Two oil tankers carrying 4 million barrels of Iraqi crude have crossed the Strait of Hormuz.

Two oil tankers carrying Iraqi crude oil have left the Strait of Hormuz, in a development that strengthens hopes for the stability of oil exports from Iraq, after the strait remained closed to commercial ships for a long time. According to maritime navigation data, two Chinese oil tankers carrying about 4 million barrels of Iraqi crude oil crossed the strait at dawn on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, making them among the few ships that have been able to cross it recently.

Iraq is among the countries most affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, as it relies heavily on this vital waterway for most of its oil exports, especially Basra crude exports to Asian markets, specifically China.

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An American perspective: Baghdad is an “Iranian province,” and its separation is a priority before the zero hour.

David Des Roches, a former Pentagon official and associate professor at the Near East and South Asia Center for Security Studies, confirmed that the United States views “Iraq’s sovereignty” as the most important objective in the next phase, warning against the country becoming a “state subservient to Iran,” while predicting a resumption of the “American-Israeli” military conflict against Tehran over the Strait of Hormuz.

Iraq First

Des Roches said in an exclusive interview with Shafaq News Agency that “Washington’s biggest concern is the possibility of Iraq becoming subservient to Iran, while Iraq’s independence and true sovereignty serve both American and Iraqi interests.”

He added that President Donald Trump is dealing pragmatically with regional issues, explaining that lifting sanctions on previously listed figures reflects Trump’s conviction that economic development serves American interests, and that Washington wants to see Baghdad succeed.

Regarding the relationship between Baghdad and Tehran, Des Roches described the required balance as a “real challenge,” noting that some armed factions within Iraq “take their orders from Iran,” which hinders the ability of Iraqis to pursue their national interests.

He continued: “Iraq must have its own electricity and should not remain dependent on importing electricity from Iran,” noting that Tehran uses the energy file “as a tool to obtain hard currency and maintain its influence.”

The former Pentagon official asserted that “Iran is treating Iraq as an Arab province under its control with a seat at the United Nations,” adding that “the Iraqi nation is strong, and its destiny is greatness, not subservience.”

Mosaic defense

In assessing the military escalation in the Gulf, the former US official said that Iran has shown, by targeting shipping and infrastructure in the Gulf states and Iraq, that it “does not view its neighbors as sovereign states but as its own sphere of influence.”

He added that Tehran is adopting what is called “distributed mosaic defense,” by giving advance instructions to missile and drone units before the outbreak of war, reflecting a readiness to strike countries in the region even if they do not participate directly in the fighting.

Des Roches argued that the Gulf states refused to allow the United States to use their air bases against Iran because they wanted to stay out of the conflict, but Iran decided to consider them enemies anyway.

Israel and Lebanon

Regarding the relationship between Washington and Tel Aviv, he explained that “Israel does not wait for an American green light when it sees a threat to its national security,” noting that the two sides agree militarily on “weakening Iranian offensive capabilities,” but they differ politically on the future of Iran after the war.

He added: “The United States does not want to impose a new regime in Iran, but wants the Iranian people to decide that, while Israel seeks to ensure that Iran does not become a future threat again.”

Regarding Lebanon, he considered the main problem to be Hezbollah, saying that the party “has turned itself into a state within a state” and weakened Lebanese governing institutions.

He added that the Lebanese government has begun to approach the stage of “extending sovereignty” through steps such as limiting the influence of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and stopping the flow of weapons to Hezbollah, but he ruled out a “rapid radical change” on the ground.

Strait of Hormuz

Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Des Roches predicted that the United States would resume military operations against Iran if the latter continued to disrupt international navigation.

According to the former Pentagon official, Trump does not want to return to war because of the economy and the elections, but he may find himself forced to do so “if Iran continues to use the Strait as a bargaining chip.”

According to his reading, the “Freedom Project” launched by Washington in the Gulf also aims to push European and Asian allies, especially China, Japan and South Korea, to become more involved in protecting international shipping lanes.

Des Roches concluded by saying that China is more dependent on the Strait of Hormuz than the United States, and that any precedent allowing Iran to impose tariffs or restrictions on navigation “represents a direct threat to the Chinese economy and global trade.”

Shafaq.com

MP: Al-Zidi’s government faces a difficult test in implementing its political and economic program

MP Ghaleb Muhammad Ali confirmed today, Monday, that Ali Al-Zidi’s government is facing major challenges in imposing its political and economic program in light of internal pressures and external interventions that affect the course of government decision-making.

Ali told Al-Maalomah News Agency that “the current government is facing a real test regarding its ability to implement its political and economic promises, especially in the files related to financial reform, improving the service situation, and addressing the accumulated crises.”

He added that “political pressures and disagreements between the forces participating in the government may hinder the implementation of many items in the government program, in addition to the existence of economic challenges that require bold decisions and solutions far removed from narrow partisan interests.”

He pointed out that “the success of the Al-Zidi government depends on its ability to impose the prestige of the state and take practical steps to address corruption, activate the productive sectors and reduce dependence on oil,” stressing that “the current stage requires a real political consensus that guarantees the stability of the country and supports the implementation of the required reforms.”

It is worth noting that the Iraqi public is awaiting tangible results on the ground, particularly in economic and service-related matters, after years of crises and political infighting.

Almaalomah.me

A member of the Democratic Party: Holding new elections in the region is the most likely option to resolve the Kurdistan issue.

On Monday, Mahdi Abdul Karim, a member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, explained the reasons behind the delay in forming the regional government, despite the fact that about a year and a half has passed since the parliamentary elections were held in the region.

Abdul Karim told Al-Maalomah that “the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan linked the formation of the regional government to the formation of the federal government in Baghdad and the resolution of the presidency,” which “contributed to complicating the political scene within Kurdistan and pushing it towards a near-deadlock.”

He added that “political dialogues between the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union have been stalled for months, and there are currently no new negotiating tracks or indications of any intention to reach political understandings between the Kurdish parties.”

Abdul Karim pointed out that “the only option currently on the table to get out of the crisis is to hold new elections, which seems to be the most likely to be implemented in the next phase after the negotiations reached a dead end.”

The Kurdistan Region parliamentary elections were held on October 20, 2024, after being postponed four times due to political disputes. The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) won more than 40 seats, followed by the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) with more than 20 seats, and the New Generation Movement with approximately 17 seats. However, disagreements over the distribution of positions and entitlements have prevented the formation of a government to date.

Almaalomah.me

Government advisor: Iraq’s natural resources are estimated at $16 trillion

The financial advisor to the Prime Minister, Mazhar Muhammad Saleh, stressed the importance of activating sovereign wealth funds as a strategic tool to revive and diversify the national economy, in conjunction with Iraq’s continued reliance on oil revenues as a primary source of funding for the general budget, and in light of the ongoing fluctuations in oil prices and the financial challenges facing the country.

Saleh said in a press statement followed by Al-Furat News that the government program that was recently approved by the House of Representatives indicated the importance of sovereign wealth funds and working to establish a generation fund by investing available unexploited national assets, indicating that estimates indicate that the next stage will be an appropriate opportunity to launch or expand the work of sovereign wealth and investment funds, benefiting from the reinvestment of natural resources that Iraq abounds in, as it is one of the richest countries in the world in natural resources and occupies the ninth international ranking in natural resources, whose current market value is estimated at more than 16 trillion US dollars, which allows for the conversion of the returns on investing these resources into financial surpluses and sustainable revenues during the coming years, within the strong economic policy adopted by the current government.

He added that the sovereign wealth fund is not just a “savings account,” but rather an investment institution that aims to invest a portion of the state’s revenues in productive projects, both domestic and foreign, that generate long-term returns and provide protection for the national economy from future crises and global financial fluctuations. He pointed out that the Iraqi economy still depends almost entirely on oil, and oil revenues constitute the largest share of the general budget, making the country vulnerable to any sharp decline in global prices or geopolitical crises affecting the energy market.

He pointed to the growing importance of sovereign wealth funds in financing vital sectors such as industry, agriculture, renewable energy, infrastructure, transportation and logistics, in addition to technology and communications, as well as supporting the private sector and creating new job opportunities, especially with the growing youth workforce within what is known as the “demographic dividend,” where young people are expected to constitute about 60% of Iraq’s population in the next few years.

He added that the experiences of the Gulf countries, especially Saudi Arabia and the UAE, as well as Norway, can be cited, which, through their sovereign wealth funds, have been able to transform oil surpluses into huge global investments that generate sustainable profits for future generations. He pointed out that Gulf investment funds are among the most prominent regional models that have expanded their investments within their countries and abroad, and have contributed to supporting economic diversification plans and reducing dependence on oil.

Saleh explained that Iraq has moved in recent years to establish the beginnings of development and investment funds aimed at attracting foreign capital and stimulating major projects, in an attempt to create a more stable economic environment. The government has also adopted a policy of providing sovereign guarantees to support private sector projects and investment, a step that may pave the way for expanding the role of investment funds in the future.

He stressed that the success of any sovereign wealth fund in Iraq remains contingent on the existence of an independent management with the highest levels of governance and transparency, because the absence of sound oversight may turn these funds into tools for short-term government spending, instead of being investment institutions that achieve long-term strategic returns.

He explained that improving the investment environment, banking reform, and developing economic legislation are key factors to ensure the success of the Iraqi experience, especially in light of the move towards establishing the “Generations Fund” which was included in the government program and was recently approved by the House of Representatives, in addition to the local market’s need for productive projects capable of driving the economy and reducing dependence on imports.

Saleh concluded by noting that, in light of global economic shifts and the challenges related to energy markets and trade routes, Iraq has a real opportunity to transform its future oil surpluses into a sustainable economic base if they are invested according to a long-term vision focused on development and production. He stressed that the country’s success in building a sovereign wealth fund that is transparent and independent could constitute a pivotal turning point in the Iraqi economy, and open the door to a new phase based on diversifying sources of income and enhancing financial stability for future generations.

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Parliament is moving to avoid a “paralysis” scenario and aims to finalize the oil, gas, and telecommunications laws.

MP Hussein Ali announced on Monday a serious parliamentary determination to avoid a repeat of the scenario that disrupted parliamentary sessions in the previous session. He emphasized that the House of Representatives has successfully completed the reading and passage of 16 laws so far, focusing on strategic legislation related to oil and communications.

Ali told Al-Maalouma, “The House of Representatives is working intensively to activate its legislative role and avoid the obstacles and political gridlock that led to the disruption of sessions in the past.” He explained that “Parliament is moving steadily to compensate for previous delays.”
He added that “the House has so far managed to complete the reading and proceed with the legal procedures for 16 diverse laws affecting various sectors,” noting that “parliamentary focus is currently on resolving contentious laws that have been stalled for years.”
Ali continued, “There is a concerted parliamentary effort to pass the postponed oil and gas law, the communications and information technology law, as well as a package of other laws that are of paramount importance in regulating the country’s economic resources and infrastructure.”

Almaalomah.me

Determination: Parliamentary consensus to dismiss Halbousi from the presidency of Parliament

Mohammed Dhari al-Dulaimi, a leader in the “Azm” Alliance, revealed on Monday that there is a broad parliamentary movement to collect signatures from a number of MPs from various blocs, with the aim of withdrawing confidence from Speaker of Parliament Haibat al-Halbousi and removing him from his position.

Al-Dulaimi told Al-Maalomah that “there is an agreement among MPs from the Sunni, Shia, and Kurdish components to proceed with the procedures for removing the Speaker of Parliament, due to what he described as violations in the management of the sessions to grant confidence to the government and the mechanism for voting on the cabinet.”
He added that “the management of the sessions witnessed, in his words, “quabbles and attempts to exclude some candidates,” indicating that this led to tensions within the parliament.”
Al-Dulaimi accused the Speaker of Parliament of “unilaterally making decisions,” stressing that there are “attempts to use Parliament to serve a specific political party, namely the Taqaddum Alliance.”

Almaalomah.me

Al-Khalidi reveals a “powerful alliance” led by Al-Maliki and a parallel movement to Al-Sudani that includes 100 MPs.

Member of the Coordination Framework, Mohammed al-Khalidi, revealed today, Monday, an intense political movement to form new alliances within the Council of Representatives. He pointed to the inclination of some forces towards the opposition front led by the head of the State of Law Coalition, Nouri al-Maliki, countered by a parallel movement by the head of the Reconstruction and Development Coalition, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, to form a major parliamentary bloc.

Al-Khalidi told Al-Maalouma, “There is a real and serious inclination by some political forces towards the option of parliamentary opposition under the umbrella of a new alliance being arranged under the name ‘The Alliance of the Strong.’” He explained that “this alliance will be headed by the leader of the State of Law Coalition, Nouri al-Maliki, and will adopt political opposition as its approach within the parliament.”
He added that “these movements are met on the other side by parallel efforts and activity led by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani,” noting that “al-Sudani’s movement aims to form a broad and supportive political alliance that includes more than 100 members of parliament to ensure political and executive stability.”
Regarding the recent withdrawals, Al-Khalidi affirmed that “the political blocs that withdrew from the coalition recently will not affect its weight, influence, or decision-making power within the parliament.”

Almaalomah.me

Al-Hamami: An important political formation headed by Al-Maliki will be announced soon.

Former MP Arif al-Hamami acknowledged on Monday that a significant political formation is emerging on the Iraqi scene, headed by Nouri al-Maliki, and may be announced in the near future.

Al-Hamami told Al-Maalouma that “the political landscape in Iraq needs adjustments to ensure its proper course in serving all components, far removed from the language of circumvention, manipulation, and attempts to disregard the entitlements of political forces and movements.”

He added that “a significant political formation is emerging in the near future, headed by al-Maliki,” noting that “al-Maliki is determined to proceed in protecting the political process.”

He explained that “the results of the vote on Ali al-Zaidi’s government revealed many truths,” emphasizing that “this necessitates a series of measures to ensure that the political process proceeds in an Iraqi manner, free from external agendas.”

He concluded by saying that “the coming period will be full of important decisions that will strengthen citizens’ confidence in the political process.”

Almaalomah.me

British report details al-Zaidi’s “impossible mission”

The rise of Ali al-Zaidi to the premiership in Iraq reflects more than just a routine transfer of power; it represents a profound shift in the political landscape. However, his success depends not only on his reform agenda, but also, according to the London-based Middle East Online website, on whether the fragmented political forces and their external supporters are willing to accept the new balance of power.

Under the headline “Al-Zaidi faces an impossible balancing act as Iraq’s power structure shifts,” Middle East Online reported in English, as translated by Shafaq News Agency, that the old balance between Iranian-backed factions, traditional Shiite alliances, and American influence appears to be constantly unstable, noting that Al-Zaidi is entering office without the strong political support that previous prime ministers usually enjoyed from factions linked to Iran.

According to the report, the session to grant confidence to al-Zidi revealed wide cracks within the coordinating framework that represents the Shiite parties that have dominated politics in recent years, pointing to disputes over ministerial portfolios, political influence and the collapse of aspects of existing understandings. It added that this turmoil revealed something deeper than the struggle over government seats, and highlighted the weakness of the unified Shiite consensus that traditionally shaped the formation of the government in Iraq after 2003.

The report continued that instead of the strong political support that previous prime ministers usually enjoyed from forces linked to Iran, al-Zaidi inherits a divided political environment that raises doubts about old formulas for power-sharing and challenges the dominance of entrenched political elites.

However, the report noted that the cracks within the Shiite political establishment are accompanied by broader regional shifts resulting from the American-Israeli war against Iran, adding that although Tehran’s influence within Iraq remains significant, many analysts believe that the conflict has weakened Iran’s regional influence and reduced the room for maneuver available to its Iraqi allies.

After the report noted Washington’s objection to Nouri al-Maliki’s nomination and the direct American pressure, then the Coordination Framework’s abandonment of his nomination, and the proposal of al-Zidi, who has no previous political experience, the report said that his personal profile helped him to appear as an acceptable compromise solution, as he does not have a long history of militia affiliations or ideological bias towards Tehran, and his background in finance and business allows him to present himself as a technocratic reformer who focuses on economic recovery rather than factional politics.

However, the report considered that al-Zaydi’s “relative neutrality” could also be his “weak point,” since without a strong faction behind him, there is a risk that he will become vulnerable to pressure from competing blocs, armed forces, and external actors vying for influence over the state.

Although the report referred to the “ambitious reform program” put forward by al-Zaydi, it said that translating these promises into reality would be difficult in a country where political paralysis, corruption networks, and militia influence remain deeply entrenched.

According to the report, the most sensitive issue facing the new government is likely to be the issue of weapons outside state control. It noted that al-Zaidi pledged to strengthen the state’s monopoly on weapons and reform the security apparatus, echoing the growing American demands to curb the influence of Iranian-backed armed groups, which are accused of launching hundreds of attacks on American facilities in Iraq and the region, to which Washington responded with strikes against armed groups, exacerbating tensions within Iraq.

The report continued that this issue revealed deep divisions among political forces, as while some factions indicated their willingness to accept the idea of ​​integrating fighters into official state structures, other factions rejected any discussion about disarmament in light of what they describe as American coercion.

In addition, the report addressed the increasing pressures facing Iraq, including due to the disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, which are affecting the state budget.

The report noted that, according to analysts, al-Zaydi may seek to weaken militia networks through economic measures, including restricting state-funded salaries for thousands of fighters, but any such move would raise significant political and security risks.

On the regional level, the report says that al-Zaidi’s government must work to repair strained relations with the Gulf states, which are angry about attacks carried out by Iranian-linked factions during the war.

Middle East Online concluded that al-Zaidi’s repeated emphasis on building a “balanced country, regionally and internationally” reflects the difficult balancing act currently facing Baghdad, adding that Iraq remains caught between two competing powers, Iran and the United States, while its internal political system is becoming increasingly divided. It added that the old post-2003 political system, based on relatively stable alliances and strong factional discipline, appears to be weakening under the weight of regional conflict, economic crisis, and internal division.

The report concluded by saying that al-Zaydi currently represents a consensus candidate trying to navigate a dangerous transitional phase, but his success may depend not only on his reform agenda, but also on whether the fragmented Iraqi political forces, and their supporters abroad, are willing to accept the new balance of power.

Shafaq.com