Al-Sayhoud: The coordinating framework is preparing to announce the largest bloc and choose the next prime minister.

Member of the Coordination Framework, MP Mohammed Al-Sayhoud, confirmed on Monday that the decision to choose the next Prime Minister rests exclusively with the leaders of the Coordination Framework and will be respected by everyone.

Al-Sayhoud told Al-Maalouma that “the Coordination Framework will hold a meeting this evening that includes all its components to announce the largest bloc that won the elections,” noting that “this announcement will give the President of the Republic the constitutional basis to task the largest bloc with nominating the Prime Minister-designate to form the next government.”

He added that “the decision regarding the name of the Prime Minister will be made within the framework according to a mechanism agreed upon by its leaders.”

Sources within the framework indicated that the leaders would hold a meeting today to discuss the criteria for selecting a candidate for prime minister.

Almaalomah.me

Al-Bajari: Iraq is taking steps towards joining the World Maritime Trade Organization

The head of the parliamentary transport committee, Zahra al-Bajari, confirmed on Monday that Iraq is seeking to join the World Maritime Trade Organization, in a move aimed at strengthening the country’s position in the maritime transport and international trade sector.

Al-Bajari told Al-Maalouma News Agency that “joining the World Maritime Trade Organization is a strategic goal for Iraq because of its importance in developing the maritime transport sector and increasing investment opportunities, as Iraq possesses the capabilities that qualify it to engage in this international organization.”

She added that “this step will contribute to improving the infrastructure of Iraqi ports, expanding the prospects for cooperation with member states, as well as enhancing Iraq’s position in global trade.”

Al-Bajari indicated that “the next parliament will support all measures aimed at achieving this goal.”

Almaalomah.me

Karkoush: No alliances to overturn the table; the largest bloc is the path to forming the new government.

Imran Karkoush, a member of the State of Law Coalition, ruled out the possibility of alliances that could overturn the political process, noting that political parties from other components should deal with the current realities and move towards the largest bloc to ensure the formation of the new government.

Karkoush told Al-Maalomah, “The issue of having political alliances that turn the tables is no longer a viable option for political blocs, especially since this matter has been tried in the past and failed in the plan.”

He added that “the Sunnis have tried in the past to go in a different direction in the political process, but they failed in that, and therefore they have no choice but to proceed with the political process according to the current data.”

He explained that “progressing the political process requires engaging with the largest bloc to ensure the formation of a new government without any complications that might arise within the political arena.”

Almaalomah.me

Exclusive: Date for announcing the final election results and their ratification by the Federal Court

The Iraqi Electoral Commission revealed on Monday the date for announcing the final results of the sixth parliamentary elections.

The head of the commission’s media team, Imad Jamil, told Shafaq News Agency that “the commission will officially announce the final results of the Iraqi parliamentary elections today, Monday, between 5 and 6 pm.”

Jamil explained that “the results will be announced via a press conference broadcast on the official (Iraqi) channel, and the results are identical and there will be no change to the initial results that were announced 24 hours after the end of the electoral process.”

For her part, the Deputy Spokesperson for the Commission, Nibras Abu Souda, explained that “one day after the announcement of the final results, the Commission will announce the opening of the appeals process in accordance with Commission Law No. 31 of 2019, for a period of three days.”

According to Abu Souda, who spoke to Shafaq News Agency, “After considering the appeals and the judicial body has reviewed all the appeals submitted, the commission is notified by an official letter that the response has been completed and all appeals submitted regarding the election results have been considered.”

She continued: “After receiving a letter from the judicial authority and considering all appeals, the commission will send the election results to the Federal Court for the purpose of ratifying the results.”

Shafaq.com

Maliki begins holding meetings with political blocs and calls for the formation of a “strong government”.

On Monday, Nouri al-Maliki, head of the State of Law Coalition, called for continued efforts to form a “strong government” during his meeting with delegations from the National Approach Alliance and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Party.

The State of Law Coalition’s media office said in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency that “the head of the State of Law Coalition, Nouri al-Maliki, received in his office today delegations from the National Approach Alliance and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Party, in two separate meetings dedicated to exchanging congratulations on the success of the elections and the completion of the constitutional entitlement.”

He pointed out that “the two meetings discussed the latest developments in the political process and the results of the ongoing dialogues between the national forces.”

According to the statement, Maliki stressed “the importance of continuing joint efforts to expedite the formation of a strong government capable of meeting the aspirations of the people, enhancing stability, and protecting the democratic process.”

Al-Maliki praised the “positive atmosphere prevailing in the dialogues between the political forces,” stressing the need to “adopt genuine partnership and realistic programs as the basis for government work in the next phase.”

In addition, the National Approach and National Union delegations, according to the statement, affirmed their commitment to “continuing communication and understanding in order to reach a common vision that serves the supreme national interest.”

Shafaq.com

Nechirvan Barzani discusses trade between Washington and Erbil with a US delegation

The President of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, discussed trade relations between Washington and Erbil with a delegation from the US Business Council.

According to a statement received by Shafaq News Agency, the meeting included an explanation of the purpose of the delegation’s visit to the Kurdistan Region, and discussions were held regarding trade relations between the United States and the Kurdistan Region. In this context, the available opportunities for developing relations between the two sides were highlighted.

Nechirvan Barzani reiterated that the Kurdistan Region is looking to expand its trade and economic ties with the United States, stressing “the region’s readiness to provide all facilities to American investors and companies, enabling them to expand their commercial and economic activities in Kurdistan.”

The results of the Iraqi parliamentary elections were another focus of the meeting, according to the statement.

Shafaq.com

Electoral Commission: Preliminary results will not be significantly affected by the final announcement today.

The Independent High Electoral Commission confirmed on Monday that the preliminary results will not be greatly affected by the announcement of the final results today. The head of the commission’s media support unit, Imad Jamil, told the official agency that “the Independent High Electoral Commission announced the preliminary results for 99.07% of the polling stations, and only 111 stations remain, for which the counting and sorting have been completed and the results have been finalized.”

He added that “announcing the final results does not significantly affect the preliminary results, and the results will be announced today in full detail,” explaining that “the seats were distributed according to System No. 2 of 2025, as well as the quota seats and components.”

He also pointed out that “the commission, after announcing the final results, will grant a period of 3 days for appeals to be submitted by those affected,” noting that “there is a slight change within the bloc, such as the distribution of the women’s quota and the distribution of seats.”

He also indicated that “the total number of complaints in the general and special voting amounted to 102 complaints, and they did not rise to the level of being red complaints, but were distributed between green and yellow complaints that do not affect the election results or lead to the opening of some stations.”

Burathanews.com

The International Monetary Fund expects stable and accelerating growth in the Iraqi economy until 2030.

The Iraqi economy is poised for a more stable growth trajectory in the coming years, following a slight contraction of 0.2% in 2024, according to data from the International Monetary Fund.

According to the “Al-Sharq” website, the fund predicted that the country’s economy would return to growth in 2025 at a rate of 0.5%.

The IMF estimates show a marked acceleration in the pace of growth starting from 2026 to 3.6%, the same rate expected for 2027, before rising to 3.9% in 2028, and then 4.1% for both 2029 and 2030.

The International Monetary Fund predicted last October that Iraq would rank fourth among the largest economies in the Arab world by 2030.

According to the report, Saudi Arabia tops the list as the largest Arab economy with a GDP of $1.6 trillion, followed by the United Arab Emirates in second place with about $764.8 billion, and then Egypt in third place with $589.8 billion.

Iraq comes in fourth place, with an expected GDP of $345.9 billion, continuing its advanced position among Arab economies supported by the energy and oil sector and reconstruction and development projects, ahead of Algeria, which came in fifth with a total of $309 billion, followed by Qatar in sixth place with $296.8 billion, Morocco in seventh place with $241.9 billion, and then Kuwait in eighth place with $190.1 billion.

The last places on the list were occupied by the Sultanate of Oman with a total of $133.3 billion, followed by Jordan in tenth place with $73.6 billion.

The report indicated that Arab economies are experiencing varying paths of growth, driven by economic reforms, expanding investments in renewable energy, tourism, and technology, along with efforts to diversify away from dependence on oil as a primary source of revenue.

Shafaq.com

Preliminary “unofficial” results of the parliamentary elections in Baghdad, Babylon, and Maysan

An informed source revealed on Wednesday preliminary “unofficial” results for the parliamentary elections in the governorates of Baghdad and Babylon, within the general vote that took place on Tuesday, indicating that the results do not include the special vote and are subject to change after it is added.

The source told Shafaq News Agency that “the initial results in Baghdad Governorate showed that the Reconstruction and Development Coalition obtained more than 250,000 votes, winning 15 seats, while the State of Law Coalition obtained more than 200,000 votes, winning 10 seats, and the Sadiqun bloc obtained more than 100,000 votes, winning 5 seats.”

He added that “the State Forces Alliance obtained more than 80,000 votes and 4 seats, and the Foundation Alliance obtained more than 70,000 votes and 4 seats, while the Rights Bloc obtained more than 50,000 votes and 2 seats, and the Badr Bloc obtained more than 50,000 votes and 2 seats as well.”

Regarding the Sunni blocs, the source indicated that “the Progress Party obtained more than 150,000 votes and 8 seats, while the Azm Party obtained more than 70,000 votes and 3 seats, and the Sovereignty Party obtained more than 70,000 votes and 3 seats.”

He explained that “other blocs such as Al-Hasm, Ishraqat Kanoun and Al-Khidmat received between 20,000 and 35,000 votes, which gave each of them one or two seats.”

Regarding Babil Governorate, the source explained that “the initial results included only the general vote, as the number of voters reached about 408,000 votes, distributed among the electoral lists as follows: the Reconstruction and Development Coalition more than 75,000 votes (3 seats), the Sadiqun Bloc more than 70,000 votes (3 seats), the State of Law Coalition and Ishraqat Kanun more than 50,000 votes (two seats each), while the State Forces and Services Alliance and Badr obtained more than 50,000 votes each, which qualifies them to obtain one parliamentary seat for each alliance.”

In Maysan Governorate, according to the same source, the results showed that the Reconstruction and Development Coalition topped the lists with 60,000 votes, followed by the Badr Bloc with 32,000 votes, while the State of Law Coalition and the Sadiqun Bloc each received 29,000 votes.

The State Forces Alliance received 27,000 votes, the Rights Movement received 11,000 votes, while independent MP Raed Al-Maliki received about 9,800 votes.

The source concluded by saying that “these results are preliminary and subject to change, as the number of votes and seats will change after the special voting results are added to the final totals.”

The number of seats allocated to Maysan Governorate is 10 seats, and they will be distributed among the lists according to the Sainte-Laguë 1.7 system after calculating the final results, including the special voting votes, which may cause changes in the final seat ranking.

The preliminary results are scheduled to be officially announced by the Independent High Electoral Commission 24 hours after the closing of the ballot boxes.

Shafaq.com

Iraq exports more than 2 million tons of oil derivatives in 3 months

Iraq’s State Oil Marketing Company (SOMO) announced on Wednesday that Iraq exported more than 2 million tons of oil derivatives during the third quarter of 2025.

The company said in a statistic seen by Shafaq News Agency that Iraq exported 2 million, 330 thousand, 838 tons of oil derivatives in the period from July to September 2025, recording a decrease of 20.5 percent compared to the same period in 2024, in which exports amounted to 2 million, 931 thousand, 419 tons.

SOMO added that fuel oil exports amounted to 2,117,737 tons during the third quarter, while naphtha topped the list with 201,964 tons, in addition to the export of jet fuel with a quantity of 11,137 tons.

The company explained that naphtha is an intermediate material used in the petrochemical industry, such as in the manufacture of ethylene or the production of aromatics, or to produce benzene through reforming or isomers within the refinery.

Shafaq.com