Behind the scenes… A new evening in front of the frame to “resolve” the Prime Minister’s office

A well-informed political source confirmed on Friday that the leadership of the Coordination Framework is “determined” to hold its postponed meeting to decide on the name of the next Prime Minister, while noting that the chances of the Reconstruction and Development Coalition’s candidate for the position, Ihsan Al-Awadi, have “decreased” due to the objection of the coalition’s own deputies.

The source told Shafaq News Agency that the meeting scheduled to be held today at the home of the head of the Supreme Islamic Council, Humam Hamoudi, “will be held to decide on the name of the candidate for the position of Prime Minister and may extend for hours, as the leadership of the framework is determined to do so.”

He added that today’s meeting may not resolve the matter due to the lack of consensus on a specific candidate, and that the Reconstruction and Development Coalition, led by caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, intends to nominate another figure instead of al-Awadi for the position of Prime Minister.

The source indicated that “there is a proposal from some leaders of the framework that will be presented at today’s meeting, which includes resorting to a compromise candidate to end the conflict and political deadlock within the framework between the State of Law and Reconstruction and Development.”

According to the proposal, the compromise candidate “will be supported by the leadership of the framework unanimously and not by a specific individual, and there are several names being considered, and one of them may be chosen as the compromise candidate in a meeting this evening.”

The Coordination Framework had announced on Wednesday evening the postponement of its meeting, during which the candidate for the Prime Ministership was supposed to be decided, until Friday.

The framework stated in a brief statement received by Shafaq News Agency that “it was decided to postpone the meeting until Friday to allow more space for dialogue and to reach a result within the constitutional timeframe.”

The coordinating framework had failed to agree on a candidate for prime minister during two meetings held last Saturday and Monday, so the decision was postponed until Wednesday.

In recent days, sources reported that outgoing Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani put forward the name of Ihsan al-Awadi as a candidate for the premiership, in contrast to the nomination of Bassem al-Badri by the State of Law Coalition led by Nouri al-Maliki.

Returning to the political source, he explained that “the competition between the State of Law Coalition and the Reconstruction and Development Coalition for the premiership is still ongoing, but the chances of the Director of the Prime Minister’s Office, Ihsan Al-Awadi, have declined in the past two days as a result of the objection of the Sudanese Coalition MPs to Al-Awadi’s nomination for the position of Prime Minister.”

He stressed that “the chances of the State of Law candidate, the head of the Supreme National Commission for Accountability and Justice, Bassem al-Badri, remain the same, and he enjoys the support of seven votes out of 12 votes in the leadership of the framework.”

Following the nomination of Ihsan Al-Awadi, the director of his office, by the Sudanese government, 30 members of the Reconstruction and Development bloc, which consists of 52 members, threatened to withdraw if Ihsan Al-Awadi was nominated to head the government.

An informed source told Shafaq News Agency on Wednesday that “30 MPs threatened to leave the Reconstruction and Development bloc if Ihsan Al-Awadi is nominated for the premiership by the head of the coalition, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani.”

On Thursday evening, MP Mahmoud Al-Shammari, from the parliamentary services bloc, revealed that members of parliament intended to collect signatures and send an official letter to the President of the Republic to nominate a suitable person for the position of Prime Minister, in the event that the coordination framework does not reach an agreement on choosing a candidate by next Saturday.

Al-Shammari told Shafaq News Agency that “if the coordination framework does not reach an agreement to choose a candidate for the position of Prime Minister within the constitutionally specified period, then the members of the House of Representatives will have a different opinion on the matter.”

He added: “We are waiting for the leadership of the framework until Saturday, and if they do not reach an agreement to choose the appropriate candidate for the position of Prime Minister, then the members of Parliament will collect signatures and send an official letter to the President of the Republic to nominate the appropriate person and get out of the political deadlock.”

Shafaq.com

US Defense Secretary threatens Iraqi factions: Protecting the Kurdistan Region is a priority

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth affirmed that protecting the Kurdistan Region and confronting pro-Iranian factions is at the heart of the current US strategy, stressing that Washington is closely monitoring attacks targeting the region and its leaders.

This came in response to a question during a press conference, in which he pointed out that the Kurdistan Region has been subjected to 725 drone and missile attacks since February 28, resulting in the death of 22 people and the injury of about 100 others, in addition to recording 20 additional violations after the ceasefire was declared, including targeting the residence of Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani and Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani in Duhok.

Hegseth explained, during a press conference attended by a correspondent from Shafaq News Agency, that the attacks carried out by Iranian proxies against the Kurds represent “evidence of the nature of the regime in Tehran,” accusing it of seeking to destabilize the region through its armed arms.

The US Secretary of State stressed that the fundamental goal of the ongoing operations and political pressure is to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, arguing that this would prevent providing cover for these factions to continue their attacks.

Hegseth concluded by noting that “curbing the influence of armed factions and protecting allies, foremost among them the Kurdistan Region, are priorities within the objectives of current American moves in the region.”

Shafaq.com

Crucial hours ahead… The president and the judiciary may announce the name of al-Sudani’s successor: Have the leaders of the framework failed?

Behind the scenes in the homes of the framework leaders, discussions never end. Successive meetings – bilateral and collective – are held by the coordinating forces, where the final details of the battle for the premiership are being plotted, in a scene that seems more like a race with the last 48 hours remaining on the deadline.

Within these meetings, ambitions intersect with complex calculations. Caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani put six proposals on the table during his recent visit to State of Law Coalition leader Nouri al-Maliki, proposals that could be the key to breaking the deadlock, or just another stop on the road to further complications.

One of the most prominent proposals involves a difficult deal—a political concession of parliamentary seats in exchange for securing the premiership—a seemingly minor obstacle that lies at the heart of the crisis. Overcoming this hurdle could pave the way for a comprehensive settlement, ending months of deadlock.

In this regard, Amer Al-Fayez, a member of the Coordination Framework, confirmed to Shafaq News Agency that the ongoing meetings “have led to important understandings to resolve the disputes,” predicting that the nomination of a candidate for the premiership will be decided within the next few hours.

On the other hand, things are not going smoothly behind closed doors. There are sharp disagreements over the distribution of portfolios and positions, especially the position of Deputy Prime Minister, which has become a point of contention between parties who see it as a political entitlement, and others who link it to parliamentary weight. The talk is about assigning it to Mohsen Al-Mandalawi, without any agreement on it.

According to informed sources who spoke to Shafaq News Agency, preliminary understandings have been reached regarding the distribution of a number of ministries, including oil, education, higher education, defense, finance, electricity, and foreign affairs, which were discussed recently in accordance with the balances of political blocs and their parliamentary sizes.

Nevertheless, some parties are talking about “important understandings” that have begun to take shape, with indications that the coming hours may bring a new name for the head of government, or at least the outlines of a preliminary agreement.

However, in the event of a failure to reach an agreement, alternative scenarios are ready on the table: a constitutional mandate from the President of the Republic, resorting to the Federal Court, or even going towards the option of an emergency government, as confirmed by the head of the political body of the National Tribal Movement, Abdul Rahman Al-Jazaeri, during his interview with Shafaq News Agency.

Between these paths, the scene remains open to all possibilities, while attention is focused on a crucial meeting that may be held on Friday, where the end of the crisis may be written, or the beginning of a new chapter of it that goes beyond the framework houses to include the entire political process.

With Iraq entering the post-election phase of President Nizar Amidi, attention is turning to the most important entitlement, which is the formation of the new government, amidst heated political debate within the coordination framework regarding the prime minister candidate.

Politicians agree that the formation of the Iraqi government has many drawbacks, but they fundamentally disagree on how to characterize the crisis, with some seeing it as a serious political deadlock that threatens stability, and others considering it merely a normal dialogue within the constitutional framework.

The coordinating framework had set a date for a crucial meeting last Saturday, before postponing it to Monday, with the aim of deciding on a candidate for the premiership. However, the meeting ended without reaching a final agreement, so it was postponed to Wednesday, before being postponed again to Friday.

Shafaq.com

A parliamentary message to the framework: No deadline after Saturday, we will choose the prime minister.

Mahmoud al-Shammari, a member of the Services Bloc in the Iraqi Parliament, revealed on Thursday evening that members of Parliament intend to collect signatures and send an official letter to the President of the Republic to nominate a suitable person for the position of Prime Minister, in the event that the Coordination Framework does not reach an agreement on choosing a candidate by next Saturday.

Al-Shammari told Shafaq News Agency that “if the coordination framework does not reach an agreement to choose a candidate for the position of Prime Minister within the constitutionally specified period, then the members of the House of Representatives will have a different opinion on the matter.”

He added: “We are waiting for the leadership of the framework until next Saturday, and if they do not reach an agreement to choose the appropriate candidate for the position of Prime Minister, then the members of Parliament will collect signatures and send an official letter to the President of the Republic to nominate the appropriate person and get out of the political deadlock.”

The MP stressed that “the House of Representatives is capable of nominating the person as it is the legislative authority in the country and the highest authority in the Iraqi state,” noting that “the continuation of the situation as it is and the continuation of the caretaker government and 10 vacant ministries without a minister pushes us to intervene in the matter of choosing the candidate for the next government.”

A member of the coordination framework, Amer Al-Fayez, told Shafaq News Agency on Thursday that the ongoing meetings had led to important understandings to resolve the disputes, suggesting that the nomination of a candidate for the premiership would be decided within the next few hours.

With Iraq entering the post-election phase of President Nizar Amidi, attention is turning to the most important entitlement, which is the formation of the new government, amidst heated political debate within the coordination framework regarding the prime minister candidate.

The coordinating framework had set a date for a crucial meeting last Saturday, before postponing it to Monday, with the aim of deciding on a candidate for the premiership. However, the meeting ended without reaching a final agreement, so it was postponed to Wednesday, before being postponed again to Friday.

Shafaq.com

Why does Iraq fail to achieve self-sufficiency despite its resources?

Why does Iraq fail to achieve self-sufficiency despite its resourcesShafaq News – Baghdad
Iraq continues to rely heavily on imports to secure its needs for basic and consumer goods, at a time when local production faces accumulating challenges that limit its ability to compete, despite the availability of natural and human resources.

This comes in conjunction with what was revealed in a recent study published by the Nature Food Council, which showed that Iraq is among the countries unable to achieve food self-sufficiency, reflecting the depth of the gap between available potential and production reality.

The Iraqi market relies on importing a wide range of goods, primarily food and agricultural products, along with electrical appliances and construction materials, which makes the economy vulnerable to external fluctuations, whether in commodity prices or global supply chains.

Local products also face additional challenges related to weak customs protection and the existence of informal outlets through which goods enter without sufficient control, which increases pressure on the local product and reduces its growth opportunities within the market.

Over-reliance threatens the economy

Economic expert Mohammed Al-Hassani told Shafaq News Agency that “Iraq’s dependence on imports remains very high, as estimates indicate that total imports of goods and services exceed $100 billion annually, of which about $80 to $90 billion are for goods alone.”

He added that “this great dependence on the outside world has made the Iraqi economy one of the most affected by geopolitical crises, especially in light of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which is a major passage for trade and energy.”

Al-Hassani explained that “Iraq has begun to face direct repercussions as a result of this closure, represented by the increase in shipping and insurance costs, the delay in the arrival of some goods, as well as the increase in the prices of a number of goods in the local market.”

He pointed out that “excessive reliance on imports puts the country in a vulnerable position to any external shock, as global crises are quickly reflected internally, whether through price increases or shortages of some materials,” adding that “what is happening now highlights the urgent need to reduce reliance on imports by supporting local production, especially since the crises have revealed the limited ability of the market to withstand without imports.”

Reports indicate that Iraq’s import volume is very high, estimated at more than $100 billion annually, of which $80–90 billion is for goods.

Imports cover more than 50% of Iraq’s food needs, with almost complete dependence (70–100%) on foreign sources for basic commodities such as vegetable oils, sugar and rice, making the local market directly linked to global markets and their fluctuations.

The laws are ineffective.

Meanwhile, economist Hilal Al-Taan, speaking to Shafaq News Agency, said that Iraq does indeed have a legislative system aimed at protecting local products, but its implementation is still weak and insufficient, which limits its ability to have a real impact on the market.

The expert continued, saying that “the laws of product protection, consumer protection, competition and prevention of monopoly grant the concerned authorities the powers to impose duties on imported goods, prevent dumping, and provide support to the industrial and agricultural sectors,” indicating that “these laws, despite their importance, have not been activated as required, which has kept the Iraqi market largely open to imports since 2003.”

According to Al-Ta’an, “weak customs control at times, along with high local production costs and a lack of government support for the agricultural and industrial sectors, have all contributed to weakening the competitiveness of the national product.” He explained that the entry of cheap goods into Iraq is due to the weak application of customs tariffs, as well as the existence of cases of evasion through reducing the real values ​​of imported goods, which allows the entry of low-priced products from neighboring countries.

Reuters: Tanker arrives in Basra to load two million barrels of Iraqi oil

Reuters reported on Friday that a tanker had arrived at Iraq’s Basra port to load two million barrels of crude oil.

The agency said the Comoros-flagged tanker “Helga” is the second tanker to arrive at the southern Basra seaport docks since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The International Energy Agency predicted earlier on Friday that there would be significant repercussions from the disruption of shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz since the beginning of March.

Earlier on Friday, EU foreign policy chief Kaya Kallas reiterated Brussels’ position calling for freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that this issue is “non-negotiable,” as energy supply chains continue to be disrupted by tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Shafaq.com

Hormuz is not the only reason… Brazil removes Iraq from the list of major oil suppliers to China

The Iraq Future Foundation for Economic Studies and Consultations reported on Friday that recent data on China’s crude oil imports during the first quarter of 2026 revealed a remarkable strategic shift, with exports from Brazil and Angola recording record increases at the expense of the traditional shares of Iraq and the Gulf states.

The head of the organization, economic expert Manar Al-Obaidi, said in a post that “for the first time in the history of trade exchange, Brazil has succeeded in surpassing Iraq as a major oil supplier to China.”

The causes of superiority: Beyond the waterway crisis

He explained that “the decline in the market share of Iraq and the countries of the region was not only a result of the “Strait of Hormuz crisis,” but several structural factors combined to strengthen the position of the new competitors, including quality and technical specifications, as Brazil and Angola have crude oils that are characterized by a lower sulfur content and higher quality compared to Iraqi oil, making them the preferred choice for Chinese refineries seeking to reduce refining costs.

Al-Obaidi went on to list the factors and pointed to liberation from the constraints of “OPEC+”: As they are outside the organization, Brazil and Angola are not bound by specific production ceilings, which has given them high flexibility in meeting the growing Chinese demand and expanding their market shares without international legal obstacles.

He argued that “geopolitical security” provides a safer shipping route from South America and Africa, away from tensions in the Middle East straits, thus enhancing the sustainability of supplies, in addition to the inter-investments, where huge Chinese investments in the energy sectors of Brazil and Angola have played a pivotal role in consolidating this partnership.

The anticipated “April and May” shock

Al-Ubaidi pointed out that although Iraq currently holds 10% of China’s imports, expectations indicate a sharp decline during April and May, attributing this to the fact that March shipments had already been contracted and moved at the beginning of the year, while the direct impact of the Strait of Hormuz crisis will begin to appear clearly in the data for the second quarter of the year.

Strategic risks and the BRICS dilemma

The head of the organization warned that the “greatest danger” lies in the “entrenchment” of this shift; the close ties that bind China to Russia, Brazil and Angola within the BRICS bloc give these countries a long-term economic and political advantage.

Al-Obaidi concluded by saying: If the crisis lasts for a long time, Iraq may find itself unable to regain its market share even after the situation stabilizes, unless it resorts to a policy of large price discounts, an option that will put the Iraqi general budget under enormous financial pressure and may lead to huge economic losses.

Shafaq.com

An Iranian delegation headed by Araqchi arrives in Pakistan today

Iranian and Pakistani media reported on Friday that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi would arrive in Islamabad that day for talks, with the announcement of a new round of negotiations between Tehran and Washington being likely.

Media outlets quoted informed sources as saying that Iran will send a delegation to Pakistan today, headed by Foreign Minister Araqchi, to hold talks, and a second round of negotiations is likely to be arranged, though no date has been set.

The sources also suggested that a serious breakthrough might occur today, and that Pakistan might become the guarantor regarding some of the outstanding issues between Iran and America.

She said that “Pakistan may announce today the resumption of negotiations between Iran and America.”

Shafaq.com

Ministry of Electricity: Liquefied gas platform to be completed by early June with a capacity of 750 million cubic feet per day

The Ministry of Electricity announced on Friday the completion date for the liquefied gas platform, confirming that it will be completed at the beginning of June with a capacity of 750 million cubic feet per day. The spokesman for the Ministry of Electricity, Ahmed Moussa, told the official news agency that “work is proceeding at an accelerated pace to complete the liquefied gas platform,” noting that “the government has set the first of June as the date for completing the project.”

Moussa also explained that “the platform will contribute to providing between 500 and 750 million standard cubic feet per day of gas,” indicating that “there is a contract signed with the American company Excelerate Energy, which is one of the companies specializing in the energy and gas sector.”

He added that “the company, under the contract, is responsible for completing the station as well as securing the agreed quantities of gas from any source, within the specified conditions,” noting that “work is continuing according to the planned timetables to complete the project on schedule, which comes within the Ministry of Electricity’s plans to keep pace with peak summer loads.”

Burathanews.com

The Central Bank of Iran confirms receiving ship transit revenues via a “cash transaction”

The Central Bank of Iran announced on Thursday that it had received fees for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Fars News Agency quoted the Central Bank as confirming the deposit of revenues from fees for crossing the Strait of Hormuz.

He explained that “the revenues from ship transit fees in the Strait of Hormuz have been deposited in the bank in the form of ‘ cash currency , ‘ denying some news reported by the media that Iran receives transit fees in the form of ‘ cryptocurrency . ‘”

Shafaq.com