Oil Company Law, the Federal Civil Service Law, the Slums Law, the Federal Court Law, the Retirement Law, the amendment to the Salary Scale Law, and many others."
Anouz ruled out "passing these laws during the current parliamentary session," citing "ongoing political disagreements over them."
Yesterday, Saturday, the Iraqi Council of Representatives held its first parliamentary session of the final legislative term of the parliament, following the end of the two-month legislative recess.
Today, the Iraqi Parliament announced its intention to hold a new session tomorrow, Monday, to discuss several draft laws, including a report and a proposal to amend the House of Representatives Law.
The session is scheduled to be held at 1:00 PM tomorrow, Monday, according to a statement from the House of Representatives' media department.
The department announced the agenda for the upcoming session, which it indicated will include: "Voting on the Chairman and members of the Federal Service Council, voting on the Chairman of the Council of State, voting on the proposed law amending the first law of the foundations of equivalence of Arab and foreign certificates and degrees No. 20 of 2020, Article 18, and voting on the draft law ratifying the agreement on the encouragement and mutual protection of investment between the government of the Republic of Iraq and the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Article 2."
The session will also include, according to the department: “Report and discussion of the second reading of the proposed law amending the first amendment to the Ministry of Education Law No. 22 of 2011, Article 5. Report and discussion (second reading) of the proposed law on environmental protection and improvement. Report and discussion (second reading) of the draft law on the accession of the Republic of Iraq to the agreement signed on July 28, 1994 regarding the implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. In addition to the report and discussion (second reading) of the proposed amendment to the Law of the Council of Representatives and its formations No. 13 of 2018.”
A representative of the framework: Draft laws will be approved in the coming period.
Al-Anbaky told Al-Furat News Agency, "It is expected that the laws will be passed after the parliament resumes its work, because the main purpose of the parliament is to legislate laws."
Al-Anbaky added, "Although the current electoral cycle is coming to an end, we do not expect the sessions to be continuous and frequent, but there is no doubt that a number of laws will be passed."
The parliament resumed its sessions yesterday, Saturday, after the end of its legislative recess and voted on a number of draft laws.
A new session is scheduled to be held tomorrow, Monday, and its agenda includes voting and reading a number of draft laws.
An important meeting... Baghdad to resolve the salaries issue tonight
Kurdish media reported on Sunday that the capital, Baghdad, will host an important meeting tonight, attended by Kurdish ministers in the federal government and heads of parliamentary blocs, to discuss and resolve the issue of salaries in the Kurdistan Region.
These outlets quoted their sources as saying, "The meeting will be attended by Justice Minister Khaled Shawani, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, Reconstruction Minister Benkin Rikani, Deputy Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament Shakhwan Abdullah, and the head of the Kurdish blocs in parliament."
She added that "the anticipated meeting is being held to take urgent measures to resolve the region's employee salary crisis," stressing that "the Federal Court will hold a special session tomorrow for the same purpose."
Explosions heard around Erbil Airport after a drone was spotted
Eyewitnesses and local sources reported hearing explosions around Erbil International Airport early Monday morning, coinciding with the sounding of air raid sirens from inside the US consulate.
Sources told Shafaq News Agency that the air raid sirens went off at 2:30 a.m. and continued for several minutes. The air defense system, C-RAM, deployed inside the consulate and around the airport was activated, firing at an unidentified flying object seen hovering over the area.
Sources confirmed that US air defenses successfully intercepted and shot down the flying object, while security forces responded to the scene and imposed a security cordon around the airport and surrounding areas.
The Kurdistan Regional Government or the international coalition have not yet issued any statement regarding the nature of the object that was shot down.
It is noteworthy that Erbil Airport and the surrounding bases had previously been subjected to similar attacks using drones or missiles.
In a candid interview, Al-Mashhadani: Iraq is on the verge of security turmoil, and this is the gist of American messages.
Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani warned that Iraq is facing a potential security crisis, noting that any security collapse in the capital, Baghdad, would immediately reverberate across the country's provinces. He also pointed to the possibility of popular demonstrations in the coming month, which could push the country toward an "emergency government."
In a televised interview followed by the Iraq Observer, Mashhadani said that "Sadr's withdrawal from politics is a real alarm bell," adding that Kurdistan Democratic Party leader Masoud Barzani is also "serious about withdrawing from politics."
Al-Mashhadani added, "I will renounce politics and leave it after the last innocent prisoner is released," referring to the violations that have plagued the arrest and detainee file in Iraq over the past years.
Regarding the ongoing controversy surrounding the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) law, Al-Mashhadani revealed that American pressure and threats prevented the law from being introduced in parliament. He asserted that the United States had informed all political leaders of its position rejecting the restructuring of the PMF, preferring to integrate it into the security forces.
He pointed out that "there is a group working to remove Faleh al-Fayyadh from his position under the Popular Mobilization Forces' retirement law," noting that "the new law will not lead to an increase in the salaries of members, but may cause administrative and legislative confusion."
In another context, Al-Mashhadani considered the current parliamentary session "miserable for objective reasons," noting that "three years of parliament's life were wasted in conflicts and divisions, and the general amnesty and elections laws have plunged the parliament into complex problems."
He added, "The House of Representatives is innocent of the Khor Abdullah Agreement, and not a single representative will vote in favor of it." He warned that Kuwait has "other means" it may resort to in this matter, emphasizing, "If a single representative votes in favor of the agreement, I will admit that I understand nothing about politics."
Regarding the position on the presidency, Al-Mashhadani called for it to be assigned to the Sunni component, "to emphasize identity and political balance."
Al-Mashhadani also spoke about security threats, saying, "We were surprised by the radar bombing, and we don't know who is behind it." He added, "Trivializing with the security apparatus' settings at this dangerous time could push the country to the brink of explosion."
Regarding regional relations, he noted that Israel views Iraq as a threat to the normalization process, stressing that he had discussed with the Turkish side the Israeli "David's Corridor" project, which threatens the interests of Iraq and other countries in the region.
Al-Mashhadani concluded by pointing to the “absence of the Sadrist voice” in parliament, considering the positions of the movement’s leader, Muqtada al-Sadr, “not open to democratic debate,” adding, “I miss the Sadrist presence under the dome of parliament, and the Kurds’ withdrawal from the political process will have dire consequences.”
A demonstrator was killed in Erbil during protests over power outages.
A protester was killed in the Warti district of Erbil Governorate during popular protests that erupted over recurring power outages in the area.
Local sources told the Iraq Observer that security forces opened fire to disperse the protesters, seriously wounding one of them, who died shortly afterward.
The sources added that the demonstrations erupted against the backdrop of prolonged power outages and the deterioration of public services, noting that a state of tension prevails in the area following the incident.
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