The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan: There is no justification for delaying the selection of the President of the Republic.

Ahmed al-Harki, a member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), confirmed on Tuesday the existence of escalating political activity aimed at resolving the issue of the presidency. He expressed his hope that this activity would translate into practical steps in the coming days leading to the selection of a president.

Speaking to the Information Agency, al-Harki said, “The coordination framework meeting held last Monday discussed this issue frankly,” urging the two Kurdish parties to expedite its resolution. He added that this is a significant indicator, especially given previous reports that some parties within the framework were unwilling to proceed with the matter before Nouri al-Maliki’s nomination for prime minister was finalized.

He pointed out that “the Kurdish forces are now required to take serious and responsible action that would break the political deadlock, accelerate the process of selecting a president, and translate political understandings into tangible reality in the coming phase.”

Almaalomah.me

Is the coordination framework heading towards extending the Sudanese government?

The spokesman for the Victory Coalition, Salam al-Zubaidi, revealed on Tuesday that proposals and discussions are underway within the Coordination Framework and bilaterally regarding the possibility of extending the term of Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s government for a specific period and granting it full powers to address the exceptional security circumstances facing Iraq and the region.

Al-Zubaidi told the Information Agency that “extending the current government’s term and granting it the necessary powers to manage this phase is possible,” explaining that the Coordination Framework, as the largest bloc capable of achieving a simple majority in the Council of Representatives, possesses the legal and political capacity to pass this decision should a final consensus be reached among its constituent forces.
He added that “the idea of ​​extending the term comes amidst escalating American-Zionist aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which imposes a dangerous security reality whose repercussions are not limited to neighboring countries but extend to the security of Europe and East Asia.”

Al-Zubaidi explained that “the sensitivity of the current stage and the involvement of Washington and the Zionist entity in destabilizing the region necessitate the presence of a stable government with full powers to guarantee the protection of Iraqi sovereignty and prevent any potential security lapses resulting from the ongoing conflict.”

Almaalomah.me

Axios: Trump spoke with Barzani and Talabani about a war with Iran

According to three informed sources cited by Axios, US President Donald Trump made two phone calls on Sunday, March 1, to Kurdish leaders in Iraq to discuss the US-Israeli war with Iran and what might follow.

According to Axios, the contacts included Kurdistan Democratic Party leader Masoud Barzani and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan leader Bafel Talabani, one day after Trump authorized the bombing campaign against Iran.

According to an Axios report translated by Shafaq News Agency, the importance of the communications stems from the Kurdistan Region having thousands of fighters on the border strip with Iran, and its control over areas that are considered strategic as the course of the war develops, in addition to the close ties between the Kurds of Iraq and the Kurdish minority in Iran.

The website quoted a source familiar with the content of the calls, who described them as “sensitive,” refusing to elaborate on their content.

When asked specifically about the contacts, White House spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt declined to discuss details, saying only that Trump had been in contact with “many allies and partners in the region” over the past few days.

Erbil, which houses a US military base at its international airport, has been subjected to dozens of missile and drone strikes since the start of the military tension.

Shafaq.com

Reuters: Iran’s strikes pave the way for a Gulf-US alliance against it

Reuters reported on Tuesday that Iranian airstrikes on Gulf states could push them to join a broad US-led coalition, potentially widening the scope of the war against Iran, following attacks targeting ports, cities and oil facilities in a vital energy-producing region, according to Middle East analysts.

The agency’s report indicated that Tehran may be pushing the hesitant Gulf states to move closer to Washington – by targeting the Gulf’s economic arteries in response to US and Israeli airstrikes against Iran – and toward taking coordinated action against the Islamic Republic, according to analysts.

They added that the aim of the strikes, which targeted six Gulf states, all of which are US allies and host US military bases, was to ensure that those countries would put pressure on US President Donald Trump to stop the war, but Iran appears to have miscalculated.

The report quoted Abdulaziz Sager, head of the Saudi-based Gulf Research Center, as saying that “Gulf states now face difficult and clear choices: either to join the United States more openly in its war effort — by allowing the use of their airspace and territory and possibly participating in military operations — or to risk further escalation on their own soil.”

He added that the option of neutrality declined when Iranian missiles began to fall, which “forced us to be their enemies,” prompting countries that had previously adopted a cautious and balanced stance to openly align themselves with Washington and prepare to defend their territories and interests.

The Gulf Cooperation Council — Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman — held an emergency ministerial meeting on Sunday, invoking Article 51 of the UN Charter, setting “red lines” and indicating readiness for collective self-defense as energy disruptions and security risks escalate.

The message from the Gulf Cooperation Council to Tehran was clear and unequivocal: Iran’s attacks have contributed to strengthening the unity of the Gulf states.

He also noted that continued strikes could turn the Gulf from a defensive shield into an “active response arena,” and that Gulf states have activated joint air defense systems and reconnaissance flights across regional airspace.

According to a Reuters report, analysts say the choice is clear and decisive: either to respond and risk a wider war, or to wait and accept the erosion of security, economic stability and international credibility in light of repeated attacks.

Gulf officials confirmed that messages had been conveyed to Tehran, directly and indirectly, warning that any further attacks would have far greater consequences for the Islamic Republic.

A well-informed Gulf source said: “In practice, they will try to wait as long as possible. The Americans are hitting them and the Israelis are hitting them.”

He added that it was unclear who was pulling the strings in Iran — whether the strikes on the oil facilities were ordered centrally or carried out by rogue units.

Two scenarios appear to be taking shape: either the command structure has fractured, with some units acting independently, or decisions are still being coordinated at the highest levels.

The risks are not limited to the Gulf region alone, but extend to oil exports, shipping lanes, energy infrastructure, a vital energy corridor, and repercussions for global trade and markets.

Global energy markets are facing one of the most serious shocks they have seen in decades. Missile threats have forced some Gulf energy facilities to shut down, including Qatar’s liquefied natural gas plants – which account for about 20% of global supplies – and have revealed the impact this has had on energy markets.

The report quoted the head of the Emirates Policy Center, Ebtisam Al-Ketbi, as saying: “If the strikes continue at this rate, and the Gulf cannot withstand a prolonged conflict, or the disruption of oil shipping lanes, or the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, it will be natural for other countries to intervene, because global interests will be directly affected.”

Mohammed Bahroun, director general of the Dubai Center for Public Policy Research, said the logic of expanding the alliance against Iran has been strengthened after the United Arab Emirates described the Iranian strikes as acts of terrorism.

He added that “Iran is pushing the Gulf states towards an expanding alliance against it. By attacking the Gulf states, Iran is turning them into enemies and exposing them to the risk of a wider war that no one wants.”

The attacks on sites linked to the West – from a British base in Cyprus to facilities hosting French forces in Abu Dhabi – have also raised the possibility of NATO being drawn into the conflict eventually.

The United Arab Emirates bore the brunt of the Iranian attack, with 63% of the strikes targeting its airports, ports, and oil infrastructure. Officials estimate that 165 ballistic and cruise missiles, along with 600 drones, were launched in the first 48 hours.

The missiles that struck Doha, Dubai and Manama over the weekend also targeted the image of the Gulf states as thriving centers of finance, investment and tourism, damaging their reputation as safe and stable havens.

The missile attacks that struck Doha, Dubai, and Manama over the weekend targeted the image of the Gulf states as thriving centers of finance, investment, and tourism, damaging their reputation as safe and stable havens. Despite the United Arab Emirates’ determination to avoid a full-blown war, it quickly took diplomatic action, summoning the Iranian ambassador, withdrawing its own envoy, closing its embassy in Tehran, and pressing the UN Security Council to address the issue.

Reuters noted that Gulf officials say Iran has radically changed the diplomatic landscape by launching ballistic missiles and drones on such a wide scale.

They add that Tehran’s actions have made it more difficult for future negotiations with the United States to deal with Iran’s missile program separately from its nuclear ambitions, a position, they say, now adopted by its Sunni Arab neighbors in the Gulf and Western governments.

Shafaq.com

After Basra, Kurdistan Region oil exports via Ceyhan have stopped.

A source in the state-owned North Oil Company, based in Kirkuk province, revealed on Tuesday that the export of Kurdistan Region oil via the Turkish port of Ceyhan has stopped, following the suspension of work in some oil companies in the region.

The source told Shafaq News Agency that “the decision to halt exports came after oil companies suspended their operations in a number of fields in the Kurdistan Region, which directly affected the quantities pumped through the pipeline to the port of Ceyhan.”

He added that “the Ministry of Natural Resources in the region informed the North Oil Company, which manages the export process, to officially notify the Federal Ministry of Oil of the cessation of pumping,” noting that “the pumping process has completely stopped today.”

The source indicated that “export volumes before the halt were around 200,000 barrels per day,” explaining that “the halt is related to the repercussions of the situation in the region and the ongoing developments.”

Earlier today, informed local sources reported that oil production had stopped at Iraq’s largest oil field, the second largest oil field in the world, Rumaila, due to the military escalation in the Middle East.

Shafaq.com

National Nuclear Regulatory Authority: We have not detected any increase in radiation levels from Iran.

The National Nuclear Regulatory Authority announced on Tuesday that there are no indications of any increase in radiation levels from Iran. It also noted that it is monitoring early warning systems that cover Iraqi provinces around the clock. The head of the authority, Fadhil Hawi Mazban, stated in a statement, “We have all been following with great concern the military operations in the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Middle East. We were contacted by the Incident and Emergency Centre (IEC) of the International Atomic Energy Agency immediately after the outbreak of hostilities to check on the radiation levels recorded by our system’s detectors, due to the scarcity of information received from the Iranian side regarding the status of nuclear facilities.”

He also added that “the National Emergency Center has been activated and the early warning systems covering the Iraqi governorates are being monitored 24 hours a day, in addition to monitoring the readings of the detection systems of neighboring countries,” explaining that “no increase in radiation levels above normal background levels has been detected so far in our detectors or the detectors of neighboring countries.”

He stated that “regarding the status of nuclear facilities in Iran, we have not yet had any indication that any of the nuclear facilities, including the Bushehr nuclear power plant, or the Tehran research reactor, have been subjected to an act of war,” noting that “Iran and a number of other countries in the region that have been subjected to military attacks have operating nuclear power plants and nuclear research reactors, as well as associated fuel storage sites, and these fall within the scope of our interest and ongoing monitoring.”

He also affirmed, “We are working to the best of our ability through the Nuclear and Radiological Emergency Room, which includes various sectoral bodies and is in a state of permanent session and communication with the International Atomic Energy Agency, as our agency represents the national point of contact for the Early Warning Agreement and the Assistance Agreement.”

Burathanews.com

His office: Maliki and Barak met to discuss national entitlements and the political landscape.

On Friday, Nouri al-Maliki, leader of the State of Law Coalition, discussed with US Special Envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, the developments in the political scene in Iraq and the upcoming national entitlements.

A statement from al-Maliki’s office, received by Shafaq News Agency, said that “al-Maliki stressed during the meeting the importance of supporting the democratic process and strengthening political stability, emphasizing the need to respect Iraq’s sovereignty and the choices of its people, while the continuation of communication and coordination between the two sides on files of common interest was emphasized.”

According to the statement, Barak also pointed to “the importance of the role that Iraq plays in the process of resolving the region’s problems, reducing the intensity of the conflict , supporting dialogue, and fighting terrorism.”

These talks come at a time when the political forces that won the elections in late 2025 are seeking to resolve the issue of candidates for the positions of President of the Republic and Council of Ministers, and to proceed with the procedures for forming the new government, steps which are legally known as the postponed “constitutional entitlements” .

This comes in conjunction with the United States giving the Shiite Coordination Framework a deadline last Tuesday, which ends today, Friday, regarding the withdrawal of the nomination of the leader of the State of Law Coalition, Nouri al-Maliki, for the position of Prime Minister, according to what an official source in the framework told Shafaq News Agency .

He added that “Al-Maliki informed the framework that he does not intend to withdraw his nomination at all, and informed them that the (two-thirds) who nominated Al-Maliki should withdraw the nomination and he does not object to that, and this is the closest thing to the scene during the next few days .”

The “coordination framework,” which includes ruling Shiite political forces in Iraq, is witnessing a division over the nomination of Maliki for the next government, amid American warnings of the repercussions of his selection, which prompted forces within the coalition to try to persuade him to withdraw in order to preserve the unity of the framework.

Shafaq.com

A government advisor reveals the roadmap for transitioning from a rentier economy.

The Prime Minister’s financial advisor, Mazhar Muhammad Saleh, affirmed that the shift away from oil is not merely an option, but an existential and strategic necessity to ensure financial and social stability, especially in light of global energy price fluctuations. He explained that relying on a single resource makes the economy vulnerable to external shocks, which requires genuine diversification, not just a passing reformist approach.
Saleh told Al-Furat News Agency that “the success of this transformation requires deep structural reforms, high investments in infrastructure, and real empowerment of youth through education and technology, so that Iraq can be a diversified and sustainable economic player,” noting that the first pillars of diversification begin with reviving the agricultural sector through efficient management of the Tigris and Euphrates river resources, modernizing digital irrigation systems, and supporting food industries in a way that enhances food security and reduces imports.

He added that the manufacturing industry represents the most important entry point for adding local value to raw materials, through the development of small and medium industries in the fields of pharmaceuticals, textiles and building materials, noting that the digital economy stands out as a qualitative opportunity for Iraqi youth through supporting startups and linking education to the needs of the digital labor market to create a high-value and low-cost sector.

He added that Iraq possesses great tourism assets, religious and archaeological, which can be transformed into an important source of foreign currency, in addition to developing the transport and logistics sector through strategic projects such as the “Development Road,” which will reposition Iraq as a trade corridor linking the Gulf with Turkey and Europe. He explained that the current challenges are represented by the excessive dependence on oil, which accounts for more than 90% of revenues, weak infrastructure, and a skills gap.

Saleh stressed that success requires gradual financial and institutional reforms, similar to the banking reform currently being led by the government and the central bank, while encouraging the building of a diversified productive base over a decade that represents the “foundation decade for accelerated diversification” in accordance with the paths of Iraq’s 2050 vision, stressing that the transition to a sustainable economy is the only way to ensure true economic sovereignty and fair opportunities for future generations.

Alforatnews.iq

Baghdad “thanks” Tehran for keeping it informed about the progress of the “Geneva negotiations”.

The Iraqi Foreign Ministry announced on Friday that Minister Fuad Hussein discussed with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi the latest developments in the negotiations with the American delegation that took place in Geneva on Thursday.

According to a statement from the ministry received by Shafaq News Agency, “During a telephone call with Fuad Hussein, Araqchi reviewed all the developments related to the progress of the talks, explaining the content of the discussions that took place, the next steps, as well as the expected timings for the meetings of the technical committees and the negotiating committee.”

The statement added that “Fuad Hussein expressed his thanks and appreciation for being briefed on the course of the negotiations, praising the progress made in the Geneva talks, and stressing the importance of continuing the dialogue as the best way to address the outstanding issues.”

According to the statement, both sides stressed that “negotiations represent the most appropriate way to resolve problems, emphasizing the need to keep the region away from the dangers of escalation and war, and to maintain regional security and stability.”

At the end of the call, both parties agreed to “continue coordination and consultation during the next sensitive phase.”

Araghchi had confirmed that the Geneva talks on Thursday were among the most serious talks, revealing that another meeting would be held next Monday.

Araghchi said in press statements following the talks, as reported by Shafaq News Agency: “We have made good progress on the nuclear file and lifting the sanctions. There is agreement on some points and disagreements as well. We have technical discussions in Vienna next Monday with experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency.”

Araghchi added, “We clearly expressed our demand regarding the lifting of US and Security Council sanctions, what needs to be done, and the process of easing them. Each party needs to consult with its government,” stressing that “these talks were the most serious and we made good progress.”

The third round of indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States began yesterday, Thursday, in Geneva, mediated by the Sultanate of Oman, amid indications that the talks will continue and that a fourth round is possible.

Shafaq.com

The United Nations recognizes the validity of Iraqi nautical charts.

On Friday, Abdul Sattar Fawaz Al-Dulaimi, a leader in the Azm Alliance, revealed that the United Nations had informed Kuwait, in an unannounced manner, of its recognition of the validity of the Iraqi maritime maps deposited with it, confirming that they are sound and documented with official evidence that leaves no room for doubt.

Al-Dulaimi told Al-Maalouma News Agency, “The United Nations has confirmed the validity of all the maritime maps submitted by Iraq, which prove its right to manage the Khor Abdullah crossing and other maritime sites that Kuwait tried to control, taking advantage of the collapse of the security situation in the past period.”

He pointed out that “Iraq’s depositing of these maps with the United Nations sparked a diplomatic controversy with Kuwait,” stressing that “the maps clearly demonstrate, beyond any doubt, that these areas have belonged to Iraq for centuries, according to official documents.”

He added that “the Kuwaiti government quickly tried to transfer the maps to rogue states in an attempt to manipulate Iraq’s officially documented properties.”

Al-Dulaimi concluded by asserting that “Kuwait’s approach to these countries is a transparent and clearly defined charade, and it cannot be allowed to pass.”

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