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

Iraqi oil holds above $110

Iraqi oil prices witnessed a decline in sales rates on Thursday, coinciding with the mixed performance of global energy markets. Basra crude maintained higher price levels compared to some Gulf crudes.

Market data monitored by the Information Agency indicated that “Basra Heavy crude recorded a decrease of 0.50%, reaching $111.94 per barrel, while Basra Medium crude declined by 0.49% to $114.04 per barrel.”

The data further clarified that “Basra crude prices remained higher than their regional counterparts, with Saudi Light crude recording $109.04 per barrel, Qatari Shaheen crude at $97.63, Kuwaiti crude at $93.64, and Emirati Murban at $103.12.”
This price variation comes at a time when global oil trading is experiencing instability due to current economic and geopolitical variables.

Almaalomah.me

AFP: Washington is using Iraqi oil revenues to pressure Baghdad

A report by Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Thursday confirmed that the United States is using Iraqi oil revenues to pressure Baghdad.

The report, translated by the Information Agency, stated that “the Trump administration has blocked a cash shipment of nearly $500 million to Iraq in an attempt to pressure Baghdad to dismantle powerful resistance factions. Analysts say this blockade threatens to further destabilize Iraq’s already fragile economy.”

Official sources told the Wall Street Journal that this is the second such shipment to be delayed since the start of the US-Israeli war against Iran in late February. These measures follow a series of attacks on US facilities in Iraq and neighboring countries, carried out by resistance axis factions to demonstrate their solidarity with Tehran since the beginning of the war.

Philippe Tourl, international affairs editor at AFP, said the attacks were widespread, with nearly a thousand drone strikes targeting Saudi Arabia, as well as Kuwait, Bahrain, and even the US embassy in Baghdad, which was evacuated several times.

The report explained that “Iraq’s oil revenues, estimated at billions of dollars annually, have been held at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for the past twenty years.” Adel Bakawan, director of the European Institute for Middle East and North Africa Studies, stated that “since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the country has lost control over its economy and finances.”

Bakawan further explained that “if these funds were to go directly to Iraq, i.e., to the Central Bank of Iraq, every company and every country that won a lawsuit against Iraq would have the right to claim them.” Since then, the Federal Reserve has sent up to $13 billion annually in cash to Iraq to enable Baghdad to pay the salaries of its six million government employees and to run the country.

The Central Bank of Iraq, which has not yet commented specifically on the reports, announced that it is not experiencing a shortage of US dollars and that it “has fulfilled all requests from banks and exchange companies for US dollars allocated for pilgrims, travelers, and foreign transfers.”

Bakawan emphasized that “the only available currency is oil revenues.” “Oil revenues are deposited into an account at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. If the funds don’t arrive, salaries won’t be paid, and the Iraqi government will have nothing.”

Almaalomah.me

The Iraqi parliament’s legislative session has been extended for an additional month (update).

MP Ibtisam Al-Hilali, from the State of Law bloc, revealed on Thursday that there is an agreement between the Speaker of Parliament and the heads of political blocs to extend the current legislative session for an additional month.

Al-Hilali told Shafaq News Agency that “there is an agreement between the Speaker of Parliament and the heads of the political blocs to extend the current legislative session for another month, after the first legislative session was scheduled to end during these days, and to continue until the end of next month.”

She added that “the decision to extend comes in order to form the next government, which will follow the appointment of the candidate of the Coordination Framework, and in accordance with Article 76 of the Constitution, which stipulates that the person tasked with forming the government shall present his ministerial formation to the House of Representatives within a period of 30 days.”

Al-Hilali pointed out that “there are many laws in the corridors of parliamentary committees, which need to be read and discussed in preparation for their approval during the upcoming sessions.”

According to the Iraqi constitutional system, the House of Representatives holds two legislative sessions annually, interspersed with two legislative recesses. Sometimes, the parliament’s leadership resorts to extending the legislative session or holding extraordinary sessions to address urgent political and legislative issues, especially during the stages of forming governments or passing postponed laws.

The House of Representatives later announced the extension of its legislative session for 30 days, according to a statement issued by the House’s media department.

Shafaq.com