Iraqi Dinar Plummets Against Dollar as Citizens Rush to Exchange
Value of $100 jumps by 8,000 dinars in two days amid rising fear and market uncertainty.
The Iraqi dinar continued its sharp decline on Tuesday, with the exchange rate for $100 rising to 157,000 dinars in Erbil’s markets, up from 149,000 dinars on Monday, reflecting a surge in demand for U.S. currency. Currency traders attributed the rapid increase to widespread public concern and the ongoing preference to hold dollars over the domestic currency.
Tahsin Khushnaw, a local currency exchange office owner in Erbil, on Tuesday told Kurdistan24 that the dollar’s value has climbed noticeably in recent days.
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“Previously, half of the funds in exchange offices were in dollars and half in dinars,” he said. “Now, three-quarters of cash is in dollars, leaving only a small portion in dinars. Citizens’ fear and the rush to convert dinars into dollars is one of the main reasons.”
Khushnaw also cited administrative changes as a contributing factor. The distribution of dollars through Iraq’s central bank to merchants has been disrupted, particularly due to the implementation of a new electronic customs system, leaving many traders unable to access official bank dollars and forcing them to turn to the open market.
“The lack of confidence in future stability has prompted many residents to exchange their dinars for dollars,” Khushnaw said.
He noted that political uncertainty in the region and fears of U.S. sanctions on Iraq over militia involvement in government have added pressure on the dinar.
Since the beginning of January, the dinar’s value has been on a rapid upward trajectory against the dollar in both the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad. Traders say delays and new regulations in the official currency transfer system have further pushed them to seek dollars from market sources, amplifying the surge.
Supporting the dinar’s volatility, Iraq’s central bank imposed 22 financial penalties on local banks over the past three months for violations of banking regulations, with fines totaling 34.4 billion dinars. The highest number of penalties in late 2025 was 13 fines, exceeding 18 billion dinars.
Over the previous year, a total of 120 asset-related penalties were issued, mostly during the first quarter, reflecting central bank efforts to enforce compliance among Iraq’s 74 licensed banks. Observers note that these sanctions, often linked to irregularities in cash handling and electronic transfers, have contributed to uncertainty in domestic financial markets.
The dinar’s steep depreciation coincides with tightening of electronic dollar transfers and escalating U.S. pressure on Baghdad regarding the inclusion of militias in the next government.
The domestic currency decline has occurred amid a historic surge in global gold prices, which exceeded $5,100 per ounce for the first time, signaling broader economic and geopolitical instability.
Kaifi Mohammed, a spokesperson for Erbil’s currency market, on Monday said market confidence has been undermined by administrative and political factors.
Procedures in the official banking transfer system have created bottlenecks for merchants needing dollars for international trade. Coupled with U.S. warnings regarding armed factions in Iraq’s next cabinet, merchants have rushed to secure dollars, driving the dinar’s fall.
Global gold markets are simultaneously reflecting geopolitical risk, large-scale bullion purchases, and expectations of lower interest rates from the U.S. Federal Reserve, further reinforcing the dinar’s volatility.
Economists warn that Iraq may face a “dangerous crossroads,” as U.S. threats to restrict access to the country’s oil revenues could trigger systemic salary shocks and broader financial disruption.
Observers stress that economic stability is now inseparable from political and security stability, and that ordinary citizens are bearing the brunt of the currency decline and rising cost of living.
As of Tuesday, merchants across Erbil and Baghdad remain on high alert, closely monitoring exchange rates for further signs of currency fluctuations.
Economist: Smuggling and hoarding behind the high demand for dollars in Iraq
Economic expert Duraid Al-Anzi confirmed on Tuesday that the rise in the dollar exchange rate in the local market is no longer linked to the Central Bank's procedures or government policies, noting that the dollar is now mainly affected by the movement of gold and silver prices in global markets.
Al-Anzi told Al-Maalouma News Agency that “the significant rise in gold and silver prices makes it illogical for the dollar to remain in a state of decline,” noting that “the two metals are currently playing a leading role in influencing global currencies, which directly impacts the dollar exchange rate locally.”
He added that "the demand for dollars in the Iraqi market has also increased due to smuggling and hoarding operations," explaining that "the difference between the official price adopted in the budget, the price at which the Central Bank sells to banks, and the market price, has created a large gap that has encouraged citizens and traders to acquire and hold onto dollars."
Al-Anzi pointed out that "this acquisition has begun to shift from mere saving to trading and speculation, especially with the worsening political crises in the region, stressing that the continued political and economic instability in the region prevents any real decline in the price of the dollar."
He pointed out that "a decrease in the price of the dollar will not be achieved without political stability in the region, in addition to global economic stability, especially with regard to gold and silver prices, considering that fluctuations in global currencies are directly reflected in the Iraqi market."
Al-Anzi criticized the caretaker government's handling of the exchange rate issue, arguing that the lack of a clear vision and reliance on fluctuating decisions contributed to deepening the crisis instead of resolving it.
An economist reveals four reasons behind the worsening dollar crisis in the markets.
Economic expert Nabil Al-Marsoumi revealed on Tuesday the reasons for the worsening dollar crisis in the parallel market, in light of the continued pressures related to imports and the shifts in trade routes after the implementation of the new import mechanism (ASCODA) and the activation of the customs tariff law.
Al-Marsoumi explained in a statement followed by the “Iraq Observer” agency that “the application of the ASYCUDA mechanism and the customs tariff has pushed a large part of imports to shift geographically towards the ports of the Kurdistan Region, which do not apply this mechanism.”
He added that “this shift has put significant pressure on the parallel dollar to finance trade with Türkiye, noting that about 2,000 containers of goods enter through the Ibrahim Al-Khalil crossing alone.”
He explained that “this pressure contributed to the rise of the dollar in the parallel market and its exceeding the 1,500 dinar mark per dollar, in conjunction with additional pressure resulting from trade with Iran, which amounts to about one billion dollars per month and is also financed from the parallel market.”
Al-Marsoumi believes that “the dollar will continue to rise until a balance is achieved between the cost of importing through Basra ports, which are financed at the official dollar rate, and the cost of bringing goods in through Kurdistan ports, which rely on the parallel dollar rate.”
An economist warns: Iraq is in the eye of the storm, and temporary fixes are no longer effective.
Economic expert Manar Al-Obaidi warned on Tuesday that Iraq has entered a post-economic crisis phase, indicating that the country is now in the "eye of a real hurricane," and that patchwork solutions or what he described as "painkillers" are no longer effective after the situation spiraled out of control .
Al-Ubaidi said in a Facebook post, which was followed by Al-Sa’a Network, that “Iraq is no longer in the stage of warning or forecasting, but is in the heart of the storm itself, where no patchwork solutions or temporary painkillers are of any use,” noting that “things have gotten out of control, and Iraq today is in the vortex of a real hurricane .”
He asked: “Is there a crisis? What comes after the hurricane? What comes after the flood?” He pointed out that “this harsh test will reveal Iraq’s ability to overcome its ordeal. If it manages to maintain its unity and social cohesion, then it means that it is stronger than the economic and political challenges it faces. Failure to overcome this stage, however, portends a serious social collapse and disintegration of the national fabric, and may extend to security dimensions .”
He explained that “the reality indicates that the crisis has exceeded the ability of official institutions alone to contain and address it, and has become a shared responsibility that falls on all influential parties in society,” attributing this to “the loss of trust between the state and the citizen, which is the biggest challenge facing any real reform path .”
He added that "the almost only link today between the citizen and official institutions is the ability to meet immediate financial obligations, while any talk of future plans or deep structural reforms that require painful surgical operations will be met with widespread public anger and rejection, as long as trust is not restored first ."
Al-Obaidi pointed out that "the continuation of the approach based on depleting current and future resources to secure a thin thread of stability is nearing its end," stressing that "the ability to continue in this way has reached its final stages ."
He stressed that "there is no real way out of this spiral except through absolute candor and transparency, starting with opening the file of public budgets from the first budget after 2003 until today, passing through reopening all corruption files without exception, revealing where public funds were spent and where they went, and holding accountable everyone who was negligent or lax in this regard ."
He pointed out that "reducing the expenses of senior officials and the privileges granted to them, even if it does not constitute a radical financial solution, represents a very important moral step that contributes to reducing the gap between society and authority, and restores some of the lost trust ."
He warned that “trying to lull the public into complacency, suggesting that there is no need for real reforms, or promoting the possibility of paying dues in full and on time without cost, is nothing but inflating a bubble that is about to burst,” stressing that “every bubble, no matter how long it lasts, is destined to burst, and then the consequences will be dire and undesirable.”
More than half a billion dinars stolen from a government bank in Baghdad
An informed source revealed on Tuesday that one of the branches of the "government-owned" Rafidain Bank in the capital, Baghdad, was subjected to a robbery of large sums of money estimated at more than half a billion Iraqi dinars.
The source told Shafaq News Agency that the circumstances of the theft are still unclear, as the mechanism of its execution and the parties involved, whether accused or accomplices, are unknown, as well as how these sums were withdrawn without being detected at the time.
He pointed out that the incident reveals an administrative flaw and a weakness in the control and follow-up procedures within the branch concerned, which raises serious questions about the level of financial governance adopted.
The source indicated that this requires the regulatory authorities and the Integrity Commission to open an urgent investigation, conduct field inspections, and investigate the details of the incident in order to uncover the truth and hold those responsible and involved accountable in order to protect public funds.
The Ministry of Finance terminates the reciprocal obligations of the three-year budget.
This came during a meeting chaired by Finance Minister Taif Sami at the ministry headquarters, which included the deputy head of the Federal Financial Control Bureau, the director general of the accounting department in the ministry, the directors general in the ministries of oil and electricity, and the directors of the budget departments in the Ministry of Oil.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Finance received by Noon News Agency, the meeting was held to finalize outstanding accounting settlements between the two ministries and to follow up on the results related to resolving joint financial files that have been officially approved.
The statement indicated that the meeting resulted in taking the necessary measures to terminate the mutual financial obligations under the Federal General Budget Law for the years 2023, 2024 and 2025, while reserving the amounts required to address them later and ensuring the organization of the oil companies’ shares within the budget schedules to ensure the stability of operational processes in the two vital sectors.
The meeting also produced recommendations, including that the committee formed by royal decree should complete the remaining settlement procedures in 2026 and subsequent years, according to the statement.
He added that those present also discussed ways to address the amounts related to licensing round contracts for foreign companies, and the minister directed the accounting department to complete the procedures as soon as the detailed data for previous years is received from the Ministry of Oil.
It was decided to include the licensing rounds dues for the period from 2022 to 2025 in next year’s budget, in order to ensure the accuracy of the state’s final accounts and enhance levels of financial transparency in accordance with approved regulatory standards.
No solutions in sight
A harsh message for Iraqis: The time for warnings is over... Iraq's economy is "out of control" and has entered "the eye of the storm".
Today, economist Manar Al-Obaidi describes this moment with stark clarity: we are no longer in the stage of warning or forecasting, but rather "in the eye of the storm"; in a "real hurricane vortex," as he says, where things have spiraled out of control, and talk of a financial crisis is no longer just an analytical luxury, but an existential question: What comes after the hurricane?
From monitoring indicators to acknowledging the "hurricane"
During the past period, the economic affairs department of “Baghdad Today” monitored an escalating path of all economic and financial crises: the parallel dollar exchange rate, which jumped to around 157,000 dinars per 100 dollars, then declined slightly without returning to comfortable levels; the pressure of imports through outlets that are not fully subject to the new mechanisms; the increasing reliance on the parallel market to finance trade with Turkey and Iran; and waves of increases in the prices of basic commodities, coinciding with talk of new or stricter taxes and fees.
In parallel, discussions about non-oil revenues revealed the extent of tax and customs losses, and the size of the gap between what can be collected theoretically and what actually enters the public treasury, under a dilapidated collection system, overlapping political, partisan and commercial interests, and a division in the management of ports between the center and the region.
According to Al-Ubaidi, these indicators are no longer mere harbingers of crisis, but rather signs that we have indeed entered a new phase. He says: "There has been much talk recently about the economic crisis and the financial situation, but reality compels us to move from describing the crisis to confronting what comes after it. We are no longer in the stage of warning or forecasting, but rather in the eye of the storm itself, where any patchwork solutions or temporary remedies are no longer effective. Things, quite simply, have spiraled out of control, and Iraq today is in the vortex of a real hurricane."
This description is consistent with what “Baghdad Today” warned against in previous reports: that insisting on postponing reform, and relying on short-term solutions to buy time, turns the crisis from a situation that can be contained into a “hurricane” whose extent of losses is difficult to predict.
A crisis deeper than the numbers: a collapse of trust between the state and its citizens.
The danger of the current moment lies not only in the size of the deficit, the exchange rate, or the inflation rate, but also in the state of trust between the state and its citizens. Al-Ubaidi puts his finger on this very point when he links the depth of the crisis to the limits of the official institutions' ability to address it alone: "The reality indicates that the crisis has exceeded the capacity of official institutions alone to contain and resolve it, and has become a shared responsibility that falls on all influential parties in society. The fundamental reason for this is the loss of trust between the state and its citizens, which is the greatest challenge facing any genuine reform process."
Today, as he points out, the only remaining link between the citizen and official institutions is the ability to meet immediate financial obligations: the monthly salary of the employee and retiree, payment of dues, financing of the ration card if it exists, and immediate response to any liquidity crisis.
Any talk of deep structural reforms, or "surgical operations" in the structure of the budget and public spending, will – logically – face widespread popular rejection, because the trust that allows society to bear the painful cost of any reform has not yet been restored.
This situation leaves the state essentially "captive" to a single option: continuing to deplete current and future resources to maintain a semblance of social stability by securing salaries at any cost, calming markets by any means, and postponing confrontation with major issues, from corruption to the budget structure. However, as Al-Ubaidi points out, this approach is nearing its end.
"Continuing with this approach—based on depleting current and future resources to secure this fragile thread of stability—is nearing its end. The ability to continue in this manner has reached its final stages."
Between Ramadan, the dollar, and taxes... double the pressure on living standards.
The worsening crisis coincides with the approach of Ramadan, a period traditionally marked by increased demand for food and basic commodities. With a volatile and high parallel market exchange rate for the dollar, higher import costs, and talk of increased or stricter taxes and fees, any price hikes will be even more burdensome for low-income families.
This means that citizens today face a double burden: on the one hand, the rising cost of imported goods, particularly food, medicine, and basic commodities; and on the other hand, the increasing tax, duty, and customs burdens, both directly and indirectly through higher service costs.
In this climate, any slight disruption in the flow of salaries or delay in funding – as we have seen discussed in some ministries and departments – immediately turns into existential anxiety for a wide segment of society, not only because they depend on the salary, but also because alternatives are almost non-existent, and the private labor market itself is affected by any shock in the exchange rate or the size of aggregate demand.
After the hurricane: Social and security scenarios
Al-Ubaidi goes beyond describing the financial crisis; he links the failure to manage this stage with the possibility of it turning into a comprehensive social and security crisis: “This harsh test will reveal Iraq’s ability to overcome its ordeal. If it manages to maintain its unity and social cohesion, then it is stronger than all the economic and political challenges it faces. But failure to overcome this stage, which is a real possibility, portends a serious social collapse and a disintegration of the national fabric, and may extend – God forbid – to security dimensions.”
This warning is not unfounded; the country carries a heavy memory of past blockades, sanctions, and collapses. The difference today is that the nature of the crisis is different: there are no comprehensive sanctions on a closed state as in the 1990s, but rather a complex web of financial pressures, the risk of sectoral or banking sanctions, a parallel market that holds prices hostage, and an inflationary budget dependent on oil in a turbulent world.
In such an environment, any further disruption could open the door to:
The parallel and unregulated economy has expanded.
Increased social tensions,
-Expanding patterns of financial and market exploitation,
- Opening up security gaps in the most vulnerable areas.
From budget cuts to exposing corruption... what is the way out?
Faced with this bleak picture, Al-Obaidi lays out a clear – albeit difficult – path to escape the “whirlpool of the storm”: “There is no real way out of this vortex except through absolute candor and transparency. Starting with opening the file of public budgets from the first budget after 2003 until today, passing through reopening all corruption files without exception, revealing where public funds were spent and where they went, and holding accountable everyone who was negligent or lax in this regard.”
This means, practically speaking, that any realistic solution requires:
-A complete review of the course of public spending over more than two decades,
-Transparent auditing of budgets, contracts, and fictitious or stalled projects,
-Clear facts before the public regarding the fate of hundreds of billions of dollars that left the state treasuries.
Al-Ubaidi adds an important symbolic dimension: reducing the expenses of senior officials and the privileges granted to them, even if it is not a radical financial solution, because it carries a political and moral message to society: “Reducing the expenses of senior officials and the privileges granted to them – even if it does not constitute a radical financial solution – represents a very important moral step that contributes to reducing the gap between society and authority, and restores some of the lost trust.”
These steps, if coupled with genuine reforms to maximize non-oil revenues, control ports, unify customs tariffs, and rationalize spending, can reshape the relationship between the state and society on new foundations, based on transparency rather than deception.
The delayed bubble: When denying the crisis becomes more dangerous than the crisis itself.
Al-Ubaidi’s latest message is very clear, and it aligns with what “Baghdad Today” has been warning against in its economic coverage: “Any attempt to lull the public into complacency, or to suggest that there is no need for real reforms, or to promote the possibility of paying dues in full and on time without cost, is nothing but an inflation of a bubble that is about to burst. Every bubble, no matter how long it lasts, is destined to burst… and then the consequences will be dire and their aftermath will be undesirable.”
In other words, denying the magnitude of the crisis, or being content with a temporary calming of the exchange rate, or a formal reassurance about salaries, without actual reforms in the budget, spending, revenues and fighting corruption, does not mean avoiding the explosion, but rather postponing it while amplifying its effects.
Between the warnings issued over months and the admission today that we are "in the eye of the storm," Iraq stands before a crucial choice: either to courageously open the difficult files and restore confidence through full transparency and genuine reforms, or to continue managing the crisis with the logic of "patchwork" until the bubble bursts at the expense of the entire society.
At this moment, the question is no longer: Is there a crisis? But rather: Do we choose a painful reform of our own volition, or do we wait for a collapse that imposes prices on us that we cannot afford?
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Another blow to the constitution: The failure to elect a president brings back the scenario of coldly disregarding constitutional requirements.
The constitutional process in Iraq has suffered another setback with the postponement of the presidential election session, despite the country nearing the end of the constitutional deadline. This comes at a time when Parliament was expected to resolve this sovereign issue, amidst escalating political disputes, particularly within the Kurdish political bloc, and conflicting interpretations regarding adherence to constitutional timelines.
In a move that has raised widespread questions, the parliamentary session designated for electing the president did not convene, even though the constitutional deadline is in its final stages. This has revived fears of a repeat of past instances where deadlines were exceeded.
The Parliament's media office announced the postponement of the presidential election session in a brief statement, without specifying a new date. Some members of Parliament stated that the postponement was due to the lack of necessary political consensus to hold the session, which has opened the door to various interpretations regarding the future of the process and the possibility of circumventing constitutional deadlines.
A Kurdish request for postponement:
According to official documents, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) submitted a request to postpone the session due to ongoing disagreements within the Kurdish political bloc regarding the presidential candidate. The lack of a final consensus that would allow for a decisive election session prompted the postponement to avoid the session's failure or its holding without results.
The core of the crisis lies in the continued division between the two main Kurdish parties. The KDP has put forward its candidate, Fuad Hussein, while the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) insists on its candidate, Nizar Amidi. Political mediation efforts have thus far failed to unify positions or agree on a compromise candidate, leaving the presidency hostage to the Kurdish-Kurdish dispute and its repercussions on the power balance in Baghdad.
Political analyst Ali Nasser, familiar with the issue of exceeding deadlines, stated that “adherence to constitutional deadlines has not been consistent in past sessions, as we have witnessed, on more than one occasion, exceeding these deadlines, sometimes by several months.”
Nasser added to Iraq Observer that “what distinguishes the current phase from its predecessors is the clear emphasis by the head of the Supreme Judicial Council, Faiq Zaidan, on the necessity of adhering to important constitutional deadlines, even though the Iraqi constitution does not explicitly stipulate penalties for exceeding these deadlines.”
Nasser explained that “divisions within the Kurdish political bloc have directly impacted the selection of the president, given the lack of a unified candidate from the two main parties,” noting that “these divisions coincided with the nomination of Nouri al-Maliki for the premiership, which has added a new layer of complexity to the political landscape.”
He added that “the agreements were supposed to be decided first within the Kurdish house, before moving on to discussing them with the Coordination Framework as the representative of the largest bloc, but the recent meetings, whether between the Coordination Framework and the Democratic Party, or with the Patriotic Union, did not result in setting clear deadlines or agreeing on final names.”
In this context, constitutional experts explain that Article (72/First/B) of the Constitution set the deadline for electing the President of the Republic at thirty days from the date of the first meeting of the new House of Representatives. Since the House held its first session on December 29, 2025, the last day of the constitutional deadline is January 29, 2026.
They emphasize that the calculation of the period begins from the date of the meeting, not from the date of the vote, and that any interpretation to the contrary leads to an unjustified extension of a deadline explicitly stipulated in the constitution, noting that the procedural deadlines for nomination, objection and judicial resolution are part of this deadline and not added to it.
With open scenarios
and the country entering the final days of the constitutional deadline, fears are growing that the continuation of political disputes will lead to a new postponement, which may open the door to another jump over deadlines, not only in the election of the President of the Republic, but also with regard to the appointment of the next Prime Minister, in a scene that indicates the weakness of political consensus, and the difficulty of managing constitutional entitlements within their specified timeframes.
Mark Savaya Says Roadmap Underway to Confront Corruption Crisis in Iraq
Mark Savaya said a roadmap is being implemented to confront corruption in Iraq, track stolen funds, identify beneficiaries, and enforce accountability in coordination with US institutions, as Washington highlights Iraq’s stabilizing regional role.
As political negotiations advance and security challenges persist, a parallel and more sensitive battle is taking shape in Iraq: a comprehensive effort to confront corruption, trace stolen wealth, and restore accountability at the highest levels of the state.
Mark Savaya, United States Special Envoy to the Republic of Iraq, said that while teams are working on the ground in Iraq to support the formation of a new government and prevent Iranian-backed militias from rising to positions of power, an equally critical priority lies ahead: confronting the country’s deep-rooted corruption crisis and clarifying the fate of stolen Iraqi funds.
“While our team works on the ground in Iraq to support the formation of a new government and to prevent Iranian backed militias from rising to positions of power, it is equally and even more critical to prepare for confronting the corruption crisis in Iraq,” Savaya said.
He stressed that the effort must extend beyond tracking money looted and transferred outside the country, emphasizing the need to determine where those funds ended up and how they were ultimately used.
Savaya explained that through coordination with other institutions, authorities now possess a comprehensive understanding of the individuals involved in corruption cases, including senior government officials and members of their families who benefited from stolen Iraqi funds.
“These funds were not only used to purchase multiple properties across several countries, but were also used to obtain foreign citizenships and passports, sometimes under the same names and in other cases under different identities, in order to evade future tracking and accountability,” he said.
According to Savaya, the majority of these cases are concentrated within the region, while others extend beyond it through citizenship-by-investment programs offered by certain countries.
He noted that this information significantly enhances the ability to pursue accountability, recover stolen assets, and cooperate with international partners to confront corruption at its source.
Savaya warned that corruption does not only harm the Iraqi people or undermine national security, but also empowers terrorist groups and fuels terrorist activities across multiple countries.
“We will work very closely with the United States Treasury and OFAC to ensure that accountability is enforced on all wrongdoing parties without exception, that no one is above the law, and that justice is delivered to the Iraqi people,” he said.
The remarks come as the United States has praised Iraq’s growing role in promoting stability in Syria and across the wider region. In a response to Kurdistan24, the US Department of State described Iraq's contributions as “indispensable” to collective security efforts and reflective of a “profound commitment to collective security.”
Amid intensified US-Iraq coordination, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a phone call with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Sudani, during which he commended Iraq’s leadership in managing the relocation of ISIS detainees from Syria to secure facilities inside Iraq. Rubio described the operation as critical amid instability in Western Kurdistan and stressed that Iraq’s stabilizing role depends on maintaining political independence.
As Iraq’s regional responsibilities expand, the push to confront corruption and recover stolen assets is being framed as a decisive test of sovereignty, justice, and long-term national security.
Savaya reveals the truth: Iraq's looted funds have been converted into real estate and foreign nationalities with fake identities.
The envoy stressed that corruption in Iraq “undermines national security and enables terrorist groups,” emphasizing that work is underway in close coordination with the U.S. Treasury Department and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to impose sanctions and hold all those involved accountable without exception.
Trump targets Maliki: We will not help Iraq if he returns to power
US President Donald Trump spoke on Tuesday about the "bad choice" Iraq might make by reappointing Nouri al-Maliki as prime minister.
In a tweet on TruthSocial, Trump said, "I hear that the great country of Iraq may be making a very bad choice by reappointing Nouri al-Maliki as Prime Minister."
He added, "Last time Maliki was in power, the country descended into total poverty and chaos," adding, "This should never be allowed to happen again."
Trump pointed out that "because of his crazy policies and ideologies, if he is elected, the United States will no longer help Iraq, and if we are not there to help, Iraq will have no chance of success, prosperity, or freedom. Make Iraq Great Again!"
It is worth noting that the Iraqi Coordination Committee decided a few days ago to nominate Nouri al-Maliki, head of the State of Law Coalition, for the position of prime minister.
Trump says US will end support for Iraq if al-Maliki reinstated as PM
Al-Maliki has been nominated by the largest Shia bloc in parliament as its candidate for PM.
President Donald Trump has threatened that the United States will end support for Iraq if Nouri al-Maliki, a former prime minister with ties to the US’s longstanding foe Iran, is reinstated to the post.
Trump, in his latest intervention in another country’s politics, said on Tuesday that Iraq would be making a “very bad choice” with al-Maliki, who just days previously was nominated by the Coordination Framework, the largest Shia bloc in parliament, as its candidate.
“Last time Maliki was in power, the Country descended into poverty and total chaos. That should not be allowed to happen again,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
“Because of his insane policies and ideologies, if elected, the United States of America will no longer help Iraq,” he said.
“If we are not there to help, Iraq has ZERO chance of Success, Prosperity, or Freedom. MAKE IRAQ GREAT AGAIN!”
Trump’s comments are the starkest example yet of the Republican president’s campaign to curb Iran-linked groups’ influence in Iraq, which has long walked a tightrope between its two closest allies, Washington and Tehran.
In a letter, US representatives said that while the selection of the prime minister is an Iraqi decision, “the United States will make its own sovereign decisions regarding the next government in line with American interests”.
As part of Trump’s pressure campaign, Washington has also threatened senior Iraqi politicians with sanctions on the country should armed groups backed by Iran be included in the next government, the Reuters news agency reported last week.
Al-Maliki, 75, is a senior figure in the Shia Islamist Dawa Party. His tenure as prime minister from 2006 to 2014 was a period marked by a power struggle with Sunni and Kurdish rivals and growing tensions with the US.
He stepped down after ISIL (ISIS) seized large parts of the country in 2014, but has remained an influential political player, leading the State of Law coalition and maintaining close ties with Iran-backed factions.
The US wields key leverage over Iraq, as the country’s oil export revenue is largely held at the Federal Reserve Bank in New York in an arrangement reached after the 2003 US invasion that toppled Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
The Islamic Dawa Party responds to Trump
The Islamic Dawa Party
God is the protector of those who believe; He brings them out of darkness into light.
But those who disbelieve—their protectors are the evil ones.
What does Trump's rejection of Maliki mean? An analyst explains to Iraq Observer
US President Donald Trump’s tweet, in which he openly attacked Nouri al-Maliki’s return to the premiership, has reshuffled the cards within the Shiite political establishment and opened a new door to conflict within the coordination framework, after it appeared that the internal settlement had been decided in favor of al-Maliki at the expense of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.
Political analyst Majashaa Al-Tamimi confirmed to Iraq Observer that “Trump’s tweet against Maliki has reshuffled the cards within the coordination framework.”
Al-Tamimi pointed out that this explicit rejection “raised the chances of the head of the Reconstruction and Development Coalition, Muhammad Shia’ al-Sudani, as he is the least costly option internally and the most acceptable externally.”
Al-Tamimi added that “the biggest strategic mistake made by those close to Maliki was promoting the idea that the Iranian Supreme Leader welcomed his return.”
On Tuesday evening, US President Donald Trump stated that the return of former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to head the government again was something that should not be allowed.
Trump said in a post on the Truth Social platform: “I hear that great Iraq may be making a grave mistake by bringing back Nouri al-Maliki as Prime Minister. Under Maliki’s previous rule, the country slid into the clutches of poverty and utter chaos, and this should not be allowed to happen again.”
He added: “Because of his policies and extremist ideologies, if elected, the United States will cease providing aid to Iraq. And if we are not there to help, Iraq will have no chance of success, prosperity, or freedom.”
Trump concluded his post by saying: “Let’s make Iraq great again.”
On Saturday, January 24, 2026, the Coordination Framework announced the nomination of Nouri al-Maliki, head of the “State of Law Coalition,” for the position of Prime Minister, considering him the candidate of the largest parliamentary bloc, while calling on the House of Representatives to hold a session to elect the President of the Republic in accordance with the constitutional timelines.
The Coordination Framework said in a statement: “Based on our national responsibility, and keen to complete the constitutional entitlements within a context that preserves the country’s stability and strengthens the state’s path, the Coordination Framework held an expanded meeting of its leaders, in Hadi al-Amiri’s office today, Saturday, during which the political situation and the next stage were discussed.”
The statement added, “After an in-depth and extensive discussion, the Coordination Framework decided by majority vote to nominate Nouri Kamel al-Maliki for the position of Prime Minister, as the candidate of the largest parliamentary bloc, based on his political and administrative experience, and his role in running the state.”
He continued, “The coordination framework affirms its full commitment to the constitutional path, and its keenness to work with all national forces to form a strong and effective government, capable of facing challenges, providing services, and protecting Iraq’s security and unity.”
The Coordination Framework called on the House of Representatives to “hold its session dedicated to electing the President of the Republic in accordance with the constitutional timelines.”
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani had withdrawn from the race for the premiership, paving the way for his political rival Nouri al-Maliki, after a deadlock that lasted for more than a month within the Shiite bloc, during which the forces of the Coordination Framework were unable to decide on a consensus candidate, which led to an internal settlement that practically ended al-Sudani’s competition and brought al-Maliki back to the forefront of the scene.
Savaya opens two fronts: We will pursue senior Iraqi officials, their foreign passports, and the government on our terms.
The US President’s envoy to Iraq, Mark Savaya, confirmed on Tuesday (January 27, 2026) that his team is working on the ground in Iraq to support efforts to form a new government and prevent Iranian-backed militias from coming to power, stressing that preparing to confront the corruption crisis in the country is no less important than the ongoing political and security battle.
In a statement published on his accounts and reviewed by Baghdad Today, Savaya said, “It is of utmost importance, indeed of utmost importance, to prepare to confront the corruption crisis in Iraq,” explaining that the required effort “must go beyond merely tracking the looted funds transferred abroad, to also include determining the final destination of those funds and how they will ultimately be used.”
He added that coordination with other institutions allowed his team to gain a "comprehensive understanding" of the people involved, including "senior government officials and their family members who benefited from corrupt Iraqi funds," explaining that these funds "were not only used to purchase multiple properties in several countries, but were also used to obtain foreign nationalities and passports, sometimes under similar names, and in other cases under different identities, in order to evade tracking and accountability."
Savaya added that "the majority of these cases are concentrated within the region, while others extend beyond it through citizenship-by-investment programs offered by some countries," noting that the information currently available "greatly enhances the ability to pursue accountability, recover stolen assets, and cooperate with international partners to combat corruption at its roots."
He pointed out that the harm of corruption "is not limited to the Iraqi people and undermining national security, but extends to enabling terrorist groups and fueling their activities in multiple countries," stressing that he will work "in close cooperation with the US Treasury Department and the Office of Foreign Assets Control to ensure that all those involved are held accountable without exception, that no one is above the law, and that justice is achieved for the Iraqi people."
It is worth noting that Mark Savaya is an Iraqi-American businessman of Assyrian origin, appointed by US President Donald Trump as special envoy to Iraq in October 2025, in a move described by analysts as part of an attempt to rearrange the relationship with Baghdad and to exert pressure on corruption and uncontrolled weapons.
Since taking office, Savaya has emphasized in several statements that corruption, not the militias themselves, is the "main obstacle" to Iraq's stability, calling for the dismantling of "corruption networks" that fund armed groups through fictitious salaries, fictitious loans, and fake assets, according to recent reports in international media.
In a related context, Savaya had previously announced that the United States would conduct a "comprehensive review" of suspicious financial records and transfers linked to smuggling and money laundering operations that fund "terrorist activities and smuggling networks," warning that the results of this review could lead to new sanctions against "malicious actors" inside and outside Iraq.
Trump’s envoy also stressed that the US administration views the corruption file in Iraq as part of a broader battle to curb the influence of armed militias linked to Tehran, noting that reducing the resources of corruption and money laundering networks is, in his view, a prerequisite for the success of any path to rebuilding Iraqi state institutions and consolidating its monopoly on weapons.
Savaya: We have reached a comprehensive understanding of those involved in corruption among senior Iraqi officials and their families.
Trump surprises the framework and opens fire on Maliki... How will the coordination committee respond to the American position?
It appears that Nouri al-Maliki's chances of securing a third term as head of the Iraqi government are almost nonexistent, after US President Donald Trump announced the United States' position rejecting this nomination .
Trump said Tuesday evening that "the United States will no longer help Iraq if Nouri al-Maliki is chosen as prime minister," and wrote on Truth Social: "We hear that the great nation of Iraq may be making the (very bad) choice of re-installing Nouri al-Maliki as prime minister."
Trump added: "The last time Maliki was in power, the country descended into poverty and utter chaos, and that should not be allowed to happen again." He concluded by saying that "if Washington stops helping Iraq, it will have no chance of success, prosperity, or freedom . "
The Coordination Framework, as the largest bloc in parliament, announced earlier this week the nomination of the head of the State of Law Coalition for the position of Prime Minister, even though Maliki is considered one of the most controversial figures in Iraq and faces widespread popular rejection .
Since last Saturday, Washington has not issued an explicit position regarding al-Maliki’s nomination for prime minister, and has been content with emphasizing its rejection of the formation of a government close to Iran and its armed factions in Iraq. Al-Maliki is considered the closest of those close to Iran and the spiritual father of the armed factions, as he is credited with establishing them before the events of “ISIS” and then officially announcing them under the umbrella of the Popular Mobilization Forces after the events of June 10, 2014, before the fatwa of the religious authority in Najaf regarding the sufficient jihad .
In addition to the American rejection of al-Maliki’s nomination, Shiite and Sunni political forces opposed this nomination. The Progress Party, led by Mohammed al-Halbousi, officially announced its rejection of the Coordination Framework candidate, Nouri al-Maliki, and stressed that it would not participate in any government led by a figure who brings back to the Iraqis’ memory sectarian conflicts, the growth of extremism and terrorism, the repeated crises, and international and Arab isolation .
While some parties within the coordination framework had reservations about this nomination, other forces rejected it. Perhaps the most prominent opponents of Maliki assuming a third term are the Wisdom Movement led by Ammar al-Hakim, in addition to reservations from the Asaib Movement led by Qais al-Khazali .
Political researcher Mustafa Al-Obaidi believes that the American position settled the matter and saved the opposition forces the trouble of taking action to put obstacles in front of Al-Maliki .
Al-Obeidi told Al-Sa’a Network: “The matter of Maliki assuming the premiership has been decided after Trump’s stance. Everyone was waiting for this stance, which is the expected stance from Washington towards one of the most important Iraqi politicians close to Iran and its axis in Iraq . ”
He added that "preparations were underway internally through the political forces opposed to Maliki in order to form the blocking third to obstruct Maliki's appointment and prevent a vote on his government," noting that "these forces began a movement during the past two days to arrange the situation."
Al-Obeidi explained that “Washington’s acceptance of Maliki, if it happens, will send a clear message that the United States is not serious about ending and reducing Iranian influence in Iraq,” noting that “Maliki’s early removal through the American position came largely as a result of the picture drawn by the American envoy Mark Savaya about Maliki and his closeness to the factions and Iran.”
Al-Ubaidi ruled out that “the Coordination Framework would issue any positions opposing or contradicting the American position regarding the nomination,” indicating that “if the Framework insists, under Iranian pressure, on passing al-Maliki, then Washington will not allow his government to succeed within one year of its formation.”
Before Trump’s stance on al-Maliki’s nomination, Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper revealed that the Coordination Framework had received an American message objecting to the mechanisms for nominating the prime minister-designate and other leadership positions. The newspaper indicated that a prominent leader in the Coordination Framework received a surprise American call informing him of Washington’s objection to the continued Iranian dominance over the mechanisms for forming the government. A prominent leader in the State of Law Coalition, which is led by al-Maliki, acknowledged that the American message had disrupted the latter’s nomination and made his path to a third term extremely difficult.
According to the Arabic newspaper, "The American message caused a sharp disagreement during a meeting of the coordination framework between those who oppose American interference in the appointment of the prime minister, and others who warn that nominating Maliki will create a tense relationship with Washington and will harm Iraq and its existing political system."
It appears that the forces of the Coordination Framework, especially those who adopted the option of nominating Maliki, will be facing a major test and trial, after the American position became clear, which rejects any government that includes those close to Iran, according to what was stated by Mahmoud Azzo, a professor of political science at the University of Mosul, who suggested that the Framework would present another figure who enjoys international and specifically American support in order to avoid an upcoming crisis with Washington .
Azzou told Al-Sa’a Network: “The American position towards Iraq is linked to American positions in the Middle East, which coincide with the use of the maximum pressure policy towards the Iranian issue . ”
He added that “Washington is not only trying to rearrange Iraq’s situation in the region, but is also seeking to neutralize it completely from the Iranian issue so that American interests are not negatively affected on the one hand, and so that Iraq is not affected by any measures that Washington might issue against Iraq because of Iran . ”
He continued: “The framework forces will face a difficult test regarding the nomination of the next prime minister, as the matter is not related to the numerical bloc and the number of deputies, but rather to the extent of the acceptability of those nominated internally and externally, and this matter seems clear after the American rejection of the framework option and its candidate for the premiership . ”
Azzou predicted that “the coordination framework will begin maneuvering to replace its candidate for the premiership with others who enjoy acceptance and good relations with the United States,” suggesting that “the head of the Iraqi intelligence service, Hamid al-Shatri, is the closest to the position, especially since, according to the American vision, he is compatible with the Iraqi position towards the situation in the region in the future, as well as with the regional developments and tensions in the region.”
He indicated that "the forces that reject al-Maliki's nomination, most notably the Wisdom Movement led by Ammar al-Hakim, will take the initiative and will be at the forefront of presenting the framework candidate and trying to convince the United States and the international community of him to assume the presidency of the Iraqi government in light of the developments and changes in the Middle East."
The caretaker Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, received a call from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who warned that the Iranian-controlled government could not successfully put Iraq’s interests first or keep Iraq out of regional conflicts .
During a phone call between US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack and Kurdistan Democratic Party leader Masoud Barzani, the US envoy expressed his displeasure with supporting any government in Iraq that is close to Iran, in an implicit reference to Barzani’s position supporting Nouri al-Maliki’s nomination for the Iraqi premiership .
In conjunction with the previous positions, the US President’s envoy to Iraq, Mark Savaya, confirmed that his team is working on the ground in Baghdad to prevent Iranian-backed armed factions from coming to power, noting at the same time that he now has a database of individuals involved, including senior government officials and their family members who have benefited from corrupt Iraqi funds .
Nouri al-Maliki was accused by official Iraqi committees and popular gatherings of wasting about one trillion US dollars during his eight years in power, in addition to causing support for sectarian conflict and rhetoric, handing over a third of Iraqi territory to ISIS, as well as his rule being characterized by security chaos, human rights violations, widespread arbitrary arrests, the growing influence of secret informants, and other violations .
Amer Al-Fayez: The coordinating framework intends to hold an emergency meeting following Trump's statement.
A leader in the Coordination Framework, Amer Al-Fayez, revealed on Wednesday (January 28, 2026) that the framework may hold a meeting in the coming hours to discuss the statements attributed to US President Donald Trump, in which he indicated his rejection or non-acceptance of assigning the leader of the State of Law Coalition, Nouri Al-Maliki, to form the next government.
The winner told Baghdad Today that “the framework has not yet decided to hold any emergency meeting today, but it is possible to hold a meeting tomorrow or the day after tomorrow to discuss the situation,” indicating that “the rejection that was conveyed from Trump through a tweet attributed to him can be clarified through the available channels of dialogue with the American side, as the door to dialogue with the Americans is open and has not been cut off, and all options are available.”
He added, "We should not preempt events by changing our candidate, as political positions can change from the American side even if they are issued from the highest authority, and it is possible that the framework will then change its position or the Americans will change their position on the framework's candidate," noting that "dealing with these positions takes place within an open political context and not under immediate pressure to change the candidate."
The winner explained that "the session to elect the president of the republic will be on Sunday, and we have enough time to determine any other option within the framework, as all matters are open, and an urgent meeting may be held in the coming hours to decide the position before the session date."
The winner's remarks came hours after statements by US President Donald Trump, in which he threatened to halt support for Iraq if Maliki returned to the premiership, accusing his two previous terms of plunging the country into "poverty and chaos," and linking any future US cooperation with Baghdad to the form of the next government and the nature of the forces participating in it, especially those linked to armed factions, which added an additional external dimension to the course of internal negotiations regarding the formation of the government.
A political earthquake in Iraq: Khazali is relieved, Hakim is right, and Sudani is preparing.
Trump forgets about Iran, and the Dawa Party responds with a verse about tyranny.
Trump’s remarks about Iraq and its prime minister were not just “blatant interference,” as many described it, but a new way of speaking to Iraq as a “great country” and not just an area attached to the Iranian file.
The longest 48 hours since the beginning of the year, from the warning conveyed by the leader of the Wisdom Movement, Ammar al-Hakim, against the nomination of Nouri al-Maliki, to the “dispelling of all doubt” when Trump himself and his tweets descended upon the Iraqi scene and opened fire mercilessly on al-Maliki, who had been celebrating among his supporters hours earlier his imminent return to the palace.
“Al-Maliki struck at the Iranian axis,” but it was to no avail.
In the past few hours, Maliki’s team has tried to deal with the intense campaign that followed the American message. Spokespeople for the State of Law Coalition have spread out across the media to emphasize that Maliki is not subservient to Iran, but rather that he “struck the Iranian axis,” as leader Diaa al-Nasiri said, recalling Maliki’s complaint against Bashar al-Assad’s regime, but the matter was not useful.
However, the coalition leadership has not yet given any indication of surrender. On the contrary, Minister of Youth and Sports Ahmed Al-Mubarraq, a close associate of Maliki, posted a Quranic verse, saying that he would not abandon the “true leader.” The post read: “They plot, and Allah plots, and Allah is the best of plotters. Abu Israa, day after day you prove that you are the true leader in a time of false leaders. We will not abandon you, for you are the right choice. He will continue to support Maliki.”
As for the account of the Dawa Party, it sufficed with another verse that warns against relying on tyrants: “Allah is the ally of those who believe. He brings them out of darkness into light. But those who disbelieve - their allies are tyrants.”
“The wise man was right.”
In the past few hours, the message conveyed by Ammar al-Hakim has faced much skepticism, especially within the State of Law coalition led by Maliki. Coalition officials said that the American message warning against Maliki's nomination was not accurate. Maliki's team assumed that President Donald Trump had other ways of conveying his ideas to Maliki without the need for "messengers." The tone of the State of Law was not devoid of skepticism and the belief that the supposed American message was written somewhere inside Baghdad.
Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq enthusiastically broadcasts Trump's breaking news.
The factions and forces opposing al-Maliki’s nomination were led by the Asa’ib movement. The movement’s channel broadcast Trump’s statements in a series of breaking news bulletins on a rotating basis for a long period, while the media of the Hikma movement tried to distance itself and continue its usual programs.
Prior to that, Asaib deputies had hinted at the possibility of Maliki’s withdrawal and said that the movement had dealt responsibly with the American warning message conveyed by Hakim.
“Iraq… a great country without Iran”
Trump’s brief statement was unusual in its context. It is one of the few times that Trump has spoken about Iraq as a “great country” and not as an appendage to the Iranian issue. Trump’s reasons for not nominating Maliki were not to accuse the man of being an Iranian agent, as many American officials usually do, but rather because “Maliki is a man with crazy policies and ideas that have destroyed Iraq, and therefore he is a bad choice that will make Washington stop supporting Baghdad.”
Most of the forces within the framework were with Maliki in the nomination, including armed factions and long-established parties. Then he received the “blessing” of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ali Khamenei, while the leaders of the Wisdom Movement, Ammar al-Hakim, and Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, Qais al-Khazali, continued to send messages and delegations to Tehran to verify Khamenei’s position, which returned identical each time.
“Baghdad… look at Damascus”
The Trump administration, and especially its envoy Thomas Barak, is very interested in normalizing the situation in Syria in the region. If this is part of what Barak is looking for in the next prime minister, then Mohammed Shia al-Sudani may be among those closest to the White House's mood, especially since al-Sudani was one of the first to initiate rapprochement with Damascus, defying harsh media campaigns from his allies and outside of them. It seems that al-Sudani's team understood the ideas that Barak's recent tweet revealed after his call with the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Masoud Barzani, in which the American envoy spoke of Iraq as an area linked to Syria as well. This reveals a shift in the American approach to the situation in Iraq, from considering it merely an Iranian issue to including Iraq within a new arc of ideas that moves over Ankara, Damascus, Beirut, and even Baghdad.
The Sudanese team is optimistic
In rapid contacts made by the 964 network during the past hour, the Sudanese team appears optimistic but cautious: “We have done what we had to do. The Sudanese concession was serious and it was not a maneuver as some forces tried to suggest in order to drive a wedge between the Sudanese and Maliki. Now we may be waiting for Maliki to reciprocate the favor and for the rest of the framework forces to understand the reality of the situation and the challenge.”
The framework groups are now discussing the start of preparations for an urgent meeting. Some are considering holding it at the home of Ammar al-Hakim, the man who was right and whose account has been subject to much skepticism, while others are calling for the meeting to be held at al-Maliki’s home “to appease him.”
U.S. Air Force Conducts Multi-Day Readiness Exercise Across CENTCOM Region
According to the statement, the exercise is designed to demonstrate AFCENT’s ability to deploy, disperse, and sustain combat airpower under demanding conditions.
The U.S. Air Force’s Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central – AFCENT) has launched a multi-day readiness exercise aimed at strengthening regional security, enhancing cooperation with partner nations, and ensuring the rapid and flexible deployment of airpower across the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility, U.S. Central Command said in a statement on Monday.
According to the statement, the exercise is designed to demonstrate AFCENT’s ability to deploy, disperse, and sustain combat airpower under demanding conditions. It focuses on improving the rapid movement of personnel and aircraft, operating from dispersed and contingency locations, and sustaining logistics with a minimal footprint while maintaining integrated, multinational command and control over a wide operational area.
Lt. Gen. Derek France, commander of AFCENT and Combined Forces Air Component commander for CENTCOM, said the exercise highlights the professionalism and readiness of U.S. Airmen working alongside regional partners.
“Our Airmen are proving they can disperse, operate, and generate combat sorties under demanding conditions—safely, precisely, and alongside our partners,” France said. “This is about upholding our commitment to maintaining combat-ready Airmen and the disciplined execution required to keep airpower available when and where it’s needed.”
During the training event, U.S. forces are deploying small, efficient teams to multiple contingency locations to validate rapid setup, launch, and recovery procedures. CENTCOM emphasized that all activities are being conducted with host-nation approval and in close coordination with civil and military aviation authorities, underscoring respect for national sovereignty and a strong focus on safety and precision.
The exercise reflects the U.S. Air Force’s ongoing commitment to regional defense and stability, reinforcing cooperation with partner nations while deterring potential threats. CENTCOM said such training efforts help reduce the risk of miscalculation and contribute to peace through a credible, combat-ready, and responsible military presence in the region.
US official says Washington is ‘open for business’ if Iran wishes to contact America
Washington is “open for business” if Iran wishes to contact the United States, an American official said on Monday, adding that the two sides would have a conversation as long as Tehran knows what the terms are.
“I think they know the terms,” the official said when asked about the terms for Iran. “They’re aware of the terms.”
The US military said Monday the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group had arrived in the Middle East, dramatically boosting American firepower in the region.
The carrier and its accompanying ships were ordered to the region as Iran cracked down on mass protests. While President Donald Trump has since backed away from military action against Tehran, he has insisted all options remain on the table.
The protests in Iran started in late December, driven by economic grievances, but turned into a mass movement against the Islamic Republic, with huge street demonstrations for several days from January 8.
Rights groups have accused authorities of launching an unprecedented crackdown by shooting directly at the protesters under the cover of an internet shutdown.
Trump had repeatedly warned Iran that if it killed protesters, the United States would intervene militarily, and also encouraged Iranians to take over state institutions, saying “help is on the way.”
But he pulled back from ordering strikes earlier this month, saying Tehran had halted more than 800 executions under pressure from Washington
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