Iraq ranked seventh among Arab countries in the 2026 naval fleet rankings.

Iraq ranked seventh among Arab countries in a list attributed to the Global Firepower Index regarding the ranking of Arab countries in terms of naval fleet strength for 2026.

According to the list, Egypt came in first place in the Arab world, followed by Qatar in second place, and then Kuwait in third place.

Algeria came in fourth place, Morocco in fifth, and the UAE in sixth.

Iraq came in seventh place in the ranking, followed by Bahrain in eighth place, Libya in ninth, and Tunisia in tenth.

The ranking also included Saudi Arabia in eleventh place and Jordan in twelfth place.

In general, such classifications are based on a set of criteria that include the number of naval vessels, their type, the size of the fleet, its operational and logistical capabilities, in addition to the defense capabilities of each country.

Shafaq.com

Two American minesweepers are heading towards the Strait of Hormuz.

Two US minesweepers are heading to the Middle East on Tuesday as part of escalating military moves aimed at securing navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, amid continuing tensions in the region.

The US website “Wartime Zone” reported that the minesweepers “USS Chief” and “USS Pioneer”, of the “Avenger” class, left their bases in Japan heading to the region, coinciding with Washington’s announcement of the start of an operation to clear the strait of sea mines.

According to data from the Marine Traffic website, the two ships were spotted crossing the Strait of Malacca in a northwesterly direction, after leaving Singapore on April 10, while reports indicated that they had arrived at a port in Thailand.

The U.S. Naval Institute News website stated that “the ships were sent to support operations within the U.S. Central Command,” which in turn announced the start of preparing the necessary conditions for removing mines from the strait, following the passage of U.S. destroyers through the area as part of missions to secure navigation.

Reports indicated that “unmanned submarines and additional support vessels will join the operations in the coming days,” as part of a broader plan to secure vital sea lanes.

These moves coincide with the redeployment of US Independence-class littoral combat ships, along with movements of naval support vessels, reflecting an escalation in the US military presence in the region.

The Wall Street Journal quoted a senior US official as saying that “the United States has deployed more than 15 warships to support the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.”

She added, citing officials in the US Navy and Central Command, that “the force deployed in the Middle East includes an aircraft carrier, several guided-missile destroyers, an amphibious assault ship, and other naval vessels.”

Officials noted that “these ships are equipped with helicopters to support interception and inspection operations, and some of them have the ability to direct commercial vessels to specific areas and control their movement.”

The US military threat to impose control over the movement of ships leaving and entering Iranian ports came into effect yesterday, Monday.

Shafaq.com

Axios: Iranians have proposed monitoring uranium enrichment instead of halting it completely (Update)

On Monday, the American website Axios revealed details of the negotiations in Pakistan, indicating that the Iranian negotiating delegation proposed monitoring uranium enrichment instead of halting it completely.

According to Axios, a US official said that the United States proposed that Iran agree to a 20-year halt to uranium enrichment during negotiations held in Islamabad over the weekend.

The United States also demanded that Iran remove all its highly enriched uranium. According to the sources, the Iranians said they would instead agree to a “monitoring process to reduce the enrichment level.”

Sources say that disagreements over Iran’s nuclear program – in particular, whether Tehran would agree not to enrich uranium and to give up its current stockpile – were the main sticking point that prevented an agreement.

He indicated that Pakistani, Egyptian and Turkish mediators are now trying to bridge the remaining gaps and reach an agreement to end the war before the ceasefire expires on April 21.

Despite the lack of an agreement, the Iranians believed they were close to reaching a preliminary deal by Sunday morning, only to be surprised by the press conference held by US Vice President Vance. The Vice President gave no indication that an agreement was imminent, blamed the Iranians, and announced the departure of the US delegation from Islamabad.

An informed source said: “The Iranians were furious about that press conference,” as Mahmoud Nabavian, a member of the Iranian parliament and part of the Iranian negotiating team, said on Monday that “the two American demands regarding the nuclear issue were the reason for the failure to reach an agreement.”

Shafaq.com

Syrian Finance Minister from Washington: The 2026 budget ends the era of “printing money”.

Syrian Finance Minister Yasser Barneh confirmed on Monday that Damascus has succeeded in establishing entirely new financial standards aimed at restoring international and local confidence in the national economy, noting that the 2026 budget represents a radical shift in the state’s priorities by focusing on education, health and reconstruction.

In reviewing the results of 2025 and the expectations for the new year, Barneh revealed, during a conference at the Middle East Institute in Washington, which was attended by a correspondent from Shafaq News Agency, unprecedented figures in the history of Syrian budgets, saying: “For the first time in the history of Syria, spending on education, health care and social services exceeds allocations for defense and security. We have allocated more than 40% of the 2026 budget to vital sectors that directly affect the lives of citizens.”

The minister explained that the government raised the minimum wage from $17 to $110, with salary increases in some professional sectors ranging from 400% to 700%, stressing that the goal is to bridge the cost of living gap despite the magnitude of the challenges.

Regarding the budget deficit, Barneh emphasized the ministry’s commitment to a policy of “strict fiscal discipline.” He announced that the government intends to finance the projected 2026 deficit (estimated at $1.842 billion) through sustainable financial instruments such as issuing bonds, rather than relying on “printing money” as was the practice in previous decades.

Regarding the 2025 results, Bernieh confirmed that the budget achieved a surplus that was used as a strong signal to international markets about the seriousness of the new fiscal policies.

On the subject of combating corruption, the minister stated that transparency is the primary weapon for building trust, pointing to the issuance of the “Citizen’s Budget” to simplify the figures for the public.

Barnieh pointed out that his ministry no longer issues laws or circulars “behind closed doors,” but rather adopts a public consultation approach with the business sector, academics, and civil society. He added, “My first task was to rebuild bridges with the business community to ensure that every financial decision taken is the product of a genuine partnership.”

In closing, Barnieh addressed a message to the American side and the international community, calling for a change in the stereotypical view towards Syria, saying: “We do not rely on promises but on concrete policies and reports issued by international institutions. Invest in Syria, as we are moving in the right direction to build a transparent and strong economy.”

According to the minister, the most prominent points of the 2026 budget are the minimum wage: raised to $110, and social spending: representing 40% of the budget (higher than security and defense).

He pointed out that the expected deficit is $1.84 billion (financed through bonds, not printing money). As for transparency, he said that there will be no financial legislation without consulting the private sector and civil society.

Shafaq.com

The US aircraft carrier “George Bush” in the Mediterranean Sea

International shipping data on Monday indicated that the US aircraft carrier “George H.W. Bush” is currently in the Mediterranean Sea.

Fox News reported that navigational data revealed the presence of the US aircraft carrier at the same time as the United States announced the start of the US blockade on Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz at 10:00 AM Eastern Time today.

US President Donald Trump ordered the blockade after peace talks with Tehran collapsed at the end of this week. A map of US ships in the region showed at least 17 vessels deployed as of Monday morning, according to Fox News.

The U.S. Central Command announced plans to impose the blockade earlier on Monday in a notice to mariners.

The memo stated: “Any vessel entering or leaving the blockaded area without authorization is subject to interception, diversion and detention.”

Shafaq.com

Iraqi factions set a “red line” for resuming operations against US interests.

A leader in one of the armed factions confirmed on Monday that the decision to stop attacks against American interests inside Iraq and throughout the region is directly linked to the declared truce between Washington and Tehran, and any new targeting of Iran will witness an immediate and “large” return of targeting operations.

The leader told Shafaq News Agency, “This cessation is temporary and conditional, and any breach of the truce, especially in the event of a resumption of American-Israeli targeting of Iran, will be met with an immediate return to operations by the factions affiliated with the group, with the possibility of escalating them further than before.”

The leader, who asked not to be named, added that “the decision to halt operations at the present time is not related to any internal mediation or political pressure, and there is no interference from Iraqi political or governmental parties in this decision. What is happening is a tactical commitment related exclusively to the declared period of calm.”

He added that “the factions are closely monitoring the course of events, and their options remain open in case the field data changes. The next stage depends on the behavior of international and regional parties, and the continuation of calm is exclusively linked to the continued commitment to the truce and the avoidance of escalation.”

He pointed out that “the Resistance Coordination includes four main factions, namely Kataib Hezbollah, Harakat al-Nujaba, Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada, and Ansar Allah al-Awfiya Movement.”

The head of the Design Alliance, Amer Al-Fayez, announced yesterday, Sunday, the success of the committee tasked by the Coordination Framework with negotiating with the armed factions to stop their operations against American interests .

Al-Fayez, one of the leaders of the Coordination Framework, told Shafaq News Agency that “the committee headed by the Secretary-General of the Badr Organization, Hadi al-Amiri, which was authorized by the Framework to negotiate with the armed factions, succeeded in its mission and obtained a conditional truce ,” explaining that “the truce stipulates that the factions stop their operations against American interests and diplomatic missions, in exchange for America and Israel committing not to escalate militarily and target the headquarters of the Popular Mobilization Forces and the factions .”

Last Tuesday, US President Donald Trump announced a two-week truce that included a halt to the war with Iran, before a round of negotiations began two days ago in Islamabad between the two sides.

The latest round of negotiations, which lasted more than 20 hours, came amid international hopes that a long-term truce could be established between Washington and Tehran, but the two delegations left early Sunday morning without any agreement, despite what was described as “the highest level of negotiating representation since 1979 “.

According to political leaks reported by multiple sources, the main points of contention revolved around three central issues (the Iranian nuclear program, especially the issue of uranium enrichment, the issue of Iranian regional influence, and the Strait of Hormuz), including fees and maritime passage.

A short while ago, the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz began, seeking to intercept any ship arriving at or leaving Iranian ports, or any ship paying transit fees to Tehran.

Shafaq.com

Global Tech supports Iraqi digital infrastructure with innovative solutions and global standards.

GlobalTek , a professional solutions company, pledged to support the digital infrastructure in Iraq by providing innovative solutions that keep pace with global developments according to best global practices.

The company said in a statement that it “continues to consolidate its position in the data center sector in Iraq, by providing integrated solutions based on the highest international standards to ensure business continuity and performance efficiency.”

The company noted that it “relies on more than 20 years of experience, during which it has implemented more than 60 projects in various vital sectors, including banks, government institutions and major companies.”

As part of its commitment to international standards, the company explained that it “operates in accordance with the requirements of the Uptime Global Foundation, and relies on technical and engineering staff who have obtained international certificates and accreditations, reflecting its reliability as a technical partner capable of implementing infrastructure and data center projects according to best global practices.”

She explained that “it has strategic partnerships with a select group of major global companies such as Huawei , Vertiv , Schneider Electric and Eaton , which enhances its ability to provide advanced and integrated solutions that meet the requirements of projects at various levels.”

According to the statement, ” GlobalTek’s services are not limited to the implementation phase only, but extend to include the entire project cycle, starting from study, design and preparation through implementation to management, operation and maintenance, ensuring the highest levels of reliability and sustainability.”

GlobalTek affirms its continued commitment to supporting the digital infrastructure in Iraq by providing innovative solutions that keep pace with global developments and meet the needs of institutions in operational environments.

Miliq.news

Awad: The process of selecting the prime minister is demanding and requires broad consensus.

The head of the Sadiqun parliamentary bloc, Uday Awad, described on Monday the stage of resolving the issue of the prime ministership as “pressuring,” stressing the need to form a government that enjoys broad political support to enable it to manage sensitive issues.

Awad told Al-Maalomah, “The current stage regarding the selection of the prime minister is characterized by significant pressure, given the magnitude of the challenges and pressures that political forces may face in resolving this matter.”
He added, “The next stage requires choosing a figure capable of gaining the trust and support of the influential political forces,” explaining that “this support represents a fundamental guarantee for enabling the government to address important issues.”
He pointed out that “political consensus will give the next government additional strength in confronting crises and managing state institutions efficiently, avoiding confusion.”

Almaalomah.me

Until further notice, disagreements postpone the coordination framework meeting.

A political source reported on Monday that the meeting of the Coordination Framework scheduled for this evening has been postponed until further notice, noting that the postponement was due to “disagreements” among the members of the framework.

The source told Shafaq News Agency that “the meeting was scheduled to be held at the home of the leader of the Wisdom Movement, Ammar al-Hakim.”

He added that “the postponement came as a result of some leaders of the framework boycotting the meeting, which prompted its postponement until the attendance of all leaders is confirmed in order to resolve the issue of the premiership in accordance with the constitutional period after the election of the President of the Republic, which is 15 days from the date of the election of the President of the Republic.”

The Iraqi parliament elected Nizar Amidi, the candidate of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party, as the new president of the republic on Saturday.

The head of the Design Alliance, Amer Al-Fayez, revealed yesterday, Sunday, that the coordinating framework intends to discuss the names of 9 candidates for the premiership in its meeting tomorrow.

A political source revealed on Saturday that Basim al-Badri is considered a compromise candidate within the coordination framework for the position of the next Iraqi Prime Minister, at a time when the leaders of the framework are preparing to hold a meeting soon to officially decide on the candidate’s name.

Shafaq.com

Exclusive: The religious authority reiterates its position: We will not interfere in the selection of the prime ministerial candidate.

The religious authority in Najaf reiterated on Monday its commitment not to interfere in the selection of the prime minister candidate, confirming its previous stance on this matter.

A source close to the religious authority told Shafaq News Agency that “the religious authority does not interfere in the matter of choosing a prime ministerial candidate,” indicating that it “has previously conveyed several messages to the forces of the Coordination Framework regarding its clear position on this issue.”

The source added that “the religious authority has closed its doors to politicians at the present stage,” indicating its refusal to engage in dialogues or consultations related to nominating candidates for senior positions.

The framework is preparing to hold a meeting this evening, Monday, to discuss nine candidates, amid the introduction of alternative names, including a consensus candidate, after the largest bloc called for naming its candidate in accordance with Article 76 of the Constitution, in light of political and security complications that may delay the resolution of the issue, according to a political source.

This meeting comes after the Speaker of Parliament called on the largest parliamentary bloc to nominate its candidate for Prime Minister within a maximum period of 15 days, following the election of the President of the Republic.

Last Saturday, the Iraqi parliament elected Nizar Amidi, the candidate of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party, as the new president of the republic.

The Coordination Framework had officially nominated Maliki on January 24, a move that opened the door to negotiations to form the new government, but the process faltered as disagreements continued over the election of the President of the Republic, the constitutional entitlement that precedes assigning the candidate of the largest bloc to form the government.

The process of forming a government faces additional complications, most notably the declared American position regarding al-Maliki’s return to power, and the escalating security tensions in the region, which puts political forces before the challenge of maintaining the “quota system” that has been in place since 2003 or sliding towards a comprehensive political deadlock.

Shafaq.com