The Commander-in-Chief’s office denies any changes to security and military leadership; the Ministry of Defense warns those spreading rumors.

The spokesman for the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Sabah al-Nu’man, refuted on Friday what has been circulating recently on social media pages regarding news about changes in the senior leadership positions of the military and security institutions in the country.

Al-Nu’man confirmed in a statement that all rumors about dismissing, appointing, or rotating these positions are “completely untrue and have no basis in reality, as the current leaders continue to perform their national duties and responsibilities with full efficiency and competence in accordance with the approved strategic plans to maintain security and stability.”

He urged all media outlets and social media users to be accurate and cautious, and to rely only on official sources for information, calling for them not to be misled by fake accounts and news from unknown sources.

In the same context, the Ministry of Defense issued a statement confirming its legal right to take the necessary measures against anyone who deliberately publishes or promotes “false news and rumors” targeting the military establishment, its leaders and members.

Over the past few days, social media in Iraq has been circulating news claiming that extensive military and security changes will be made in the country.

Shafaq.com

“Iraq 2035”: A government plan to raise non-oil revenues to 46%

On Friday, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, the Prime Minister’s economic advisor, confirmed that the government program has laid its strategic foundations in the field of financial and economic diversification, with the aim of achieving Iraq’s sustainable development goals.

Saleh told Shafaq News Agency that “the program will be implemented by building an integrated relationship between developing the structure of non-oil revenues within the framework of public finance for the coming years, and diversifying the non-oil GDP.”

He added that “this ambitious time vision, which was named (Iraq 2035), and whose foundations and principles were laid by the Prime Minister on May 23, 2026, combines public finance reform and the activation of the social market economy, in order to ensure a gradual structural transformation in the structure of the national economy.”

He pointed out that “implementing this vision requires restructuring fiscal policy to raise the contribution of non-oil revenues to the annual general budget to no less than 46% of total public revenues, which enhances financial sustainability and reduces fluctuations resulting from excessive reliance on oil revenues.”

Saleh continued, saying that “the parallel goal is to enable the market and the private sector to raise their contribution to the gross domestic product to 53% by 2035, compared to the current percentage which does not exceed 37%, which reflects a clear trend towards making the private sector a key partner in the economic development process, through the actual implementation of the national strategy for developing the private sector and what it includes in terms of institutional and regulatory reforms.”

He explained that “the Market Development Council will play a pivotal role in regulating market institutions in accordance with the principles of good governance, creating an attractive investment environment capable of providing financial and strategic leverage for private sector-led development projects in the areas of manufacturing, agriculture, logistics and the digital economy.”

Saleh concluded his remarks by emphasizing that “this approach represents a complementary framework for diversification between the financial and real sectors, leading to abandoning the rentier nature of the Iraqi economy and establishing a development model based on productivity, competitiveness, and a balanced partnership between the state and the market, ultimately leading to a more diversified and sustainable economy by 2035.”

Earlier last week, a report issued by the International Monetary Fund showed that Iraq will be among the economies most affected by regional turmoil during 2026, with clear repercussions on inflation rates, external accounts and public finances.

Iraq faces increasing financial challenges as a result of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the war, as it is the main passage for its oil exports, at a time when the Iraqi economy is heavily dependent on oil revenues as a primary source of public revenues and budget financing.

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Al-Fahdawi: Any new security formation requires a constitutional amendment.

The leader in the Azm Alliance, Muhammad al-Dhari al-Fahdawi, revealed today, Wednesday, that adding any security formation to Ali al-Zaidi’s government requires a constitutional amendment, and no political or external entity has the right to violate the prevailing laws in the mechanism for adding a new security institution.

Al-Fahdawi told Al-Maalouma News Agency, “Dissolving or merging the Popular Mobilization Forces or adding a new security formation to Al-Zaidi’s government requires a constitutional amendment, and it is not within Al-Zaidi’s government’s authority to abolish any security institution or merge it with another, since all of them were formed by law in accordance with the Iraqi constitution.”

He added that “dissolving or integrating the Popular Mobilization Forces is a violation of the Iraqi constitution,” explaining that “the American demand to dissolve or integrate the Popular Mobilization Forces is unconstitutional and cannot be passed by any political entity.”

Almaalomah.me

Starting tomorrow, Al-Zaydi directs the resumption of operations by oil companies in Kurdistan.

Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi directed on Wednesday that oil companies in Kurdistan resume their work starting Thursday, during his reception of a high-level delegation from Kurdistan.

The Prime Minister’s Media Office stated in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency that Al-Zaidi received today a delegation from the Kurdistan Regional Government headed by the Minister of Natural Resources, Kamal Muhammad Salih, accompanied by representatives of a number of international oil companies operating in the region, in the presence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Oil, and the Chief of Staff of the Army.

The statement added that the Prime Minister listened to a detailed explanation of the working conditions of the oil companies, in light of the recent events resulting from the war that the region witnessed, as well as presenting a comprehensive vision regarding the resumption of those companies’ work as quickly as possible.

According to the statement, Al-Zaydi directed that all requirements be provided to secure the work of oil companies operating in the region, noting that the damage inflicted on Iraq as a result of the cessation of oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz was significant, requiring a doubling of efforts to compensate for that damage by addressing the problems that hinder increased production.

Information received by Shafaq News Agency earlier on Wednesday indicated that a high-level delegation from the Kurdistan Regional Government is scheduled to travel to Baghdad on Wednesday to hold talks regarding the resumption of the region’s oil exports.

According to information obtained by Shafaq News Agency, the Kurdish delegation consists of: Kamal Mohammed, Minister of Natural Resources; Omid Sabah, Chief of Staff of the Council of Ministers; and Amanj Rahim, Secretary of the Council of Ministers. The delegation will hold serious talks regarding the resumption of Kurdistan’s oil exports, and the issue of increasing export volumes will also be discussed.

The information confirms that if the Kurdistan Region’s oil exports resume, this will have a direct impact on the salaries of the region’s citizens, and therefore Baghdad will be obligated to send the salaries on their scheduled date.

Kurdistan Region’s oil exports have fallen from 200,000 barrels to 20,000 barrels due to attacks by Iraqi factions and Iranian forces, which have forced companies to halt their operations.

The head of the office of the Council of Ministers of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Omid Sabah, announced on May 24 that, following the end of the Eid al-Adha holiday, a high-level official delegation from the Ministry of Natural Resources in the Kurdistan Region, accompanied by representatives of foreign oil companies, is scheduled to visit the capital, Baghdad, to conduct detailed discussions aimed at reaching a final formula that guarantees the resumption of the region’s oil exports as soon as possible.

He noted that foreign oil companies operating in the region had demanded official guarantees from the Iraqi government following recent security tensions and attacks on oil fields, indicating that Prime Minister Ali al-Zubaidi had personally pledged to provide these guarantees to protect the fields and companies.

Shafaq.com

Washington tells Tehran: The Strait of Hormuz will not be reopened until the location of the “uranium” is determined.

The Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom reported on Wednesday that America informed the Iranian authorities that it would not open the Strait of Hormuz until Iran handed over its enriched uranium sites.

The newspaper said that “Washington informed Tehran that it will not open the Strait of Hormuz or lift sanctions before knowing the location of the enriched uranium.”

She added that “Washington demanded that Tehran clarify the location of its enriched uranium stockpile before announcing the agreement.”

US President Donald Trump had confirmed earlier on Wednesday that Iran had agreed not to possess a nuclear weapon, noting that developments related to the Iranian file were proceeding at a rapid pace.

Trump expressed his belief that the situation “will be very good” in the coming period, indicating that Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is involved in the ongoing talks between the two sides.

He indicated the possibility of holding a meeting with him at a later stage, while expecting that gasoline prices would decrease after the end of the current war.

Shafaq.com

Al-Lami suggests that new names will be submitted for the vacant ministerial portfolios.

ndependent politician Sheikh Haider al-Lami, close to Nouri al-Maliki, head of the State of Law Coalition, confirmed that finalizing the cabinet is not a difficult matter. He suggested that new figures will be nominated for ministerial positions in al-Zaidi’s cabinet, in addition to those rejected in the government’s approval vote.

Al-Lami told Al-Maalouma, “Completing the cabinet and filling the remaining ministerial posts in Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s cabinet is not difficult; it will be achieved through agreement and understanding among the political blocs.”

He added, “The cabinet will be finalized through an agreement among the blocs on specific individuals for the vacant ministerial positions, and matters may be settled and the cabinet completed before the 15th of this month through an agreement among the political blocs participating in the government.”

He explained that “the matter will not end with the candidates whose appointments to the cabinet were rejected. Other figures will be selected and presented to the House of Representatives for a vote, especially since the political blocs have capable individuals who can manage the ministries. It is likely that they will nominate other candidates for ministerial portfolios. Therefore, if Parliament rejects some candidates, the blocs will simply put forward others.”

Almaalomah.me

State of law: The vote on the vacant ministerial posts may be decided at this time.

The State of Law Coalition revealed on Wednesday that the forces within the Coordination Framework have agreed to hold an extraordinary meeting in the near future to finalize the cabinet formation, suggesting that the vote on the remaining ministerial posts will take place at the beginning of July.

Coalitionleader Jassim Mohammed Jaafar told Al-Maalomah News Agency that “the meeting of the Coordination Framework leaders, held at the home of Victory Coalition leader Haider al-Abadi, was lengthy and addressed several issues.” He noted that “resolving the disagreements regarding the distribution of the remaining portfolios necessitates this anticipated extraordinary meeting.”

Jaafar added that “those present agreed on the need to address these vacancies as quickly as possible,” indicating that “the matter will be resolved and voted on in Parliament at the beginning of July, coinciding with the end of the first legislative session of the Council of Representatives.”

Almaalomah.me

“Al-Maalomah” reveals the files of Trump’s envoy to Iraq

Revealed on Wednesday that President Trump’s envoy, Tom Barrack, will discuss with Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi the corruption files of officials in previous governments, carrying the names of those involved in stealing Iraqi funds between 2003 and 2026, most notably former Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.

Haider told the Information Agency, “The information we received from the American decision-making source indicates that President Trump’s envoy, Tom Barrack, carried a file containing the names of 1,000 political figures from Shia, Sunni, Kurdish, Christian, and Yazidi parties involved in stealing huge sums of money from the state budget, with former Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani at the top of the list.”

He added, “Barrack carries conclusive evidence to charge 1,000 figures who took turns running the country and amassed enormous wealth through illicit means, exploiting the critical conditions Iraq witnessed.”

Almaalomah.me

Al-Fayez: Finalizing the cabinet depends on political consensus.

The head of the Tasmeem parliamentary bloc, Amer al-Fayez, confirmed on Wednesday that discussions are ongoing among political forces to finalize the cabinet formation. He noted that the upcoming parliamentary recess could affect the holding of a vote on the cabinet. Al-Fayez told Al-Maalomah News Agency, “Discussions are still underway among political forces to reach final understandings regarding the completion of the cabinet and filling the vacant ministerial positions.”

He added, “Parliament will enter its legislative recess soon, and if an agreement is reached on the candidates and the cabinet is complete, the parliament’s leadership may call for an extraordinary session to vote on the nominees.”

He pointed out that “holding the extraordinary session remains contingent on securing a quorum, as difficulties may arise due to the recess and the busy schedules of some members of parliament.” He explained that “political forces are striving to resolve this issue as quickly as possible to ensure the completion of the government formation.”

Almaalomah.me

A high-level delegation from Kurdistan plans to visit Baghdad to discuss resuming the region’s oil exports.

A high-level delegation from the Kurdistan Regional Government is scheduled to travel to Baghdad on Wednesday for talks on resuming the region’s oil exports.

According to information obtained by Shafaq News Agency, the Kurdish delegation consists of: Kamal Mohammed, Minister of Natural Resources; Omid Sabah, Chief of Staff of the Council of Ministers; and Amanj Rahim, Secretary of the Council of Ministers. The delegation will hold serious talks regarding the resumption of Kurdistan’s oil exports, and the issue of increasing export volumes will also be discussed.

The information confirms that if the Kurdistan Region’s oil exports resume, this will have a direct impact on the salaries of the region’s citizens, and therefore Baghdad will be obligated to send the salaries on their scheduled date.

Kurdistan Region’s oil exports have fallen from 200,000 barrels to 20,000 barrels due to attacks by Iraqi factions and Iranian forces, which have forced companies to halt their operations.

The head of the office of the Council of Ministers of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Omid Sabah, announced on May 24 that, following the end of the Eid al-Adha holiday, a high-level official delegation from the Ministry of Natural Resources in the Kurdistan Region, accompanied by representatives of foreign oil companies, is scheduled to visit the capital, Baghdad, to conduct detailed discussions aimed at reaching a final formula that guarantees the resumption of the region’s oil exports as soon as possible.

He noted that foreign oil companies operating in the region had demanded official guarantees from the Iraqi government following recent security tensions and attacks on oil fields, indicating that Prime Minister Ali al-Zubaidi had personally pledged to provide these guarantees to protect the fields and companies.

Shafaq.com