To boost the economy, calls are being made to open corruption files, monitor contracts, and investigate local governments.

Recently, numerous corruption cases involving officials in the executive branch have been opened, with the theft of millions of dollars. This has prompted many political and parliamentary circles to demand the opening of all corruption files, the monitoring of local governments, and the continuation of efforts to eradicate corruption in order to serve the national economy amidst Iraq’s economic decline. They are also calling for scrutiny of contracts and investments, as political figures assert that many of these contracts are tainted by corruption and suspicion.
Former MP Yasser al-Husseini told Al-Maalouma, “Many corrupt individuals have managed to obtain large contracts for important strategic Iraqi projects, securing them through long-term agreements that generate tens of billions of dinars monthly.”
He added, “If the government truly wants to pursue reform, there are many corruption cases that can be addressed, combated, and the funds, both oil and non-oil, that are being squandered daily, brought under control.”

He explained that “there are simple steps that can be taken to ensure control over Iraqi funds and revenues in order to rescue the Iraqi economy, promote its recovery and revitalization, achieve economic sovereignty for Iraq, and nationalize public economic projects.”

For his part, former MP Arif al-Hamami told Al-Maalomah that “the scourge of corruption necessitates a firm response through a clear, systematic plan based on forming a high-level committee to audit all files and contracts concluded by local governments in various service sectors over the past years.”

He added that “there are suspicions of financial and administrative corruption that may surprise the public,” emphasizing “the need to open the file on inflated project costs and adopt clear and transparent mechanisms to address it.”

Al-Hamami stressed that “corruption has devoured enormous sums of the people’s resources over many years,” indicating that “combating corruption in local governments in the provinces represents the right start to blocking this scourge, which has spared no department or institution. Therefore, confronting corruption requires a clear vision and a comprehensive action plan to ensure accountability and fairness.”

In a related context, MP Ali Saber explained to Al-Maalomah that “eliminating corruption is among the most prominent tasks of the government during the current phase, through the adoption of serious and clear mechanisms to hold those involved accountable and restore the prestige of the state.”

He added that “corruption has caused the depletion of public funds and directly affected the paths of development and progress, which necessitates taking decisive measures to address it,” calling for “opening all closed files that witnessed the squandering of public funds and holding those responsible and involved accountable within the legal frameworks.”

He pointed out that “it is the duty of MPs to work on restoring rights to their owners with complete transparency and not to be satisfied with formal procedures, as the current phase requires isolating the corrupt and exposing the parties behind them, whether they are influential figures or entities, considering this a national entitlement and a responsibility to the people.”

He emphasized the importance of “moving towards forming specialized professional teams and bodies to support anti-corruption efforts, operating according to standards of integrity and efficiency, and contributing to strengthening institutional oversight and activating legal tools in a way that consolidates the principles of transparency and accountability.”

Almaalomah.me

A member of the Democratic Party confirms the possibility of exporting one million barrels of oil per day through the region.

Wafa Mohammed Karim, a member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, confirmed the possibility of exporting one million barrels of oil daily through the Kurdistan Region, thus avoiding any developments that might arise in the region regarding exports via seaports.
Karim told Al-Maalouma, “The biggest previous disputes between Baghdad and Erbil have been resolved, especially concerning the issue of oil exports through the region and the revenues generated from them.”

He added, “The dispute over oil exports in 2014 ended after the recent rulings of the Paris Court, and therefore, the oil pipeline running from Kurdistan to Turkey has the capacity to export one million barrels per day.”

He explained that “there are greater advantages to exporting via the pipeline, as transportation costs will be lower than exporting by sea, in addition to generating double the revenues after the rise in oil prices, as well as avoiding the repercussions of recent developments in the region regarding exports by sea.”

Almaalomah.me

The Trump administration sends a decisive message to Baghdad: The era of ambiguity regarding Iran is over.

The administration of US President Donald Trump is no longer willing to accept the ambiguity of Iraq’s position through its rapprochement with Iran, as it believes that Baghdad should turn westward instead of eastward, and strengthen its friendship with the United States and the surrounding Arab countries.

Washington now expects changes in government that will strengthen Iraqi sovereignty, noting that Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s visit to Washington will be scrutinized, but that Americans and Iraqis must be patient and refrain from making judgments at the moment.

The Middle East Institute , in a report entitled “New Relations Between the United States and Iraq?”, reviewed the end of the tug-of-war and the formation of al-Zaidi’s government, the congratulations he received from President Trump, and the invitation to visit Washington in the middle of next month.

The American Institute report, translated by Shafaq News Agency, stated that the US administration seems to have high expectations of al-Zaidi, but these expectations should be tempered.

He noted that his government program was ambitious, with the first part of the program addressing state control over weapons and the application of the rule of law, while the second part addressed foreign policy, emphasizing the need to strengthen relations with the Gulf states. He expressed his belief that Washington may have embraced al-Zaidi wholeheartedly because he is a practical businessman who understands how to make deals.

He explained that the American experience with those who held previous positions was disappointing, indicating that despite American efforts to pull Iraq away from Iran, Shiite leaders remained under Tehran’s influence, while the power of Iranian-backed militias increased and they became bolder, he said.

The report went on to say that “repeated US demands to control, disarm, or disband the militias have not been effective,” adding that “the US now expects the new prime minister, who comes relatively from outside the system, may perform better.”

He pointed out that the formation of al-Zaydi’s government has not yet been completed, explaining that it is likely that al-Zaydi will use the remaining ministerial positions, especially the Interior and Defense ministries, to appease his opponents within the coordination framework, as there will be a political cost to these concessions.

He also noted that the Prime Minister must also respect American red lines in his appointments, stressing that the United States wants Iraq to turn westward, away from its current orientation towards Iran and China, and to undergo a transformation in its institutions and policies.

He explained that the Trump administration has three main interconnected goals, the most important of which is disarming the Popular Mobilization Forces and demobilizing the factions, which will require action from the House of Representatives, noting that the central problem so far has been the lack of political will and courage necessary to disarm the groups.

According to the American report, disarming the factions would make working in Iraq safer for American companies and limit their ability to impose Iran’s agenda, explaining that what Washington wants is to see the political, economic and diplomatic decision-making process free from Iranian influence.

But the report acknowledged that disarming or disbanding the factions does not mean liberation from Iranian political influence, indicating that al-Zaydi may face greater resistance in removing the pro-Iranian infiltration that has long been entrenched within the ministries, parliament, and the economic sector.

He stressed that another priority for the Trump administration is to create a welcoming environment for American companies operating in Iraq and ensure their safety, recalling that during the recent war, militias repeatedly targeted American and European oil companies in the Kurdistan Region and Basra, causing production disruptions and the evacuation of foreign employees, according to the report.

The report added that the United States is not only seeking protection, but also expanding the involvement of American companies in the growth of the Iraqi economy, suggesting that Washington hopes that Iraq’s relations with the Gulf states will develop naturally through the disarmament of militias and disengagement from Iran.

He concluded that with Syria removed from Iranian hegemony, Washington wants to see Iraq emerge from under the Iranian umbrella and integrate into the Arab environment, including with Syria.

According to the report, US envoy Tom Barrack, through his meeting with al-Zaidi on June 15, laid out an ambitious roadmap for al-Zaidi, which the Iraqi prime minister appears willing to follow, but the political landscape makes the chances and pace of success uncertain.

He considered that the outcome of the “American-Israeli” war against Iran, and the outcome of the American-Iranian negotiations, would have a potentially significant impact on events in Iraq, adding that if Iran believed it had won the war, and if its allies shared this belief, then Tehran would be more determined to hold on to its assets in Iraq, and would not give up its influence in what it considers its vital area of ​​interest, nor would it easily give up the large political and economic rewards it has obtained in Iraq over the course of two decades, and for this reason, the Popular Mobilization Forces factions may refuse to give up their weapons.

The report argued that the United States and Iraq need to agree on indicators of progress in achieving key objectives and address obstacles together, with the priority remaining the disbanding of militias, which is the most complex task. It noted that the decision by the Supreme Judicial Council, headed by Judge Faiq Zaidan, to expand the scope of the anti-terrorism law to include “any person who manufactures, uses, or possesses drones used for unlawful purposes” represents a step in the right direction and an indication of how al-Zaidi will use it to control the militias, although the real proof will be in the implementation.

According to the report, the United States must offer incentives to groups that disband their military wings, surrender weapons to the government, and transform into political parties as defined in the Constitution. These incentives could include removing sanctions or other designations that restrict their activities and prevent them from engaging in formal politics. However, there must also be direct punitive measures against groups and individuals who refuse the offer of disarmament and remain outside the control of the government.

The report concluded by noting that successive Iraqi governments have declared their desire to establish good relations with both the United States and Iran, adding that in practice, this has meant leaning towards Iran, an ambiguity that is no longer acceptable to the Trump administration.

Shafaq.com

The Gulf Cooperation Council: We have evidence that the recent attacks originated from Iraq.

The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jassim Al-Badawi, confirmed on Friday that the Council possesses evidence, coordinates, and images confirming that the “recent attacks” on the Gulf states originated from Iraq.

On another note, Al-Badawi expressed in press statements the GCC countries’ rejection of imposing fees on passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

He stressed that “the Sultanate of Oman does not agree to such fees.”

Commenting on reports that Iran would receive $300 billion for reconstruction under the recent memorandum of understanding with America, he asserted: “We have no knowledge of the $300 billion figure proposed for the reconstruction of Iran.”

He added: “The matter was not raised with us, neither officially nor unofficially, and we did not discuss it with Washington,” where US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently conducted a Gulf tour.

Al-Badawi explained: “I want to believe Iran’s pledge not to possess a nuclear weapon, but we demand the International Atomic Energy Agency’s oversight of its facilities, and clarity regarding its uranium stockpile.”

Shafaq.com

As confirmed by Shafaq News, Iraqi oil officials are threatening to withdraw from OPEC.

The Iraqi Oil Ministry hinted on Thursday at the possibility of withdrawing from OPEC if the production level allocated to Iraq is not increased in line with its production capabilities and future needs.

Oil Ministry spokesman Salim al-Rikabi said in a comment seen by Shafaq News Agency, “The ministry currently has no intention of withdrawing from OPEC, and we remain committed to working within the organization’s mechanisms.”

He added that the ministry is proceeding with increasing its oil production to match Iraq’s capabilities and needs, noting that the organization is required to increase the level of production allocated to Iraq.

Al-Rikabi explained that failure to respond to this matter would lead to a decision regarding remaining in the organization or leaving it.

Government sources revealed to Shafaq News Agency on Wednesday that Iraq is considering options to increase its oil exports beyond the production ceilings set by OPEC, in order to compensate for the decline in exports during the past period.

The sources indicated that Baghdad may consider withdrawing from the organization if its demands to raise its production quota are not met, which would allow it more room to increase production and marketing, in light of changes in global oil markets and Iraqi trends to enhance export capacity during the next stage.

Shafaq.com

Iraqi Oil: OPEC responded to the review of production ceilings

The Iraqi Oil Ministry confirmed on Thursday that what was raised regarding Iraq’s threat to end its membership in the “OPEC” organization does not reflect the official position of the Iraqi government, noting that the organization and its allied countries responded to Baghdad’s approach regarding reassessing production ceilings in line with the sustainable production capacities of member states.

The ministry said in a statement, received by Shafaq News Agency, that the Prime Minister and the Iraqi government did not raise the issue of withdrawing from OPEC, but rather stressed the importance of continuously reassessing production ceilings in accordance with the sustainable production capacities of member states, and in line with agreements and understandings related to the security and economic situation of Iraq.

She added that OPEC and allied countries responded to this trend by launching a process to reassess the maximum sustainable production capacity of member countries, which is currently being implemented in coordination with an independent international consulting firm and with the active participation of Iraq, according to the approved timetable.

The ministry explained that OPEC+ countries have already begun gradually restoring the reduced quantities, and the return of all voluntary reductions is scheduled to be completed during the next few months, which will contribute to strengthening Iraq’s production ceiling.

She stressed that demands related to production ceilings or production capacity levels are addressed through the technical and consensus mechanisms adopted within the framework of OPEC and its allied countries.

The ministry noted that there is a high level of understanding among member states regarding the unique situation in Iraq and what the oil industry has been exposed to during more than four decades of wars, embargoes and challenges, as well as the damage inflicted on the oil infrastructure as a result of terrorist attacks, stressing that this is taken into consideration in a way that ensures that Iraqi oil production reaches a fair level that enables it to regain its position as the second largest producer in the organization and achieve the goals of oil sector development projects.

Oil Ministry spokesman Salim al-Rikabi had hinted, in a comment seen by Shafaq News, at the possibility of withdrawing from OPEC if the production level allocated to Iraq is not increased in line with its production capabilities and future needs.

Government sources told Shafaq News on Wednesday that Iraq is considering options to increase its oil exports and review the production ceilings adopted within OPEC, as part of its efforts to enhance its production and export capacity in the coming period.

Shafaq.com

The coordination framework reveals the truth about the move towards creating two new ministries within Al-Zidi’s government.

The coordination framework revealed today, Thursday, the truth about the trend towards creating two new ministries within the ministerial cabinet of Al-Zidi’s government in the next few days.

MP Mukhtar al-Moussawi told Shafaq News Agency that “the news circulating about the decision to create two new ministries within the cabinet of Prime Minister Ali al-Zidi, namely the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Governance, is still within the framework of ongoing discussions and studies, and there is no final decision on this matter, either from the Coordination Framework or from the Prime Minister himself.”

He explained that “the issue of creating new ministries or positions in Iraqi state institutions is currently under in-depth discussion between political forces and relevant government agencies, and no final formula or binding decision has yet been reached regarding the establishment of a Ministry of Tourism or a Ministry of Governance.”

He added that “any step related to the creation of a new ministry must be based on clear professional and practical foundations, and must stem from an actual need of the state and the requirements for developing government performance, and not according to considerations of political appeasement or personal and partisan interests.”

Al-Moussawi stressed that “the goal of any amendment to the government structure should be to raise the efficiency of institutions and improve the services provided to citizens.”

He added that “dialogues are still ongoing between the various political blocs on one hand, and the Prime Minister and his competent government team on the other, in order to study the administrative, financial and legal feasibility of any possible new development, and the matter has not yet been decided.”

He predicted that “the picture will become clearer by the middle of next week after the completion of the rounds of discussion and consultation.”

The representative of the Coordination Framework concluded by saying that “the framework is dealing with this file from the standpoint of the public interest and the requirements of administrative reform, and that any final decision will be officially announced after the deliberations are completed and a common vision is reached that ensures the service of state institutions and enhances the effectiveness of government work.”

It is worth noting that Al-Zaidi’s government spent more than a month of its life with an incomplete cabinet, as the Iraqi parliament had voted, on May 14, to grant confidence to Ali Al-Zaidi’s government and its ministerial program with 14 ministers, while the vote on the remaining 9 ministries was postponed until after the Eid al-Adha holiday due to the continuation of political disputes over the distribution of portfolios, amid reports of international warnings against the inclusion of armed factions in the new ministerial formation.

The Eid al-Adha holiday has passed and the cabinet has not been completed, despite the assurances of many blocs and MPs on the need to complete the cabinet formation in order for the government to function.

The Coordination Framework had authorized Prime Minister Ali al-Zubaidi to make contacts with the heads of the political blocs and entities participating in the government, whose candidates for the vacant ministries have not yet been decided, as confirmed by MP Amer al-Fayez, a leader in the Coordination Framework, to Shafaq News Agency on June 13.

Al-Fayez said at the time that “Al-Zidi is trying to reach an agreement with the blocs first on choosing the appropriate minister nominated by the bloc, and after being convinced of the candidates, he will present their names to the coordination framework to obtain approval for them.”

He stressed that the House of Representatives is currently on legislative leave and needs an extraordinary session called for by Speaker Hebat al-Halbousi in order to complete the vote on the cabinet. If this does not happen, the session will be held after the end of the legislative leave in early July.

Shafaq.com

Parliamentary Finance Committee: There is no longer enough time to finalize this year’s budget, and the government is moving towards preparing the 2027 budget.

On Thursday, Hussein al-Daraji, a member of the parliamentary finance committee, ruled out the possibility of the Iraqi government being able to finalize the budget for the current year due to the delay in its formation, noting that the current trend is towards preparing next year’s budget.

Al-Daraji told Shafaq News Agency that the remaining time in the second half of this year is insufficient for the government to prepare the 2026 budget for approval by the House of Representatives, indicating that the government will work on preparing a draft budget law for 2027, expecting the draft to reach Parliament in October or November of next year.

He added that there is a government trend to make fundamental changes to the 2027 budget law, which will be completely different from previous budgets in terms of the methods of preparation, schedules, and determination of necessary expenditures.

The decision to move directly towards the 2027 budget comes in light of the accounting absurdity in approving the 2026 budget, the second half of which is about to end, as the state currently relies on the temporary disbursement mechanism at a rate of (1/12) based on the continuing financial management law from the previous three-year budget to finance employee salaries and governing operational expenses.

According to the Finance Committee, the joint approach between Parliament and the government of Prime Minister Ali al-Zidi has settled on focusing technical efforts to draft the 2027 budget with a completely new economic philosophy and expenditure schedules, with the draft to be sent to the House of Representatives at the end of this year to avoid a deficit and ensure its passage before the start of the new fiscal year.

It is worth noting that the government of former Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani had prepared the outlines of the 2026 draft budget before leaving office, including extensive financial commitments, among them the issue of regularizing contracts and staffing levels. However, the draft was delayed due to the country entering the election and caretaker phase.

This financial vacuum was exacerbated after the current Prime Minister, Ali Faleh al-Zaidi, gained confidence on May 14 with a deficient cabinet (14 ministers out of 23), as political disputes and power-sharing caused a delay in completing the vacant portfolios (such as Interior, Defense and Planning) until next July, which paralyzed the executive branch’s ability to present a comprehensive budget law throughout the first half of this year.

Shafaq.com

Rubio: Al-Zaidi sent good signals to Washington, and the issue of Iraqi sovereignty will top the agenda of his upcoming visit.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed on Thursday that Washington had received “good signals” from the Iraqi government headed by Ali Faleh al-Zaidi regarding the issue of armed factions, stressing that strengthening Iraq’s sovereignty would be the main focus of al-Zaidi’s upcoming visit to the US capital soon.

In response to a question from a reporter during a press conference held in the Bahraini capital, Manama, Rubio said, “The support that Tehran provides to armed factions represents a blatant example of Iran’s interference in Iraqi affairs through its proxies,” adding, “But we have recently seen good and constructive signals from the current Iraqi government in this regard,” alluding to the process of disarming the factions and limiting security decision-making authority to the state.

The US Secretary of State added that al-Zaidi will visit Washington soon, adding: “We hope to continue working together to affirm and strengthen Iraq’s full sovereignty, and this issue will be at the top of the agenda for discussions during the visit, during which he will meet with US President Donald Trump.”

Rubio revealed that direct communication channels had recently taken place between the two sides, saying: “We have engaged in direct contacts with the Iraqi Prime Minister, and we see that there are good and positive steps taken by his government, despite our awareness of the great challenges facing al-Zaidi in this matter, and we will continue to closely monitor developments.”

Shafaq.com

Lowest in 7 months… Gold records unprecedented losses

Gold recorded unprecedented losses on Wednesday afternoon, the lowest since November 2025, as the price of an ounce fell below $4,000, according to Reuters.

These losses come after gold prices fell earlier today to their lowest level in nearly two weeks, affected by the rising dollar and increasing investor bets on a rise in US interest rates.

Gold fell 1.1% in spot trading to $4,064.01 an ounce, after earlier hitting its lowest level since June 11, while US gold futures for August delivery fell 1.7% to $4,080.80 an ounce.

This comes amid rising market expectations of a tightening of US monetary policy, as data from the CME FedWatch tool showed traders expecting three interest rate hikes during 2026, compared to previous expectations of only one.

The strength of the dollar also supported the pressure on the precious metal, as it reached its highest level in more than a year, making gold more expensive for buyers outside the United States.

As for other precious metals, silver fell 1.6% to $61 an ounce, platinum dropped 1.2% to $1,632.04, and palladium declined 1% to $1,225.35 an ounce.

Shafaq.com