Iraq cabinet nears completion, only 2-3 ministries unresolved

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Only two or three ministerial posts remain unresolved in Iraq’s government, with political forces already reaching agreement on some of the outstanding portfolios, President Nizar Amedi announced on Saturday.

Speaking at the eighth Baghdad International Dialogue Conference, Amedi expected the remaining posts to be filled soon but gave no deadline. “Political forces are keen to complete the cabinet, particularly as we are going through a difficult and dangerous period in the region,” he noted, warning that “the failure of this government means the failure of everyone in Iraq.”

Parliament approved Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi’s government and program on May 14, granting confidence to 14 ministers while postponing votes on nine posts amid disagreements over their allocation. Political blocs have since been negotiating the remaining nominations, with a source telling Shafaq News this month that the Cabinet could be completed in September.

Amedi also cautioned that the US-Iran war would increase economic pressure on Iraq because of its dependence on oil and commercial ties with Tehran, adding that he raised concerns over disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and their impact on crude exports and public-sector salaries during Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf’s recent visit to Baghdad.

Read more: No exit but Hormuz: Iraq's economic vulnerability exposed

The president confirmed that the US-led Coalition’s mission in Iraq will end on Sept. 30 and rejected the use of Iraqi territory for attacks on Gulf states.