Al-Abadi’s coalition reveals “three scenarios” for deciding on the framework candidate in tomorrow’s meeting

The spokesperson for the Victory Coalition, Salam al-Zubaidi, revealed on Tuesday details of a crucial meeting of the leaders of the Coordination Framework scheduled for Wednesday. He explained that the meeting will discuss three main scenarios for deciding on the nomination of the largest bloc’s candidate for prime minister.

Al-Zubaidi told Al-Maalomah News Agency, “The leaders of the Framework will hold their meeting tomorrow after it was postponed yesterday at the request of the head of the State of Law Coalition, Nouri al-Maliki.” He indicated that “the political table of the Framework’s leaders has three paths regarding deciding on the largest bloc’s candidate for the next prime minister. The first involves discussing and agreeing on Mohammed Shia al-Sudani or Haider al-Abadi as alternatives to al-Maliki.”

He added, “The second scenario involves choosing one of the six remaining candidates from the previously proposed list of nine. The third scenario involves a compromise candidate from outside the framework if the first two options are not agreed upon.” He described the latter option as “very weak at the present time,” explaining that “the forces within the Coordination Framework are still keen to ensure a unanimous vote on the next prime minister candidate to guarantee the unity of the largest bloc’s political stance.”
It is worth noting that the head of the Tasmeem Alliance, Amer al-Fayez, revealed in a press statement followed by Al-Maalouma last Sunday that the Coordination Framework intends to discuss the names of nine candidates for prime minister at its meeting tomorrow.

He indicated that“among the nominated names are the head of the State of Law Coalition, Nouri al-Maliki; the caretaker prime minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani; former prime minister, Haider al-Abadi; the head of the Accountability and Justice Commission, Basim al-Badri; the leader of the Asas Party, Mohsen al-Mandalawi; the head of the Intelligence Service, Hamid al-Shatri; the prime minister’s advisor, Mohammed Sahib al-Daraji; the former Minister of Planning, Ali Shukri; and the National Security Advisor, Qasim al-Araji.”

Almaalomah.me

A battle intensifies in Iraq following the election of Amidi, amid divisions.

Iraq ended months of political paralysis by electing Nizar Amadi as the sixth president of the republic since 2003, but this also revealed deep structural divisions that threaten to prolong instability, with attention now turning to the more controversial battle over the premiership, according to a reading by the British website Middle East Online.

The British report , translated by Shafaq News Agency, began by mentioning statements by Amidi, who received 227 votes in a second round of voting after his election, in which he acknowledged the magnitude of the upcoming challenges and pledged to work according to the principle of “Iraq First”.

However, the report noted that this breakthrough came in a disputed session marked by boycotts from major political forces, including the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the State of Law Coalition, which reflects the “fragility of the political consensus,” as the Kurdistan Democratic Party criticized the House of Representatives for violating procedures, questioning whether the session had met the required legal quorum of 220 legislators.

According to the report, the dispute is not only about procedural concerns, but also reflects a deeper Kurdish rivalry, noting that the disagreement between the two Kurdish parties weakens Kurdish unity and limits their influence in Baghdad.

The report continued that these divisions come at a critical moment, as Iraq is undergoing a transitional movement amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, and Iraqi armed factions allied with Iran have launched attacks on US-linked targets, which in turn have led to retaliatory strikes that have killed Iraqis.

The report noted that, in light of these volatile conditions, the focus is now shifting towards the formation of the government, which represents the true weight of power within the Iraqi system, recalling that the constitution requires the new president to task, within 15 days, the nominee of the largest parliamentary bloc with forming a government, a process that must be completed within 30 days.

Nevertheless, the report noted that the definition of the “largest bloc” remains disputed, while the coordinating framework, despite having a parliamentary majority, is internally divided over who to nominate.

He explained that although the Coordination Framework had previously supported former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, his nomination is facing local and international objections, including warnings from US President Donald Trump about possible consequences related to US support.

The report indicated that the crisis is exacerbated by the sectarian power-sharing system surrounding the presidency, the prime ministership, and the parliament, which creates overlapping levels of negotiation and veto power, while the Iraqi public is closely watching and betting with high expectations on a government capable of dealing with economic challenges, unemployment, and the failure of public services.

According to the British report, the danger lies in the continued division, especially within the Kurdish ranks and among the Shiite forces, which could prolong the stalemate that has left Iraq without a fully functioning government for about 150 days.

The report stated that Amidi’s election does not represent a new starting point, but rather a constitutional step that closes one chapter of the crisis and opens a more decisive and perhaps more volatile phase.

The report concluded by asking, “Whether Iraq moves toward a political consensus to produce a stable government, or slides back into prolonged paralysis, will depend on the ability of political actors to reconcile competing interests in a system increasingly strained by internal rivalries and external pressures.”

Shafaq.com

Exclusive: Syrian Central Bank announces joint “Financial Day” with Iraq and a planned visit to Baghdad

The Governor of the Central Bank of Syria, Abdul Qader Hasriya, revealed on Tuesday anticipated moves to enhance financial cooperation with Baghdad, confirming that there is ongoing communication with the Central Bank of Iraq to organize joint economic events aimed at deepening banking ties between the two countries.

In exclusive statements to a correspondent of Shafaq News Agency, the governor revealed plans to organize a “Syrian-Iraqi Financial Sector Day,” a joint event to be held under the official sponsorship of the Central Bank of Iraq and the Central Bank of Syria.

Istanbul meeting and a planned visit to Baghdad

The governor indicated that these steps come as a continuation of previous discussions, revealing a “very friendly” meeting he had with his Iraqi counterpart in Istanbul, Turkey, recently.

He added that the Syrian side is seriously looking forward to an upcoming official visit to the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, to develop this cooperation.

In the context of the strategic objectives of an exclusive visit to Washington to attend the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund, he explained that one of the most prominent issues that Damascus seeks to address is “Syria’s classification as a state sponsor of terrorism,” noting that this classification imposed by Washington dates back to 1979, and represents a major obstacle that the Syrian state seeks to remove in order to facilitate international financial transactions.

Shafaq.com

After the Chinese tanker crossed the Strait of Hormuz, a shipment from Iraq is expected to be loaded.

Shipping data on Tuesday showed that the sanctioned oil tanker “Morlickishan” entered the Strait of Hormuz and is expected to head to Iraq to load fuel oil on April 16, highlighting the continued flow of energy related to the region despite the restrictions.

The data indicates that the ship expected to operate in Iraq had previously participated in transporting Russian and Iranian oil, which reflects the complexity of supply networks in light of international sanctions and escalating geopolitical tensions.

Earlier today, Reuters reported that a Chinese oil tanker subject to US sanctions successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first such transit since the US imposed sanctions on shipping linked to Iran.

The Chinese oil tanker Rich Starry, which is also under sanctions, crossed the strait carrying about 250,000 barrels of methanol, after loading it at the Hamriyah port in the United Arab Emirates, despite it and its owner being on the US sanctions list for dealings related to Iran.

This comes at a time when global markets are watching any movements in the Arabian Gulf, where the Strait of Hormuz is a vital passage for oil exports, as these developments raise questions about the effectiveness of US restrictions and the possibility of continued supply flows, including those related to Iraq.

Shafaq.com

Minerals and “white gold” put Najaf on the investment map in Iraq

The Iraqi Geological Survey Authority confirmed on Tuesday that Najaf Governorate represents one of the most prominent areas for mining investment in Iraq, due to its strategic mineral wealth and high-quality silica sand (white gold).

Senior Geologist Haider Hadi Abdul Zahra, director of the Najaf office of the commission, told Shafaq News Agency that “the commission is working to promote mineral investment within an integrated industrial, geological and economic environment, given the importance of this sector in supporting the national economy and diversifying sources of income.”

He added that “the Authority seeks to develop and promote mineral investment in various regions of Iraq by developing the mining industry and making use of natural resources, while opening the door to investments in accordance with the amended Mineral Investment Law No. (91) of 1988, in a manner consistent with market requirements and contributing to the development of the industrial sector.”

He explained that “the Najaf office provides facilities for the work of the Authority in the covered governorates, through monitoring the field activities of mineral investment operations, providing scientific and technical expertise related to mineral wealth and ways to invest in it, as well as supporting the field teams with experts and technicians to complete mining projects.”

He pointed out that “Najaf Governorate possesses important mineral resources, most notably high-quality limestone deposits that are used in the manufacture of cement, marble substitutes and building materials, making it a key factor in supporting housing and urban development projects.”

He added that “the governorate also contains strategic reserves of pure quartz sand and sand suitable for casting used in the ceramics and industrial molds industries, as well as high-quality silica sand used in the manufacture of colored glass.”

He explained that “there are other types of sand used in filtration systems (water filters), in addition to the sand used in the manufacture of concrete bricks, clay bricks, and standard sand used in the manufacture of cement, as well as valley deposits that provide building sand, gravel, and aggregates used in construction work.”

He pointed out that “one of the most prominent indicators of the presence of strategic minerals in Najaf is the mineral strontium sulfate, which is used in advanced industries such as radar and television screens, which enhances the opportunities for advanced industrial investment in the governorate.”

He stressed that “the diversity of mineral reserves in Najaf provides promising investment opportunities in the mining sector, especially in the cement and silica sand industries, which contributes to supporting the national economy and promoting sustainable industrial development.”

Official reports and geological experts confirm that Iraq possesses huge reserves of high-purity silica sand, which is called “white gold” in economic circles, ranging between 350 million confirmed tons and expectations of up to one billion tons in the Anbar and Najaf deserts.

This resource is of paramount strategic importance as it is the primary raw material for the clean energy revolution and the manufacture of solar panels, electronic chips, and optical fibers.

With the purity of these sands reaching 99%, Iraq seeks to transform them from a raw material into advanced manufacturing industries, which could boost the general budget by billions of dollars and provide more than 10,000 job opportunities, coinciding with expectations that the global silica market will grow to reach $85.86 billion by 2033.

Shafaq.com

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