The Reconstruction and Development bloc determines its share in the next government.

Ali al-Fatlawi, a leader in the Reconstruction and Development Bloc, revealed on Tuesday that his bloc has finalized its allocation of five ministerial portfolios in the upcoming government, confirming that one of them is a key sovereign ministry.

Al-Fatlawi told the Information Agency that “the Reconstruction and Development Bloc will officially submit the names of its candidates for the ministerial portfolios within the next 48 hours,” indicating that “the bloc’s share is five ministries.”

He added that “one of these ministries will be a sovereign ministry, with the choices being between the Ministry of Oil and the Ministry of Finance,” revealing at the same time that “the bloc’s deputy head, MP Ahmed al-Asadi, is one of the prominent candidates to assume one of those five portfolios.”

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Asource specifies the date for the vote on the new cabinet.

A well-informed political source revealed on Tuesday that Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi intends to submit his cabinet lineup to the Speaker of Parliament by the end of this week. The source also indicated that the Coordination Framework is working to secure the Foreign Ministry portfolio.

Speaking to the Information Agency, the source stated that “al-Zaidi will spend the next two days finalizing the list of nominees for the new cabinet,” adding that “the list will be officially submitted to the Speaker of Parliament to schedule a session for voting on the ministers and the government program.”

The source further stated that “the Coordination Framework is actively seeking the Foreign Ministry,” attributing this to “the ambiguity surrounding international and regional relations, which necessitates a management approach aligned with the vision for the next phase.”

It is worth noting that Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi formed two specialized teams to prepare the government program immediately after his nomination by the Coordination Framework.

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US military: We await Trump’s orders to resume fighting against Iran

US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Keane confirmed on Tuesday that the military is ready to resume combat operations against Iran and is awaiting orders from President Donald Trump, noting that Operation Freedom aims to facilitate safe passage for international commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, amid escalating tensions with Iran.

“Iran has attacked ships in the Strait of Hormuz and is using supply chains as a weapon in violation of the law of the sea,” Kane said at a press conference, adding that “the Iranian regime, led by the Revolutionary Guard, is trying to take the global economy hostage.”

He noted that “more than 22,000 sailors are stranded on more than 1,500 commercial vessels in the Arabian Sea,” adding that “our forces are ready to resume major combat operations against Iran if ordered to do so.”

He explained that “all Iranian attacks so far are below the level that would prompt us to resume large-scale combat operations,” indicating that “Iran has fired on commercial ships 9 times and attacked our forces more than 10 times since the ceasefire was declared.”

Keane predicted that “more ships will pass through the Strait of Hormuz in the coming days,” noting that “the resumption of fighting with Iran depends on a political decision.”

Shafaq.com

The Pentagon to the Europeans: You deal with Russia and leave Iran to us.

German officials revealed that the Pentagon recommended to its partners in Berlin to focus on NATO’s eastern flank, which is close to Russia, in exchange for the United States taking over the management of the Iran and Middle East file, amid escalating tensions between Washington and its European allies.

According to The Atlantic, American officials advised their European counterparts in a decisive tone to “mind your own business,” at a time when war planners in Washington expressed great confidence in the course of operations against Iran before later backing down as decisive results faltered.

The magazine noted that the administration of US President Donald Trump began the war on Iran in coordination with Israel without informing its NATO allies in advance or consulting with them about the objectives of the operation, in a policy described as being based on internal disagreements.

As expectations declined, Washington began criticizing European allies for what it considered a failure to provide support, coinciding with changes within the Department of Defense that included the reappointment of NATO policy director in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Mark Jones.

These developments coincided with the escalating repercussions of the war in the Middle East, as tensions in the Strait of Hormuz led to higher energy prices and depleted US arms stockpiles, which directly impacted Europe, already suffering from the consequences of the war in Ukraine.

European countries also faced delays in US arms shipments, along with economic pressures including inflation, rising energy prices and the impact on industrial sectors, while countries like Slovenia resorted to fuel rationing, followed by other countries.

Given the limited European ability to influence the course of the crisis, European countries, within alliances, are exploring options to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, although these efforts are linked to a stable ceasefire and the continued threats between the conflicting parties.

Politically, tensions have escalated between Washington and some European capitals following statements by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said that the Iranian leadership had “humiliated” the United States, prompting Trump to strongly criticize him and consider some of NATO’s positions as a sign of weakness.

This was accompanied by Washington’s announcement that it was considering reducing its military presence in Germany by withdrawing about 5,000 soldiers out of approximately 40,000 during the next year, as part of a broader plan to reduce the American military presence in Europe since the end of the Cold War, despite increasing it again after the Ukraine war in 2022 to about 80,000 soldiers.

In contrast, European countries, led by Germany, have intensified their defense spending. German military spending in 2025 reached approximately $114 billion, an increase of 24% over the previous year, with plans to modernize military capabilities and strengthen air defense systems.

Experts believe that Berlin and its partners are seeking to gradually develop their defense capabilities in coordination with Washington, while continuing to rely on the American nuclear umbrella, at a time when European leaders are stressing the need to strengthen the “European pillar” within NATO and reduce dependence on the United States.

The data indicates that relations between the United States and its European allies are going through a period of tension and instability, in light of sudden decisions and differing views on the alliance’s roles, especially in the Middle East crises.

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With demand nearing 105 million barrels per day, Iraq is strengthening its position among the world’s top oil suppliers.

Recent data from the International Energy Agency indicates that global oil consumption is currently stabilizing at a level close to 100 to 105 million barrels per day, with continued strong demand from major economies despite slowing growth in some regions.

According to the agency’s data, the United States tops the list of the world’s largest consumers with about 20.3 million barrels per day, followed by China with about 16.1 million barrels per day, then India with about 5.2 million barrels per day, while Russia, Saudi Arabia and Brazil come in the next ranks with consumption ranging between 3 and 4 million barrels per day for each country.

As for global production, the leading producing countries are: America, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Iraq, where estimates indicate that Iraq produces more than 4 million barrels per day under normal conditions, making it one of the most important oil suppliers in the global market.

Energy market reports confirm that global oil demand continued to rise during 2025, reaching more than 105 million barrels per day, with expectations of continued growth in 2026 but at a slower pace as a result of the gradual shift towards alternative energy.

In contrast, global production is largely concentrated in OPEC countries, led by Saudi Arabia and Iraq, as well as the United States, Russia, and Brazil, making the oil market highly sensitive to any geopolitical disturbances or supply chain crises.

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To counter the “shipping halt,” Iraq is offering oil discounts of up to $33 per barrel.

Iraq has decided to lower oil prices for buyers who choose to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, coinciding with escalating tensions and continued disruption to energy supply chains to the global market.

Bloomberg reported that Iraq is offering discounts on official oil prices of up to $33.40 per barrel for Basra crude.

This comes according to a notice issued by the state oil marketing company SOMO on May 3, detailing price levels during different periods of this month.

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Oil expert: Iraq needs to build external oil storage tanks instead of export pipelines

Oil expert Hamza al-Jawahiri said on Tuesday that Iraq needs to reconsider its oil export strategy by moving towards building oil storage facilities in consuming countries with a capacity of up to one billion barrels, instead of relying on extending export pipelines through neighboring countries.

Al-Jawahiri explained in an interview with Shafaq News Agency that “the oil pipeline option, despite its importance, faces significant political and security risks, most notably that Iraq as a country is still in a relatively weak position, which makes the pipelines vulnerable to seizure or shutdown in the event of political disputes with the countries through whose territories they pass,” citing “the possibility of projects such as the export pipeline through Saudi Arabia being exposed to such risks.”

He pointed out that “the investment cost of establishing export pipelines is extremely high, as it may reach about $27 billion, in addition to the high costs of continuous maintenance and operation, as well as the fees imposed by the countries hosting the pipeline routes, which may be very expensive in the long term.”

The oil expert pointed out that “some countries were demanding high fees for the passage of oil through their territories,” explaining that “Jordan, for example, was supposed to receive up to $10 for every barrel exported through Jordanian territory under previous proposed projects.”

Al-Jawahiri explained that “the option of establishing strategic storage facilities in consuming countries may give Iraq greater flexibility in exporting, reduce the risks of political or logistical disruptions, and enhance Iraq’s ability to manage its oil flows more stably in global markets.”

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Al-Khanjar: Nechirvan Barzani’s visit to Baghdad will have a positive impact on the political scene.

On Tuesday, Khamis al-Khanjar, leader of the Sovereignty Alliance, announced that an understanding had been reached with Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani and Progress Party leader Mohammed al-Halbousi to end the disputes and open a new phase of political cooperation.

Al-Khanjar said in a statement, which was received by Shafaq News Agency, “I extend my sincere thanks to the two brothers, President of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, and the head of the Progress Party, Mohammed al-Halbousi, for responding to our initiative to end the disputes, turn the page on the past, and move towards a new stage of cooperation, with a friendly and frank meeting, in a step that strengthens the brotherhood between us, supports national unity, and contributes to addressing all political problems and accelerating the formation of the new Iraqi government.”

He added: “We believe that what was achieved from the visit of the President of the Region, Nechirvan Barzani, to Baghdad yesterday will have a positive impact on the overall political landscape in Iraq.”

He continued: “Out of our national responsibility, we affirm that the next stage will witness positive steps that will open up broader horizons for cooperation between the various political forces, which will reflect positively on our people in the Kurdistan Region and in all our governorates, and will strengthen the path of stability and national unity.”

The Sunni National Political Council praised, on Monday evening, the balanced role of Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani in bringing the political blocs closer together.

This comes as part of a series of meetings that the President of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, is holding in the capital, Baghdad, with political leaders.

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Nechirvan Barzani: Baghdad is our “strategic depth” and our problems should be resolved there.

On Tuesday, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani expressed optimism about the possibility of resolving the outstanding disputes and issues between Erbil and Baghdad, while revealing the reason for his failure to meet with Iraqi President Nizar Amidi during his visit to Baghdad.

This came in a press conference he held after meeting with the head of the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council, Faiq Zaidan, in the capital, Baghdad.

President Nechirvan Barzani said during the press conference, which was attended by a correspondent from Shafaq News Agency, “In truth, there is a problem between the two main parties in the Kurdistan Region (the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan) that prevented the President of the Republic from meeting,” stressing that “we Kurds must find a framework to solve the problems between us, and this is what we are working on in the political council formed by the Presidency of the Region.”

He added, “We have the utmost respect and full appreciation for the President of the Republic, who is one of our Kurds, and we may not visit him during this tour, but in the future there will be a meeting between us after the existing problem between the two parties is resolved.”

Regarding addressing the disputes between Erbil and Baghdad, the President of the Kurdistan Region said, “We have seen a broad response from the Iraqi political parties in this regard. As a result, we live in Iraq, and all our problems should be resolved in Baghdad.” He added, “Baghdad is our capital, and it is our strategic depth. What we were unable to resolve in previous disputes must now be resolved here.”

For its part, the Presidency of the Region announced in a statement that President Nechirvan Barzani discussed during his meeting with Judge Zaidan the political and general situation in the country, where both sides stressed that the independence of the judiciary is a fundamental pillar for preserving the powers and institutions of the country, stability, and the constitutional rights and entitlements of all.

President Nechirvan Barzani highly valued the role of the head of the judiciary in preserving political stability and the country’s higher and national interests, and thanked him for his important role in resolving problems and creating understanding between the parties.

Both sides stressed the importance of the rule of law and working within the framework of the constitution as the only way to solve the country’s problems and preserve the legal rights and entitlements of all components and the federal and constitutional entity of the Kurdistan Region.

The meeting also focused on continuing and strengthening cooperation and coordination between federal judicial bodies and institutions and those in the Kurdistan Region, according to the statement.

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The Federal Court registers the first lawsuit challenging the validity of Al-Zaidi’s appointment

On Tuesday, the Federal Supreme Court registered the first lawsuit challenging the validity of the nomination of Prime Minister candidate Ali al-Zidi, filed by former MP Raed al-Maliki in his capacity as “a citizen and independent politician”.

Al-Maliki said in a video he made today in front of the court headquarters that the lawsuit is based on four reasons: “The lack of some conditions for candidacy,” “The existence of a constitutional and legal impediment related to a conflict of interest,” “A flaw in the nomination procedures by not submitting the candidate from a parliamentary bloc but from a political alliance and with the signature of political leaders,” and “The nomination not being based on the will of the voter leads to abstention from the elections and opens the door to foreign interference, which has actually happened.”

He added that “the seriousness of the position of Prime Minister requires that it be managed with the mindset of a statesman who has practiced political and administrative work, and not with the mindset of a merchant,” stressing that “the constitution stipulated political experience, not relationships.”

It is noted that on Monday, April 27, 2026, the President of the Republic of Iraq, Nizar Amidi, tasked businessman Ali al-Zaidi with forming the new Iraqi government, after al-Zaidi was nominated by the Coordination Framework, succeeding Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.

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