Iran awaits an “important” visit from al-Zaidi: We are working to preserve Iraq’s sovereignty.

On Monday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry described the upcoming visit of Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi to Tehran as “important,” stressing its commitment to preserving Iraq’s sovereignty, while renewing its warning against targeting American bases and depots in the region if they are used to launch attacks on Iranian territory. ForeignInvestment Guide

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi is scheduled to travel to the Iranian capital, Tehran, next Thursday, in his first regional stop after his recent visit to the United States.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei said during his weekly press conference, which was monitored by Shafaq News Agency, that al-Zaidi’s anticipated visit to Tehran at the end of the week represents an important milestone, stressing that Iran is working to preserve Iraq’s sovereignty and does not harbor hostility towards neighboring countries.

He added that his country would target American bases and depots in the region if they were used to attack Iranian territory, holding the United States responsible for the expansion of the war and accusing it of targeting civilian infrastructure and health facilities.

Regarding the negotiations, Baghaei said that Iran had not made any concessions, and that mediators had conveyed messages to Tehran in recent days, and that ideas had been put forward and were being worked on, in reference to the ongoing diplomatic efforts.

He stressed that Iran did not want war, considering that “whoever started it was an abnormal person,” and emphasizing that any future negotiations with the United States must take into account Iranian national interests.

Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Baghaei stressed that the future of the strait must be coordinated with the Sultanate of Oman, and that Iran’s sovereignty over it “is not open to any discussion.”

He added that “Iran will pursue legal avenues to hold the United States accountable for its ongoing crimes against civilians,” stressing that targeting infrastructure will not succeed in destabilizing the country’s security, and that “Iran is not a collection of isolated islands that can be dismantled, but rather a cohesive nation from south to north.”

He also congratulated the Spanish national team on winning the World Cup title, noting that “Spain has always rejected the Israeli war of extermination,” while emphasizing that “Iran does not hold any position towards the Argentine people.”

He also criticized what he described as the “harassment” that the Iranian national team faced during its participation in the tournament in the United States, considering the current edition of the World Cup to be “fraught with politics”.

Shafaq.com

The Iraqi Central Bank’s coffers lost 1.3 trillion dinars in four months.

Data from the Central Bank of Iraq, released on Monday, showed a sharp decline in cash liquidity within the bank’s vaults during the first four months of 2026, as it fell from 1.907 trillion dinars at the end of December 2025 to 566 billion dinars at the end of April 2026. IraqEconomic News

According to data seen by Shafaq News Agency, cash liquidity declined to 1.524 trillion dinars at the end of January, then to 1.005 trillion dinars at the end of February, before falling to 849 billion dinars at the end of March, and finally to 566 billion dinars at the end of April.

She noted that cash liquidity in the Central Bank’s vaults lost about 1.341 trillion dinars during four months, equivalent to a decrease of 70.3% compared to its level at the end of 2025.

The data also added that although cash liquidity remained higher than its level recorded at the end of 2023, which amounted to 323 billion dinars, it declined significantly compared to the end of 2024, when it reached 2.092 trillion dinars, registering a decrease of 72.9%.

In contrast, the data showed that the official exchange rate remained stable at 1,300 dinars to the dollar during the period from January to April 2026, while the inflation rate gradually increased from 0.9% in January to 1.7% by the end of April.

Shafaq.com

The US military announces the death of one of its soldiers in northern Iraq.

The US military announced on Sunday evening that one of its soldiers had been killed in northern Iraq.

“Two U.S. service members were killed and another is missing in Jordan following an Iranian attack on July 17,” U.S. Central Command said in a statement. “After a thorough search, U.S. military forces located unidentified remains at the site earlier today. The process of examining the remains is ongoing to verify their identity.”

The statement added, “In a separate incident, a U.S. soldier was killed in northern Iraq on July 18 during a controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance from an Iranian single-pilot attack drone that was shot down,” noting that “another soldier sustained minor injuries and is still receiving medical treatment.”

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Hassan: Al-Zaidi carried out the anti-corruption campaign with a green light from the American administration.

Luqman Hassan, a member of the Kurdish Azadi Movement, confirmed on Thursday that Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi launched the anti-corruption campaign after receiving a green light from the US administration. He pointed out that the current campaign comes at a time when Washington is seeking to impose a new political reality on Iraq.
Hassan told the Information Agency, “The anti-corruption campaign launched by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi came with a green light from the US administration, especially since such an operation was not implemented under previous governments.”

He added, “The United States is seeking to draw up a new political landscape in Iraq, and the coming days and period may witness unexpected events in light of the continued US interference and Washington’s attempt to impose a new political reality on the country.” He explained that “the process of reform and change does not take place in the manner the country has witnessed in the current phase, but rather begins with all segments of society and the pillars of the ruling power that control the Iraqi scene.”

Almaalomah.me

Can Parliament intervene in al-Zaidi’s agreements with Washington? A legal expert explains.

The legal expert Ali al-Tamimi clarified on Thursday the extent to which the Iraqi Parliament can intervene in agreements signed by Prime Minister Ali al-Zubaidi during his visit to the United States.

Speaking to Al-Maalomah, al-Tamimi stated, “The Prime Minister has the authority to sign executive agreements, contracts, and memoranda of understanding, according to Article (2) of the Law on Concluding Agreements No. (35) of 2015, and all of them become effective immediately upon signing.”

He added, “Article Five of the aforementioned law designates the Prime Minister as the official representative of Iraq, a fact also confirmed by Article (78) of the Iraqi Constitution, as he is the direct executive responsible for the state’s general policy and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, and he has the right to conclude these agreements, contracts, and memoranda of understanding.”

He explained that “there is no significant difference between a contract and an agreement in international law, because the essence lies in the intent and meaning, not the wording and structure. Both are binding on the parties, although an agreement is broader than a contract in terms of details, while a memorandum of understanding is not binding on the parties but rather constitutes a first step between them.”

He continued: “As for the treaty, the Prime Minister may initial it, after which it will be submitted to the Council of Representatives for ratification, in accordance with Article (61/Fourth) of the Constitution. The Prime Minister also has the authority to negotiate these treaties, based on Article (80/Sixth) of the Iraqi Constitution.”

He pointed out that “the ratification of treaties by the Council of Representatives is followed by their ratification by the President of the Republic, in accordance with Article (73/Second) of the Constitution. Parliament usually ratifies them by an absolute majority, with the exception of treaties that affect the fate of the state, which require the approval of two-thirds of the members of the Council of Representatives.

These include treaties related to war and peace, sovereignty, reconciliation, and accession to international agreements, as stipulated in Article (12) of the Law on Concluding Agreements No. (35) of 2015.” MiddleEast news

Almaalomah.me

Dawn’s Charge: Al-Zaidi is coming from Washington to strike at the big bosses.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi intends to escalate the “Dawn Charge” anti-corruption campaign by expanding its scope to include influential political figures accused of corruption, immediately upon his return from his official visit to the United States next week.

Informed government sources told Shafaq News Agency that “the next phase of the campaign will witness, for the first time, the prosecution of prominent political figures with broad influence, in a move that represents an unprecedented escalation in the fight against corruption.” Broadcast& Network News

One source told the agency that “the Prime Minister enjoys clear support from the judicial establishment, along with influential political forces and figures with popular support, which enhances the chances of proceeding with the campaign and implementing its procedures without major obstacles.”

According to the source, Al-Zaydi refused pressure exerted on him to prevent the investigations from reaching what are described as the “big bosses” accused of corruption cases, stressing that the Prime Minister is committed to expanding the scope of accountability and not excluding any party against whom legal violations are proven.

Another source confirmed that the next phase will be characterized by more decisive measures targeting the major defendants in corruption cases, within the framework of a government approach to strengthen the rule of law, continue to pursue those involved and recover public funds.

This comes in the context of a broad campaign to pursue corruption cases, popularly called “Sunday Dawn” and “Dawn Raid,” which included the issuance of arrest warrants, summonses, and investigations targeting dozens of prominent officials and politicians, including former and current members of parliament, officials, and businessmen, on charges related to wasting public funds and illicit gains.

The campaign’s initial strikes targeted complex corruption networks controlling ports, customs, the energy sector, and taxes, achieving immediate results in the recovery and freezing of assets worth hundreds of millions of dollars and their immediate return to the state treasury.

Shafaq.com

Iraqi oil loadings increased to 1.2 million barrels per day during the first half of July

Data from Kpler and a source familiar with the matter showed on Thursday that Iraqi crude oil loading rates rose significantly during the first half of July, averaging around 1.2 million barrels per day, as exports accelerated after months of restrictions on shipping operations. Dailynews reports

According to the data, the volume of Iraqi crude oil loadings has more than doubled compared to last month, an indication that exports are gradually recovering, according to Reuters.

Kpler’s data showed that the average Iraqi crude oil exports during June amounted to about 500,000 barrels per day, reflecting the large difference in loading levels during July.

Iraqi Basra crude oil prices rose in the latest trading session on Thursday, contrary to the decline in global oil prices. Heavy crude rose to $58.43 a barrel, an increase of $0.44 or 0.76%, while medium crude climbed to $60.73 a barrel, an increase of $0.44 or 0.73%.

Shafaq.com

Tomorrow, Iraq and the United States will sign the largest economic agreement in history.

Baghdad and Washington are preparing to sign the largest package of agreements and memoranda of understanding since the establishment of relations between the two countries, tomorrow, Friday, as part of the official visit of Prime Minister Ali al-Zubaidi to the United States. News

According to a well-informed government source who spoke to Shafaq News Agency, the visit program will culminate in the signing of a wide range of agreements and memoranda of understanding between Iraq and the United States, in the presence of high-level officials from both sides, in a move considered the largest of its kind in the history of bilateral relations.

According to the source, the agreements cover the energy, investment, economy, technology, education, health, security and infrastructure sectors, in addition to cooperation in the areas of development and empowering the private sector, which enhances the strategic partnership and opens new horizons for cooperation between the two countries.

The package will also include the announcement of major American companies entering the Iraqi market, and the launch of broad investment opportunities in various sectors, which will contribute to revitalizing the economy, creating job opportunities, and transferring modern technology and expertise to Iraq.

The Iraqi government views these agreements as a pivotal milestone in the course of relations with the United States, according to the source, who indicated that they are “the largest and most diverse since the establishment of relations between the two countries,” due to the strategic projects and long-term partnerships they include.

The government source concluded by saying that “the signing ceremony will take place in the presence of senior officials from Baghdad and Washington, and will enhance economic and investment cooperation, and consolidate the bilateral partnership in a way that serves the common interests of the two countries.”

This comes as part of the agenda of the official visit that began on Monday by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and his accompanying delegation, which included a number of ministers, senior officials, investors, business owners, and Iraqi capitalists.

US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday evening, during his meeting with al-Zaidi at the White House, that this week would see the unveiling of a major oil partnership with Iraq, in addition to extensive trade deals in various sectors.

Shafaq.com

Amidst growing public discontent, Baghdad is seeking urgent solutions to the electricity crisis in Washington.

On Wednesday evening, Iraqi Electricity Minister Ali Saadi Wahib discussed the reality of the electricity sector in the country and the accumulated challenges it has been suffering from for years, during his reception of Victoria Taylor, director of the Iraq Initiative at the Atlantic Council, and her accompanying delegation, as part of his official visit to the United States of America with Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi. Dailynews reports

In a statement received by Shafaq News Agency, Wahib stressed the need to move to quick, practical and implementable solutions that contribute to addressing the inherited crisis, increasing generation capacities, developing transmission and distribution networks, and securing the fuel necessary to operate the stations.

During the meeting, he explained that “our priority is to accelerate the implementation of strategic projects, address bottlenecks that affect the stability of the system, and take advantage of international partnerships, investments and modern technologies to achieve tangible results that are directly reflected in the hours of electricity supply to citizens.”

According to the statement, Wahib also discussed prospects for cooperation with research institutions and international companies, and the importance of expanding dialogue with American research centers to present Iraq’s vision and urgent needs in the energy sector, in order to support finding sustainable solutions and enhance energy security and economic development in the country.

This meeting coincided with dozens of citizens in the governorates of Maysan and Muthanna taking to the streets on Wednesday evening in angry demonstrations to protest the deteriorating state of electricity in the two governorates.

For many years, residents in most Iraqi provinces have been protesting the frequent power outages, especially during the summer, when temperatures sometimes reach 50 degrees Celsius.

For many years, especially during the summer, Iraq has suffered from a chronic electricity crisis characterized by frequent power outages, despite large expenditures and successive projects.

The crisis intensifies with rising temperatures, which doubles the pressure on the national grid and affects the lives of citizens and public services, amid continuous demands for a radical overhaul of this vital sector.

Shafaq.com

Beyond diplomacy… Will Baghdad succeed in implementing the Washington agreements?

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zubaidi’s visit to the United States was not just a passing diplomatic meeting, but came at a pivotal time regionally and economically, in light of the challenges facing Iraq at the level of public finances, the need to attract investments, and the attempt to move from an economy that depends heavily on oil to a more diversified model based on production and investment partnerships.

The visit, which included a meeting between al-Zaidi and US President Donald Trump at the White House, had a main theme: shifting the Iraqi-American relationship from focusing on security issues to expanding economic and investment cooperation, with energy, oil, electricity, infrastructure, and technology issues at the forefront of the talks.

Both sides announced a shared desire to enhance economic cooperation, while Iraqi officials spoke of agreements and memoranda of understanding covering various sectors, amid questions within Iraq about the extent to which these agreements can overcome the experience of previous projects that, according to critics, remained within the framework of pledges and did not turn into tangible results.

Implementation Bet

In this context, Imad Al-Musafir, a political researcher close to the Coordination Framework (which brings together the ruling Shiite political forces in Iraq), believes that Al-Zaidi’s visit to the United States was of great interest within Iraqi political circles, especially in light of the circumstances the region is going through and their repercussions on the economic and social situation in Iraq.

The traveler told Shafaq News Agency, “Al-Zaidi’s visit was awaited by many across the Iraqi political spectrum, especially since Iraq and the region are witnessing major events that are reflected negatively or positively on services and social and living conditions.”

He adds that “what became clear from the visit is that it has an economic and investment character, and this is what Iraq needs at the present time,” noting that the importance of the agreements does not lie only in their signing, but in the government’s ability to turn them into real projects.

He explains that “signing memoranda of understanding and contracts is not the goal in itself, but rather the goal is to find something tangible on the ground, because some previous agreements had no practical effect and remained just ink on paper.”

The traveler affirms that “the Iraqi people hope that the Iraqi delegation in the United States will achieve what it aspires to,” noting that al-Zaidi’s economic background may help advance this path. MiddleEast news

He explains that “Al-Zaidi comes from an economic background, and we hope that this experience will be reflected positively on the Iraqi reality,” adding that any reform program that enjoys internal and external support can be an opportunity to improve the economic Situation.

Investment Environment

In the same vein, economic researcher Ahmed Eid believes that Al-Zaidi’s visit to the United States represents an important opportunity to rebuild the economic partnership between Baghdad and Washington, especially in the energy, investment and technology sectors.

But Eid confirms to Shafaq News Agency that its success will not be linked to merely signing agreements or memoranda of understanding, but rather to the government’s ability to transform them into real projects and investments implemented on the ground.

He says that the impact of the visit’s results on the living conditions and services of citizens requires a package of reforms, foremost among them restructuring the private sector to be a partner capable of attracting foreign investments, in addition to providing a stable and attractive investment environment, consolidating the rule of law, and restricting weapons to the state, which would enhance the confidence of international companies and encourage them to inject their capital into the Iraqi market.

He adds that combating corruption, holding those involved accountable, and recovering wasted funds are essential pillars for enhancing investor confidence, noting that investment needs, above all, an environment characterized by transparency, stability, and the protection of the law.

He points out that the government’s success in implementing these reforms, in parallel with the economic partnerships that may result from the visit, could gradually lead to improved services, job creation, and economic growth. He warns that the absence of these reforms could make the results of the agreements limited and unable to bring about tangible change in the Iraqi economy.

Energy is the Focus of Cooperation

For his part, Fahd al-Jubouri, a leader in the Wisdom Movement headed by Ammar al-Hakim, says that evaluating the results of the visit is linked to the content of the economic agreements that are being discussed, indicating that al-Zaidi obtained a political mandate from the coordinating framework regarding this path.

Al-Jubouri explained to Shafaq News Agency that “the economic agreements that will be signed, according to their contents, will reflect positively on the Iraqi reality and Iraqi society,” but he pointed out that judging their results requires waiting for the implementation phase.

He believes that “whether or not these agreements will be implemented is not something we can talk about now, and we cannot say for certain whether they will bring about a tangible change or not, but the clauses that were agreed upon regarding the energy fund, oil companies and others are things that we see as positive for the Iraqi people.”

He points out that Iraq is seeking to increase its oil production with the support of American companies, explaining that there is an anticipated economic strategy between Baghdad and Washington related to the entry of American companies into Iraq, especially in the oil and electricity sectors.

He affirms that “these two sectors represent some of the most important files in the agreements, and therefore they will have positive returns for the Iraqi people, pending the completion of the necessary political procedures.”

Partnership Transformation

Independent politician Iyad al-Janabi says that the nature of the Iraqi delegation accompanying al-Zaidi reflected the visit’s focus on the economy and investment, noting that the presence of businessmen and investors within the delegation represents a message that Iraq seeks to build economic partnerships with the United States.

Al-Janabi explained to Shafaq News Agency that “the visit was built on an economic partnership, and the delegation accompanying Al-Zidi is mostly businessmen and investors, and this is a message that Iraq is open to the United States in the fields of investment, energy and oil in particular.”

He adds that “the meeting was based on long-term economic partnerships, and this message was successfully conveyed by Al-Zaidi, which is that Iraq wants to be a strategic and economic partner of the United States.”

Al-Janabi believes that the importance of the visit also stems from the nature of regional transformations, noting that the United States views Iraq as an important country from a geopolitical and economic perspective.

He says that “Iraq has an important geographical location, and this is what is driving the United States to develop economic and strategic relations with it.”

What distinguishes the visit, according to Al-Janabi, is the Iraqi government’s attempt to define the nature of the relationship with Washington more clearly compared to previous governments, with which the relationship was, as he described it, “ambiguous.” MiddleEast news

He explains that Al-Zaidi’s statements during the visit focused on the future and avoiding reopening past files, considering that the Prime Minister tried to present a speech based on economic interests and partnerships.

economic positioning

Al-Janabi believes that Al-Zaidi’s economic background played a role in determining the priorities of the visit, saying that Iraq needs a strong economic partner to help it attract funding and investment.

Al-Janabi continues his remarks by saying that Iraq may need funding in the future from international institutions such as the International Monetary Fund or support from European and Gulf countries, considering that a strong partnership with the United States may facilitate this path.

He adds that “investment means the entry of hard money and dollars into Iraq, and this will revive the economy,” noting Iraq’s need to develop infrastructure, production sectors, and increase oil capacity.

He points to the importance of diversifying oil export outlets and not relying on a single route, indicating the need to develop oil infrastructure and transport lines.

Energy and oil files are at the top of Baghdad’s priorities during the next phase, as Iraq seeks to attract major American companies to participate in production, energy and electricity projects.

Previous reports had mentioned talks with American companies operating in the energy sector, in addition to plans to enhance the participation of foreign companies in the development of oil fields and electricity and gas projects.

The Iraqi government is also banking on attracting foreign investment to reduce pressure on public finances, at a time when heavy reliance on oil poses a major challenge to any attempt to diversify the economy.

Shafaq.com