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Johnson admits failure in Iraq: The invasion was a mistake and there was no Plan B.

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has publicly admitted that the 2003 invasion of Iraq was a “moral mistake,” in one of the most candid admissions by a senior British official about the failures of the Iraq War.

A report in the Turkish newspaper Yeni Şafak quoted Johnson as admitting during a television interview that “the coalition forces did not have a strategy to manage the affairs of Iraq after the invasion, which led to dire consequences for this country.”

The Turkish report, translated by Shafaq News Agency, noted that “Johnson’s confessions are remarkable, as he described the actions of the coalition forces around Iraq as morally wrong, and acknowledged a catastrophic lack of planning for the post-invasion period.”

Johnson also pointed out during the interview that “British and American forces have not developed a coherent strategy for governing Iraq after the overthrow of Saddam Hussein’s regime.”

The translated report indicated that “the British Prime Minister explained how the coalition forces dismantled the administrative structures in Iraq, without having any alternative strategy.”

The report quoted Johnson as saying, “We had absolutely no plan for who would replace Saddam. We eliminated the entire Baath Party and the entire ruling elite,” indicating that “this complete uprooting of the ruling institutions created a power vacuum and plunged the country into chaos and violence.”

According to Johnson, as quoted in the report, this approach represented a “complete moral failure,” and that British and American diplomats “operated without clear guidance.”

Johnson explains that when he inquired at the time about the plan that had been prepared, he was told, “We are going on a trip,” which represents “an admission that British officials did not have a concrete vision for the future of Iraq, and this led to the collapse of institutions after the country was left without effective governance mechanisms,” according to the newspaper report.

The Turkish report recalled that the invasion of Iraq caused the deaths of approximately 461,000 people between 2003 and 2011, adding that “the conflict radically reshaped the political landscape in Iraq and generated divisions that persist to this day.”

The Turkish report concluded by saying that “Johnson’s remarks represent one of the most candid admissions by a senior British official about the strategic and moral failures of the Iraq War.”

Shafaq.com

Türkiye expects trade with Iraq to rise to $30 billion

Turkish Trade Minister Omar Polat revealed on Friday that trade with Iraq will rise to $30 billion in the medium term, against the backdrop of the “rapid expansion” of economic relations between the two countries.

Polat said in a statement carried by the Turkish Anadolu Agency that “the volume of trade between Turkey and Iraq will reach $20 billion in the short term, and $30 billion in the medium term.”

This was in response to a visit he made to Baghdad on Thursday, where he met with his Iraqi counterpart, Minister of Trade Atheer Al-Ghurairi, and they held the second meeting of the Iraqi-Turkish Economic and Trade Committee, which aims to develop relations between the two countries.

He noted that he led a delegation of more than 100 Turkish businessmen on a visit to Baghdad, which included a delegation of 19 companies in different sectors, in addition to a delegation of Turkish contracting companies that held intensive meetings with their Iraqi counterparts.

Polat participated in the opening of the Turkish Export Products Exhibition in Baghdad, which was organized with the support and coordination of the Ministry of Trade and under the supervision of the General Secretariat of the Mediterranean Exporters’ Associations in Türkiye.

During the visit, Bolat met with his Iraqi counterpart, Atheer Dawood Salman Al-Ghurairi, and discussed with him ways to facilitate trade exchange and improve the investment environment, as the second phase of the protocol of the joint economic and trade cooperation committee between the two countries was signed.

The protocol stipulated taking concrete steps to enhance cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, logistics, and infrastructure, in addition to signing a cooperation agreement in the field of exhibitions to increase coordination in organizing joint economic events.

Polat also participated in a roundtable meeting between Turkish contracting companies and Iraqi bodies concerned with projects, and new opportunities were discussed to implement high value-added projects and increase the share of Turkish companies in the Iraqi market.

Polat noted that Turkish exports to Iraq amounted to $8.7 billion during the first nine months of 2025, while the total volume of bilateral trade reached about $12 billion during the same period.

He added that Turkish companies have implemented 1,145 projects in Iraq (he did not specify when) with a total value of $36.6 billion, which is equivalent to about 6.7% of the total projects they have implemented globally, making Iraq the third largest market in the world for Turkish contractors.

Polat explained that Turkish engineering, architecture and consulting companies have also implemented nearly 200 projects worth $400 million in Iraq.

He pointed out that Ankara is ready to provide all forms of support for Iraq’s reconstruction projects, especially the “Development Road” project, which is one of the most prominent joint strategic initiatives between Ankara and Baghdad.

Shafaq.com

Savaya outlines a series of paths in his first statement: Iraq’s future without Iran and its proxies.

US President Donald Trump’s special envoy to Iraq, Mark Savaya, issued an official statement affirming Washington’s support for Baghdad’s path toward “stability, sovereignty and prosperity,” stressing the need to unify the armed forces under the banner of the central government and prevent any armed groups from operating outside the authority of the state.

In his first official statement since being appointed, Savaya said that “the Iraqi leadership has taken important steps over the past three years to steer the country in the right direction politically and economically,” noting that Iraq has begun to regain its status as a sovereign state “working to reduce foreign interference, collect weapons in the hands of the state, and open markets to international companies to rebuild the fragile infrastructure.”

The US envoy added that “the United States has made it clear that there is no place for any armed groups operating outside the authority of the state, and that the stability and prosperity of Iraq depend on the existence of unified security forces under the command of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and a single flag representing all Iraqis.”

Savaya stressed that “the future of Iraq and the region is linked to a country that enjoys full sovereignty, free from malicious foreign interference, especially from Iran and its proxies,” calling for enhanced cooperation between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government to ensure “lasting security, economic growth and national cohesion.”

The US envoy stressed that Iraq is “a pivotal country in the Middle East, and must play its natural role in promoting peace, security and regional stability, without returning to past practices or adopting policies that impede unity and progress.”

Savaya concluded his statement by saying, “My mission, on behalf of President Trump, is to support Iraq in its pursuit of stability, sovereignty, and prosperity. Iraq will remain one of the United States’ most important and strongest partners, and I am committed to strengthening this relationship during my time as Special Envoy.”

This is the first statement of its kind from US President Donald Trump’s special envoy to Iraq, Mark Savaya, since his official appointment on October 19, 2025.

Savaya, an American businessman of Iraqi (Chaldean/Assyrian) descent from Michigan, rose to prominence in recent years through his support for Trump’s presidential campaign and his outreach to Middle Eastern communities in the United States. His lack of prior diplomatic experience made his appointment surprising in political circles, but Trump affirmed that he possesses “a deep understanding of Iraq and influential contacts in the region.”

Shafaq.com

Sudani: Spending has increased significantly due to the budget deficit in Iraq

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani acknowledged on Friday the increase in the rate of government spending compared to the deficit in the country’s general budget.

His remarks came during a meeting with a group of tribal sheikhs, religious figures, dignitaries, and academic and social elites from areas and neighborhoods south of the capital, Baghdad.

During the meeting, Al-Sudani said that “oil cannot be relied upon as the sole source of income in the long term, because it is subject to price fluctuations and events in the region.”

He pointed out that “spending has increased significantly in light of the budget deficit that was approved by the House of Representatives, and some are deliberately misleading public opinion for their own purposes.”

Al-Sudani also pointed out that “the amount of state spending in 2024 was 150 trillion dinars out of a budget of 220 trillion dinars.”

He stressed that the Iraqi federal government is “keen to implement reforms in various sectors, provided that they do not affect citizens with limited income.”

The Prime Minister continued, saying: We inherited (2582) stalled projects, some of which date back to 2005 and are worth (131) trillion dinars.

Al-Sudani continued, saying that the government he currently heads “has outlined the features of Iraq’s foreign policies and relations, based on the exchange of mutual benefit and common interests and the preservation of sovereignty.”

Shafaq.com

Ministry of Transport: Contracts signed with 4 international technical and economic companies regarding the development road

Minister of Transport Razzaq Muhaibis Al-Saadawi confirmed on Friday that the ministry is in the process of contracting with a third party to audit the technical company responsible for the Development Road project. He pointed out that this road is an integrated economic project targeting 8 sectors. Al-Saadawi told the official news agency that “the ministry has worked to overcome the challenges in the Development Road project by utilizing foreign expertise,” noting that “this project is strategic and large, being established for the first time in Iraq, and therefore there is a need for foreign expertise.”

He added that “the ministry sought technical advice from the Italian company (PTP), and also sought financial and economic advice from the American company (Oliver Wyman), and also contracted with the American company (KBR) to audit the advisor (Oliver Wyman),” noting that “the ministry is now in the process of contracting with an auditor or a third party to audit the technical company.”

Al-Saadawi also explained that “this road is an integrated economic project targeting eight sectors, and there are countries willing to participate in the project,” stressing that “there is a supreme committee and a body that is planned to be formed to manage the development road project.”

Burathanews.com

The Central Bank of Iraq signs a cooperation agreement with the National Bank of Kuwait – Bahrain.

The Central Bank of Iraq signed a joint cooperation agreement with National Bank of Kuwait-Bahrain in the capital Baghdad.
A statement from the bank indicated that “under the patronage and in the presence of the governor Central Bank of Iraq, Ali Mohsen Al-Alaq, He fell Central Bank of Iraq Joint cooperation agreement with National Bank of Kuwait-Bahrain And it happened ceremonies The signing took place at the Iraqi Central Bank headquarters in Baghdad.

The statement added that “he attended on behalf of the bank Kuwait CEO – Bahrain, Ali Fardan, along with his deputy, the president Treasury Mohammed Momen, and members of the delegation, signed the agreement on behalf of the Iraqi side. Muhammad Yunus Abu Ragheef Director General of Investments at the Central Bank of Iraq.

According to the statement, the Governor expressed “a warm welcome to the visiting delegation, recalling the deep and diverse ties between the people of Iraq And the people of Kuwait and Bahrain, wishing them continued success. For his part, Fardan emphasized raising the level of cooperation in the areas of financial transfers and electronic payments, in addition to training on the best modern banking practices between the two parties, and statistical data, inviting His Excellency the Governor to visit the headquarters. National Bank In Bahrain.

Alsumaria.tv

Liquidity and balance of payments in Iraq declined over the past three months.

The Iraqi Ministry of Planning announced on Wednesday the economic indicators for the country for the first quarter of 2025.

The Ministry’s Central Statistical Organization stated in a report seen by Shafaq News Agency that the most important indicators for the first quarter of 2025 point to a decrease in merchandise imports compared to exports, which led to a decrease in the net balance of payments to 5.9 trillion dinars.

He added that there has been a decrease in public deposits with banks, which has led to a decline in cash liquidity, noting that total bank credit amounted to 71.3 trillion dinars.

He pointed out that the amount of electricity produced in the first quarter of 2025 amounted to 33,142,433 megawatt-hours, while the amount of imported energy amounted to 1,673,496 megawatt-hours.

The unit “megawatt-hour” means the amount of power generated or imported during the actual operating hours of the national electricity grid.

Shafaq.com

“Oil for water”: A Turkish agreement places Iraq at the heart of an equation that confounds Iran.

In a move described as unprecedented in the Middle East, Turkey is moving towards an agreement to release one billion cubic meters of water towards Iraq, in exchange for exporting half a million barrels of oil per day to Turkey.

The deal, which appears purely economic on the surface, is fundamentally part of what a report by the Iranian Diplomacy website , translated by Shafaq News Agency, described as “Ankara’s grand strategy of using water as a geopolitical pressure tactic.” This policy, according to the report, has repercussions not only for Iraq but also for Iran, which is already facing an unprecedented water shortage.

Ankara and the water weapon

Since the 1980s, Turkey has embarked on its massive GAP project, which involves constructing dozens of dams on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. This project has given Turkey a dominant position over the shared water resources with Iraq and Syria, transforming it over time into a dominant water power through which it practices what the regional press calls “blue diplomacy.”

With climate change worsening and rainfall becoming scarce, Ankara has leveraged this natural advantage to reshape the balance of power in the region. Building dams is no longer merely an engineering decision, but a tool for political and economic negotiation, and sometimes a means of deterrence.

Observers believe that the construction of new dams such as Karakurt, Tuzluja and Suyilmaz in the upper reaches of the Aras River threatens the water security of entire Iranian cities in West Azerbaijan, Kermanshah, Ilam and even Khuzestan.

Tehran: Between Thirst and Blackmail

The drying up of lakes such as Urmia and Hawr al-Azim, according to environmental reports, is not only a result of internal neglect, but also a direct consequence of the Turkish dam policy that has reduced the flow of rivers into Iranian territory.

Experts in Tehran believe that “Ankara has made water a strategic commodity that can be traded for oil or political concessions,” and that the recent oil move towards Iraq is a clear example of this approach, as it reinforces Turkey’s position as a player that controls a vital resource in the regional energy market.

In contrast, former Iranian diplomats warned that what is described as “water terrorism” threatens Iranian national security, after water scarcity became an issue where geography, politics, and security intersect.

In eastern Iran, the story is repeated, albeit with a different geography. Successive Afghan governments, from Ashraf Ghani to the Taliban, have also adopted a policy of damming the Helmand River, disregarding the 1973 agreement that guarantees Iran 820 million cubic meters of water annually.

“If Iran wants more water, let it pay with oil,” Ghani once said, and the Taliban put it into practice by opening the “Kamal Khan” dam and proposing projects to build twenty additional dams.

The result was tragic, with Lake Hamoun drying up, thousands of families displaced, and agriculture collapsing in Sistan and Baluchestan.

Former Iranian ambassador to Brazil, Seyed Ali Saghaian, believes that Turkey’s oil move is not just a deal, but a test of the extent to which countries in the region are willing to accept “the logic of immoral bartering”.

He tells Sharq newspaper: “Remaining silent about the oil-for-water policy will open the door for Ankara, the Taliban, and others to blackmail their neighbors. Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Armenia must reactivate their joint committees to protect their right to water resources.”

Saqayyan warns that Türkiye itself “is suffering from a severe internal water crisis in Ankara and Istanbul, and that the dam policy could backfire on it environmentally and socially.”

He adds: “It is a mistake to allow the normalization of the principle of water bartering, as water is not a commodity, but a sovereign right guaranteed by international conventions.”

For his part, Kurdish expert on regional affairs Salahuddin Khadiyo believes that Turkey and Afghanistan treat water as a “hard political currency”.

He says that Ankara “realized early on that water in the 21st century would replace oil in the balance of power,” taking advantage of its geographical location on the sources of rivers.

Khadija believes that “Turkey’s dam policy has contributed to exacerbating the crises in Syria and Iraq by intensifying drought and generating waves of migration and poverty,” adding that “the Taliban are practicing the same policy today, but in a more chaotic manner.”

He warns that continuing this approach will turn water from a source of life into a factor of conflict and instability, calling for “genuine regional diplomacy” conducted through cooperation, not threats.

The Middle East is on the brink of a great thirst

As the region approaches its driest decade, water appears to be a new nerve center of power. Turkey is projecting its strength through dams, Iran is defending its historical rights to rivers, Afghanistan is bargaining over the Helmand River, while Iraq teeters between water scarcity and energy dependence.

In this gloomy scene, Saqayyan says that “salvation will not come from water battles, but from water diplomacy.”

Shafaq.com

A report ranks Iraq on the “strongest reputation” index for countries.

Iraq ranked 117th globally and eighth in the Arab world in the index of countries with the strongest international reputation, according to a report by the American magazine CEOWORLD.

The magazine stated in its report, which was reviewed by Shafaq News Agency, that it relied on ten dimensions and fifty key attributes in the “strongest reputation for countries” index, combining tangible data and cognitive analyses in the areas of ethics, innovation, governance, sustainability, and social cohesion.

The magazine added that each dimension measures how global citizens perceive a country’s leadership, integrity, capacity for innovation, culture, and human capital, to form what is known as a comprehensive “trust index” for countries.

The report indicated that Iraq ranked 117th globally out of 197 listed countries, with a score of 46.37 out of 100 in the strongest global reputation index, and eighth in the Arab world.

Singapore ranked first globally with 97.83 points, followed by Switzerland with 97.81 points, Ireland with 97.22 points, the Netherlands with 96.77 points, and Germany in fifth place with 95.49 points. North Korea and Palestine ranked last with 14.26 points, and Palestine with 14.58 points, respectively.

In the Arab world, the UAE came in first with 91.03 points, followed by Kuwait with 81.67 points, Bahrain with 80.15 points, Qatar with 66.94 points, Saudi Arabia with 65.59 points, Libya with 50.8 points, and Algeria with 47.07 points, while Iraq came in eighth.

The results also showed that Lebanon came in ninth with 44.5 points, Morocco in tenth with 44.11 points, Jordan in eleventh with 44 points, and Tunisia in twelfth with 41.97 points.

Shafaq.com