Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraq and the United States on Thursday signed an agreement transferring the US Embassy’s Diplomatic Support Site at Baghdad International Airport to the Iraqi government, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said.

The agreement was signed by Deputy Foreign Minister for Bilateral Relations Ambassador Mohammed Hussein Bahr Al-Uloom on behalf of Iraq and acting US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Stephen Fagin on behalf of the United States.

The ministry said the handover was part of Baghdad’s efforts to complete measures related to ending the Global Coalition’s mission and the foreign military presence in Iraq under the agreed timeline ending on September 30, 2026.

Bahr Al-Uloom said the step would help move Iraqi-US relations into a new phase of cooperation and partnership, particularly in economic development, energy and other areas of mutual interest.

Fagin expressed Washington’s support for Iraq’s efforts to develop bilateral relations based on existing agreements and understandings between the two countries, while respecting their sovereignty and expanding cooperation in the coming period.

Read more: Exclusive: US forces to stay in Iraq after Coalition exit

ShafaqNews- Baghdad

TheIran-aligned Kataib Hezbollah* on Thursday called on Iraqis to break “the USsiege on Iran,” a day after US sanctions on Iran's civil aviation sector tookeffect.

Thefaction urged Iraqis to "break this siege by every possible means" insupport of Iran, by buying Iranian products, encouraging trade with Iran andrefusing to take part in any activity that deepens Iranians' hardship,according to a statement.

Thegroup also asked Shiite religious authorities, known as marja’ia, to issue a rulingon whether it is religiously permissible “to help the enemy, in any form,besiege and starve the Iranian people.”

Itaccused unnamed Iraqi politicians of “cowardice and hypocrisy for stayingsilent,” adding that companies that complied with “the unjust US and Israelidecisions had traded their dignity for limited gains and helped tighten thepressure on a neighboring country.”

KataibHezbollah said Washington had turned to economic pressure after failing tobreak Iran militarily. It drew a line from the fate of Native Americans to theUN sanctions imposed on Iraq in the 1990s after it invaded Kuwait, and tomeasures it said now target Palestinians, Yemenis and Iranians through assetfreezes, sanctions, airspace restrictions and border closures.

TheUnited States sanctioned 27 Iranian airlines on Sept. 8, with TreasurySecretary Scott Bessent later warning that the carriers would effectively beshut out of international operations from Wednesday as companies providing themwith fuel, landing services or ticket sales risk US penalties.

Accordingto sources, Baghdad International Airport has since suspended all flights to andfrom Iran, while Najaf International Airport continues to handle them. Turkiyeand China also continue to operate flights to Iran.

Azizal-Tamimi, managing director of Aviation for All, told Shafaq News that Iraniancarriers operate about 50 flights a day to Iraq, with the restrictionsaffecting Iraqi tourists, students, medical patients, businesspeople and Iraqisliving in Iran.

Tehranwarned regional countries against joining US efforts to restrict Iranianaviation, saying that preventing the country’s aircraft from operating wouldleave their own airports unable to run flights.

*KataibHezbollah is designated a terrorist organization by the United States. Itspolitical wing, the Hoqooq Movement, holds six of the 329 seats in Iraq'sparliament after the November 2025 election and belongs to the CoordinationFramework, the alliance of Shiite parties that dominates parliament.

Shafaq News- New York

Relations between France and Iraq are gaining momentum,French Foreign Ministry spokesman Pascal Confavreux said Wednesday, describingthe outlook for bilateral ties as promising.

Speaking exclusively to Shafaq News on the sidelines of the81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, Confavreux noted that theIraqi prime minister’s visit to France about 10 days ago underscored thestrength of bilateral ties, with Paris as his first stop in Europe.

The visit also provided an important opportunity to expandthe partnership between France and Iraq and broaden economic cooperation in keysectors, including energy, the environment, and culture. Security and defensecooperation were also discussed, with France supporting efforts to strengthenIraq’s capabilities in ways that reinforce its sovereignty and territorialintegrity, Confavreux added.

Addressing regional tensions and maritime navigation, theFrench official said Paris was pursuing a diplomatic initiative to draft aUnited Nations Security Council resolution focused specifically on reopeningthe Strait of Hormuz. “The initiative aims to reduce the risks and pressuresfacing global energy markets, which France considers a shared internationalinterest requiring urgent action.”

Turning to Gaza, Confavreux described the situation in thePalestinian territory as catastrophic, calling on the international communityto uphold its responsibilities and reject any “double standards.”

He stressed that steps taken so far, including theceasefire, the release of hostages, and the resumption of humanitarian aid,remained far from sufficient given the scale of the humanitarian crisis in Gazaand the accelerating pace of settlement expansion in the West Bank.

Shafaq News- New York

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi met separatelywith the leaders of Iran, Egypt, and Britain in New York on Wednesday,addressing regional tensions, economic ties, and investment on the sidelines ofthe UN General Assembly.

Al-Zaidi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkianreviewed tensions across the region and called for coordinated efforts tobolster security and prevent further escalation, according to the Iraqi PrimeMinister’s Media Office.

Talks with Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madboulycentered on development, security, and infrastructure, with Al-Zaidihighlighting Egypt’s experience in those fields. Madbouly renewed an invitationfor the Iraqi premier to visit Cairo and proposed convening the fourth sessionof the Iraqi-Egyptian Joint Committee.

Economic relations dominated Al-Zaidi’s meeting withBritish Prime Minister Andy Burnham, alongside an exchange on regional issues. Al-Zaidiencouraged greater participation by British companies in investment anddevelopment projects.

Shafaq News- New York

Turkiye will gradually transfer the Bashiqa–ZilkanCamp to Iraq’s federal government under an agreed mechanism and timetable, accordingto Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi’s Media Office on Wednesday.

Following talks in New York between Prime Minister AliFaleh Al-Zaidi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the two sides agreedto restore full Iraqi state authority in Sinjar and end the presence of “proscribed”foreign armed elements there. No date was provided for the start or completionof the base transfer.

On economic ties, Al-Zaidi and Erdogan also pledged toexpand trade and investment, implement existing agreements, and acceleratestrategic projects, particularly the Development Road.

Read more: The long shadow of Sinjar: Twelve years after the ISIS genocide

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraq’s Badr parliamentary bloc withdrew lawmaker MahdiTaqi Al-Amarli’s resignation letter from parliament on Wednesday, a sourcewithin the bloc told Shafaq News.

Badr Organization Secretary-General Hadi Al-Amiriordered the letter retracted, opting to retain Al-Amarli as one of the group’srepresentatives in the legislature, according to the source.

Earlier in the day, Al-Amarli, who heads the Badr blocand serves on parliament’s Security and Defense Committee, had submitted hisresignation from both the legislature and the organization.

Shafaq News-Baghdad

Setting adeadline for bringing armed factions’ weapons under state control couldcomplicate negotiations with faction leaders, a source in Iraq’s CoordinationFramework (CF) warned on Wednesday, referring to Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi’sJune 30, 2027 target.

The sourcetold Shafaq News that political leaders in the CF, an alliance of major Shiitepolitical forces, had discussed with Al-Zaidi before his trip to New York a“tentative timeframe” longer than the one he later announced. A fixed deadline,the source said, “could disrupt” the work of the committee negotiating withfaction leaders, while also pressing it to intensify efforts toward anagreement on the handover and management of weapons.

Al-Zaidi haspledged to complete thedisarmament of armed factions by the end of June 2027. In a recent interview with TheNew York Times, he outlined an initial 90-day phase during which the factionswould “refrain from attacks” and US forces “would not strike them.”

Speaking withShafaq News, lawmaker Abu Turab Al-Tamimi said the government, in coordinationwith the relevant committees, could complete the process within the announcedtimeframe if the US withdrawal is completed and the Global Coalition’s militarymission in Iraq ends. He suggested Al-Zaidi “may have received assurances orindications” regarding the withdrawal from Iraqi bases and “possibly UScommitments not to interfere in Iraqi decisions,” without providing details.

Read more: Iraq's disarmament deadline pits Baghdad againstIran-aligned factions

TheCoalition’s military mission in Iraq is scheduled to end on Sept. 30. Severalarmed factions have previously linked any move to relinquish their weapons tothe departure of foreign forces from the country.

Read more: Iraq caught between US-Iran war and September 30 deadline

Shafaq News- New York

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi met with US PresidentDonald Trump, where the two leaders discussed bilateral relations and ways tostrengthen cooperation between Iraq and the United States.

The meeting, which took place during the 81st session of theUnited Nations General Assembly in New York, focused on political, economic,and investment ties between the two countries, according to the Iraqi PrimeMinister Media Office.

Both leaders also reviewed the latest developments in the regionand joint efforts by Baghdad and Washington to enhance regional andinternational security and stability. 

Shafaq News- Saladin

Mahdi Taqi Al-Amarli, head of the Badr parliamentarybloc and a member of parliament’s Security and Defense Committee, has submittedhis resignation from both Iraq’s parliament and the Badr Organization, aninformed source told Shafaq News on Wednesday.

Al-Amarli formally notified Badr Secretary-GeneralHadi Al-Amiri and the organization’s members in a letter, without specifying areason for his resignation, according to the source.

He expressed respect for Al-Amiri and his colleaguesand apologized for any shortcomings during his time with Badr, which he calledan important chapter in his life, adding that leaving his political andparliamentary roles would not alter his regard for its leadership and members.

Formal procedures to accept Al-Amarli’s resignationand end his parliamentary membership have yet to be completed. Shafaq News wasunable to immediately obtain comment from him or Badr officials on the reasonsbehind the move.

Shafaq News- Baghdad

A timetable and program for bringing weapons understate control will be announced on Sept. 30, State of Law Coalition leaderNouri Al-Maliki said on Wednesday during talks with US Chargé d’Affaires StevenFagin in Baghdad.

Al-Maliki said the committee formed by theCoordination Framework, Iraq’s largest Shiite political alliance, is working todraw up a clear program, adding that the issue should be addressed throughdialogue and in accordance with constitutional and legal mechanisms, whilesafeguarding Iraq’s security and sovereignty.

Read more: Iraq to mark post-Coalition mission as ‘Sovereignty Day’

The State Administration Coalition previously setSept. 30 as the deadline for ending armed activity outside officialinstitutions, a date that also marks the scheduled end of the GlobalCoalition’s military mission in Iraq. Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi has set June30, 2027, as the target for completing the disarmament of armed factions,following an initial 90-day phase before weapons handovers begin.

Read more: Iraq factions resist disarmament as coalition exit nears

National Security Adviser Qasim Al-Araji previouslysaid that no fixed timeframe was established for completing the committee’swork, with negotiations continuing over implementation mechanisms.

Al-Maliki also rejected the use of Iraqi territory bydomestic or foreign groups to attack neighboring countries. He urged authoritiesto complete official investigations before assigning responsibility for recentincidents.

The meeting also addressed Iraq-US relations andregional security. Al-Maliki called for broader economic and investment tiesunder the Strategic Framework Agreement and greater participation by UScompanies in Iraqi development projects, while Fagin expressed Washington’sinterest in increasing business activity and strengthening Baghdad’s relationswith its Arab neighbors.

Read more: Iraq's disarmament deadline pits Baghdad against Iran-aligned factions

Shafaq News- Baghdad

An Iraqi court sentenced lawmaker Alia Nassif to seven years in prison after convicting her in cases involving financial corruption and illicit enrichment, an informed source told Shafaq News on Wednesday.

The court also ordered Nassif to repay funds and pay fines totaling nearly 27 billion Iraqi dinars ($20.6 million) over the waste of public funds. She has been detained since June 28, when Iraqi authorities launched the nationwide Dawn Crackdown anti-corruption campaign.

In August, the Central Bank of Iraq ordered a precautionary asset freeze on 12 prominent political figures, including Nassif, current and former lawmakers, and a former adviser to the prime minister, in connection with corruption investigations. Official documents obtained by Shafaq News were dated August 26.

Shafaq News- Washington/ Baghdad

The United States remains on course to complete the withdrawal of its military forces from Iraq by September 30, a State Department spokesperson told Shafaq News on Wednesday, one week before the deadline.

Washington is “proceeding with the mutually determined transition timeline for Coalition forces to end military operations in Iraq,” in line with the announced conclusion of Operation Inherent Resolve, the US-led campaign against ISIS.

The spokesperson said the transition reflected the growing capabilities of Iraqi Security Forces, including the Kurdistan Region's Peshmerga, and marked a new chapter in relations between the two countries.

Read more: Iraqi Army after US-led Coalition withdrawal

The spokesperson did not directly address whether the department had been briefed on a phased roadmap extending the disarmament of armed groups until mid-2027 or whether that timeframe was consistent with Baghdad’s commitment to place weapons exclusively under state control.

Read more: Iraq factions resist disarmament as coalition exit nears

Instead, the spokesperson reiterated US support for Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi's efforts to “enforce and exercise Iraqi sovereignty,” describing a new direction for Iraq under his leadership in full partnership with Washington.

Referring to Al-Zaidi’s July 14 meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House, the spokesperson said the United States supports efforts to ensure a future free from terrorism, prevent attacks in and from Iraqi territory, and build a strong, mutually beneficial partnership.

Shafaq News- New York

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih Al-Zaidi met on Tuesday with Syrian transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, the prime minister's media office stated.

The two sides discussed ways to strengthen cooperation acrossvarious sectors, alongside ongoing efforts topromote de-escalation and reduce tensions in the region.

Earlier in the day, Al-Zaidiheld a run of meetings with US and regional leaders, including a session convened by US President Donald Trump anda separate meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi held a run of meetingswith US and regional leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in NewYork on Tuesday, including a session convened by US President Donald Trump anda separate meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, his office said.

US Engagements

Al-Zaidi joined a multilateral meeting called by Trump thatbrought together the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, the United ArabEmirates, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, and Turkiye, alongsidethe United States. The talks covered regional security, the protection ofglobal trade and supply chains, and economic development.

In his meeting with Rubio, al-Zaidi said his governmentwould press ahead with efforts to bring all weapons in Iraq under statecontrol, in line with the constitution and the law. Rubio voiced support forthe government's steps to strengthen the state and stabilize the country,according to the Iraqi account of the meeting.

Regional and Arab Talks

With Jordan's King Abdullah II, al-Zaidi discussed energy,trade, and investment, and the two also weighed regional developments andefforts to prevent wider conflict.

His meeting with Kuwait's crown prince, Sheikh Sabah KhaledAl-Hamad Al-Sabah, focused on outstanding border issues and a plan to link thetwo countries' power grids.

Al-Zaidi also met Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, withthe talks centering on economic and trade ties, and received Nabil Fahmy, thenew secretary-general of the Arab League, to discuss joint Arab action.

Other Meetings

The prime minister held separate meetings with Irish PrimeMinister Micheál Martin, on trade and investment; Rwandan Prime Minister JustinNsengiyumva, on economic cooperation and workforce development; and AlexanderDe Croo, administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

Al-Zaidi is leading Iraq's delegation to the assembly'shigh-level session and is due to deliver Iraq's national statement, setting outthe country's positions on regional and international issues.

Shafaq News- Baghdad

US President Donald Trump's envoy to Syria and Iraq, TomBarrack, expressed on Tuesday hope that Iraq will succeed in its plan to disarmfactions.

Speaking to Al Arabiya, Barrack said disarming the factionsis "important for Iraq and Iraqis," adding that Iraqi Prime MinisterAli Falih al-Zaidi "is doing a great job.”

On Monday, Al-Zaidi pledged to complete the disarmamentof armed factions by June 30, 2027, outlining an initial 90-day period beforeweapons handovers begin.

Read more: Iraq's disarmament deadline pits Baghdad against Iran-aligned factions

Shafaq News- Baghdad/ Washington

US Secretaryof State Marco Rubio on Tuesday accused Kataib Hezbollah, one of Iraq’s mostpowerful Iran-aligned armed factions, of carrying out the attack that shut downSaudi Arabia’s main oil pipeline.

In aninterview with Fox News, Rubio said the group had “fired into Saudi Arabia,” pledgingthat the United States would “live up to our commitments” under its defenseagreement with the Kingdom.

The UnitedStates designated Kataib Hezbollah as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and aSpecially Designated Global Terrorist entity in 2009. Earlier this month,Washington imposed further sanctions on networks supporting the group underOperation Economic Outcast, a campaign launched on August 24 targeting revenueand financial networks linked to Tehran and the Islamic Revolutionary GuardCorps (IRGC).

On September11, Saudi Arabia said drones launched from Iraqi territory struck its East-Westoil pipeline in the Riyadh and Medina regions, causing injuries and damage. AnIraqi investigation later traced the launches to Maysan province in southernIraq, prompting Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi to remove the commander of MaysanOperations Command and the province’s police chief from their posts. Thepipeline resumed operations on Tuesday at a reduced rate, according to sourcescited by Reuters.

The IslamicResistance in Iraq (IRI), an umbrella of Iran-aligned Iraqi armed factions,denied involvement, linking the accusations to an attempt to divert attentionfrom Saudi “military setbacks” in Yemen. No group has publicly claimedresponsibility.

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi will submit an amended PopularMobilization Forces (PMF) legislative package to parliament as soon as hereturns from his visit to the United States, an informed source told ShafaqNews on Tuesday.

The package comprises two draft laws: one restructuring the PMFCommission* and another governing service and retirement. Both have been revisedfollowing observations from parliamentary blocs and political forces, thesource said.

One provision still requires amendment or redrafting. It concerns thelegal retirement age of the PMF chairman and the authority to extend histenure. Under the current draft, decisions to extend or renew the chairman’stenure, or send him into retirement, rest with the Commander-in-Chief of theArmed Forces, a role held by the prime minister.

The proposed amendment would instead allow the prime minister to grantthe chairman a single extension of no more than two years, with no furtherrenewal, according to the source.

The source also reported broad political agreement to give the PMFchairman the status of a minister without portfolio while leaving the commission’sofficial name unchanged.

The two amended drafts are close to being submitted to parliament aftercontentious provisions were removed, the source said. Some provisions had faced“a US veto.” Once submitted, the bills would begin the formal legislativeprocess.

Read more: Iraq's PMF Service and Retirement Law: Is political exploitation inevitable?

Last week, Iskandar Witwit, a member of parliament’s Security andDefense Committee, said lawmakers were awaiting the amended legislation andthat al-Zaidi had promised to send it to parliament once the revisions werecomplete.

*The Popular Mobilization Commission (PMC) was established by theCouncil of Ministers in 2014, while Law No. 40 of 2016 formally recognized thePMF as an independent military formation within Iraq’s armed forces. TheCommission administers the PMF, including its salaries, training, equipment,and organizational affairs.

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraqi National Security AdviserQasim Al-Aboudi on Tuesday reaffirmed the government’s commitment to bringingweapons under state control during talks with US Chargé d’Affaires Steven Faginin Baghdad.

Al-Aboudi also stressed thegovernment’s commitment to its broader program, including combating corruption,attracting investment, strengthening the economy and pursuing comprehensivereforms.

Fagin voiced US support for thegovernment program and Washington’s interest in expanding trade and economicrelations with Iraq to advance mutual interests and sustainable peace in theregion.

Read more: A guide to Ali Al-Zaidi's ministerial program

The meeting follows Prime MinisterAli Al-Zaidi’s pledge to complete the disarmament of armed factions by June 30,2027. In a recent interview with The New York Times, he outlined an initial90-day phase during which the factions would “refrain from attacks” and USforces “would not strike them.”

Washington has repeatedly backedBaghdad’s efforts to disarm armed factions and transfer their weapons to thecentral government, tying deeper economic and defense cooperation to measurableprogress.

Read more: Iraq caught between US-Iran war and September 30 deadline

Shafaq News- Baghdad

The unification of the Peshmerga marks a milestone for Iraq's nationalsecurity, the country's army chief of staff said Tuesday, describing thePeshmerga and the Iraqi armed forces as integral parts of the national defensesystem.

In a statement, Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Abdul Amir Rashid Yarallahcalled the move a notable step toward bringing the country's military effortsunder one roof and reinforcing discipline and readiness. He said the DefenseMinistry was committed to continued coordination between the army and thePeshmerga, which had fought side by side to defeat ISIS.

Yarallah credited the Kurdistan Region's political and military leadersfor merging the Peshmerga and building up its capabilities, and looked ahead tocloser cooperation that would strengthen Iraq's security and stability.

Read more: Erbil ceremony marks Peshmerga unification

Shafaq News- Washington

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi pledged on Monday to complete the disarmament of armed factions by June 30, 2027, outlining an initial 90-day period before weapons handovers begin.

In an interview with The New York Times, Al-Zaidi said the plan would proceed in stages and would be central to Iraq’s management of its relations with the United States and Iran amid the war between the two countries.

Read more: Iraq's disarmament deadline pits Baghdad against Iran-aligned factions

“The disarmament plan is not optional. It is a necessity,” he said.

“Others talked about this and then backed down. They yielded to pressure or other fears. For me, this issue, along with corruption, is a matter of honor.”

Al-Zaidi said the first phase would last 90 days, during which armed factions would “refrain from attacks” and US forces “would not strike them.”

The factions would then begin surrendering their weapons, with the process due to conclude by June 30, 2027.

The announcement comes as Iraq approaches September 30, a date previously set by the State Administration Coalition for ending armed activity outside state institutions.

Read more: Iraq's weapons deadline leaves terms of disarmament unresolved

At an August 5 meeting, the coalition, which includes Iraq’s main Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish political forces, backed bringing weapons under state control and said groups threatening national security outside official institutions would be treated as outlawed.

September 30 also marks the scheduled end of the US-led Global Coalition’s military mission in Iraq. Several armed factions have tied the future of their weapons to the withdrawal of foreign forces.

Read more: Iraq factions resist disarmament as coalition exit nears

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Ashab Al-Kahf said on Monday that any regulation of itsweapons must follow the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Iraq.

In a statement, the armed faction said regulating weaponswas a national issue that could serve Iraq’s interests, but should come onlyafter the departure of the US-led Global Coalition and other US and Turkishforces, which it described as “occupying forces.”

“The ultimate purpose of the resistance’s weapons is toprotect Iraq and its sovereignty,” the faction said.

Ashab Al-Kahf also expressed “full commitment and absoluteconfidence” in Akram Al-Kaabi, secretary-general of Harakat Al-Nujaba.

The group, which operates under the broader IslamicResistance in Iraq banner, first emerged publicly in 2019 and has previouslyclaimed or threatened attacks against US, Turkish and Israeli interests. It hasnot publicly identified a formal leadership structure.

Ashab Al-Kahf has repeatedly rejected calls to surrender itsweapons. Harakat Al-Nujaba and Kataib Hezbollah have taken similar positions,linking disarmament to the withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq. 

Read more: Iraq factions resist disarmament as coalition exit nears

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraq's parliament voted on Monday on a set ofrecommendations to address the country's fuel crisis, including a review ofrecent increases in oil derivative prices, alongside votes on three other laws.

Lawmakers called for reconsidering Council of MinistersDecision No. 429 of 2026, which raised prices on oil derivatives, and forstudying its economic and social impact, given its direct and indirect effectson transportation, production, and service costs.

They also urged the government to draft an urgent plan toprevent supply bottlenecks and recurring fuel shortages, ensure steadydistribution across provinces, and submit a detailed report to parliamentcovering production, imports, consumption, costs, strategic reserves, andquantities supplied to each province. They further called for a clear timelineto achieve sustainable self-sufficiency in oil derivatives and reduce relianceon imports, along with tighter oversight of the fuel distribution system, fromstorage facilities to filling stations, and legal accountability formanipulation or smuggling.

Under the measures, the parliamentary Oil and Gas Committeewill oversee implementation and submit periodic reports to the parliamentspeaker on steps taken and completion rates. Lawmakers also called for a reviewof senior appointments within the Oil Ministry based on specialization, and forresuming supplies of subsidized oil derivatives to farmers.

The package additionally addressed fuel shortages in theKurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), calling for a review of white oil quantitiessupplied to the region and the urgent allocation of additional amounts with theonset of winter. Lawmakers also called for discussing the economic model forcrude oil sales with the Oil, Gas, and Natural Resources Committee, anddirected the Oil Ministry to review hydrogenation contracts and removeunderperforming companies from them.

 Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraq has tightened rules on government officials’ mediaappearances, with Prime Minister Ali al-Zaydi ordering advisers and officialsto obtain prior approval from his office before speaking to the media.

The directive says the measure is intended to ensure a consistent official messageand prevent statements that do not accurately reflect the government’sposition. It has also raised questions about who is authorized to speak onbehalf of the government and how the rules may affect journalists’ access to information.

Iraqi lawmaker Imad Yohana told Shafaq News that the measureprimarily applies to advisers and spokespersons linked to the prime minister’soffice and is intended to prevent conflicting information or incompletepositions from being attributed to the government.

“The government spokesperson will remain responsible forannouncing official positions,” Yohana noted, adding that regulating mediaappearances by government employees does not necessarily amount to restrictingfreedom of expression. “Such rules should protect press freedom andjournalists’ right to access information in line with Iraqi law and thecountry’s international obligations.”

The issue is particularly relevant to Iraqi journalists, whooften face difficulties obtaining up-to-date information from official sources,including government and ministry spokespersons.

In some cases, news organizations rely on older statementsas background for their reports or turn to anonymous sources inside ministriesfor updated information. The measure has also raised questions about howjournalists will access information if fewer officials are authorized to speakpublicly.

The prime minister’s directive comes as Iraq’sCommunications and Media Commission has taken a series of regulatory measuresin September against politicians, journalists and analysts.

Those measures have included bans on media appearances forvarying periods, reaching 90 days in some cases, as well as formal warnings tolocal and foreign television channels over alleged violations of broadcastingrules.

Hadi Jalo Marai, a spokesman for the Iraqi JournalistsSyndicate, told Shafaq News that media regulation should remain grounded in lawwhile protecting freedom of expression and the right to access information.

Journalists and analysts should be free to express theirviews as long as they do not engage in incitement to hatred or violence,threats or extortion, Marai explained, while emphasizing the need to takeIraq’s social, cultural, sectarian and ethnic diversity into account.

Restrictions on government officials speaking to the mediaare not new in Iraq. Former Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani previouslyintroduced a similar measure after controversial remarks by one of his advisersduring a televised interview.

Government institutions have also issued clarifications inprevious years after statements by advisers or officials generated controversyor were interpreted as reflecting the government’s official position.

Political writer and analyst Ali al-Bayder described regulatinggovernment messaging as a matter of importance and a necessity for any country,particularly when multiple statements produce conflicting accounts of the sameissue.

In an interview with Shafaq News, he argued that settingstandards for who can appear in the media and what they can discuss isnecessary, but warned against allowing regulation to expand into control of themedia space. Such measures, he cautioned, should not result in "creatingnew dictatorships."

Al-Bayder also suggested that the latest directive couldreflect concerns within the government over the reliability or competence ofsome figures appearing in the media, as well as an effort to prevent theirstatements from being attributed directly to the government.

Zainab Rabee, head of the Al-Nakheel Center for PressFreedoms, described prior approval for advisers’ media appearances as a normalpart of government operations rather than a restriction on freedoms orpolitical programming.

“Conflicting statements from government officials can leavejournalists dealing with competing accounts and affect the credibility of theircoverage,” Rabee noted, arguing that having a clear source for the government’sofficial position can help media organizations report that position accurately.

Political television presenter Enas Halim also underscoredthe importance of coordinating government messaging, noting that contradictorystatements by officials can affect how the government and its positions areperceived.

Halim added that requiring advisers to consult the primeminister’s media office before speaking publicly could help coordinate theofficial message, “particularly because government advisers do not necessarilyserve as official government spokespersons.”

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi onMonday welcomed the unification of Peshmerga forces under the Kurdistan Regionof Iraq (KRI)’s Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs as a step toward strengthening nationalsecurity and institutional governance.

Al-Zaidi congratulated the people ofthe Kurdistan Region and the Peshmerga on completing the process, stressing theimportance of unifying security and military forces to consolidate “our defense decision-making.”

Earlier today, the KRI marked thecompletion of the years-long Peshmerga unification process. The KurdistanRegion Presidency said that, as of Sept. 21, no Peshmerga force would remainoutside the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs, ending the separate commandstructures that had long divided the forces.

Read more: The evolution of Kurdish power in Iraq

Shafaq News- Baghdad

The Coordination Framework (CF), Iraq’s ruling Shiitepolitical alliance, on Sunday called on Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi toemphasize the country’s sovereignty and rejection of interference in itsinternal affairs during his upcoming visit to New York.

During its regular meeting attended by al-Zaidi, the blocsaid Iraq’s message at the UN General Assembly should also stress support forregional security and stability and highlight the country’s progress inreconstruction, development and international engagement.

The UN General Assembly’s 81st session opened in New York onSept. 8, with its high-level General Debate scheduled for Sept. 22–26 and Sept.28. A source previously told Shafaq News that efforts were underway to arrangea meeting between al-Zaidi and US President Donald Trump. If held, the talksare expected to address the agreed timetable for the withdrawal of US forces,the post-withdrawal period and the government’s anti-corruption campaign.

The Coordination Framework also reviewed the results ofal-Zaidi’s recent European tour and urged the swift filling of the remaininggovernment vacancies based on competence and integrity.