Following his injury and reports of his transfer to Russia, Iran says Khamenei is well and preparing for a new speech.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei confirmed on Tuesday that the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is in good health, indicating that he may deliver a new speech to the people soon.

“I can confirm that he is fine, and you have already heard about his speech, and we hope that he will deliver a new speech to the people soon,” Baqai said in media statements.

He added that “what is happening in the region is a war imposed on Iran by the United States and Israel,” stressing that “the Iranian people are determined to defend their country.”

This came after media reports claimed that Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was injured during the first attack that killed his father, and that he was flown to Russia last week on a military plane to receive treatment in Moscow.

For his part, the Iranian ambassador to Moscow, Kazem Jalali, confirmed that “the new Supreme Leader is not in Russia,” while denying reports about “Mojtaba Khamenei receiving treatment in Russia,” according to the TASS news agency.

The Israeli website i24News recently reported that a figure close to Khamenei spoke to the media and stated that he underwent successful surgery after being transferred to Moscow on a military plane last Thursday.

The website claimed that Mojtaba was injured in his legs during the attack that killed his father, and that the decision to transfer Mojtaba to Russia was made following a phone call between the Iranian president and his Russian counterpart.

On the other hand, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on reports that Mojtaba Khamenei had arrived in Moscow for treatment, amid statements by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that he was “injured” and possibly disfigured.

It is worth noting that Mojtaba has not appeared on television since his appointment as Supreme Leader following his father’s death, and his first statement was issued on the thirteenth day of the war.

Shafaq.com

Washington: Oil tankers have begun crossing the Strait of Hormuz, and the war could end within weeks.

The White House economic adviser said on Tuesday that oil tankers had begun crossing the Strait of Hormuz, noting a “simple start to a flow” of ships in the waterway.

He added, in statements carried by American media, that US President Donald Trump “will not back down until he completes the mission in Iran,” stressing that the war against Iran “does not harm our economy.”

He indicated that the war “will end within weeks, not months,” according to his statements.

Shafaq.com

Oil Minister: We are in contact with Iran to allow the passage of some Iraqi oil tankers.

Oil Minister Hayyan Abdul Ghani Al-Sawad confirmed on Tuesday that the Iraqi government is in contact with the Iranian side to allow Iraqi oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The Oil Minister stated in remarks that “there is communication with Iran regarding allowing some Iraqi oil tankers to pass through.”

Iraq was among the first producers in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to reduce their production after the outbreak of war, with production falling to about 1.2 million barrels per day from a previous 4.3 million barrels.

Burathanews.com

The Cabinet approves the Eid al-Fitr holiday starting from Wednesday until next Monday.

The Cabinet decided today, Tuesday, to suspend official working hours on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, starting from Wednesday, March 18, 2026, until next Monday, March 23, 2026. The Media Office of the Prime Minister stated in a statement that “the Cabinet decided to suspend official working hours on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, starting from Wednesday, March 18, 2026, until next Monday, March 23, 2026.”

He also added that “official working hours will resume on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.”

Burathanews.com

Parliamentary request to the Foreign Ministry to open a dialogue with Tehran regarding Iraqi tankers in the Strait of Hormuz

On Monday, MP Ali Saber Al-Kinani sent an official letter to Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, proposing the opening of a diplomatic dialogue with Iran regarding the crisis of Iraqi oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

According to the document, which was reviewed by Shafaq News Agency, Al-Kaabi called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work on opening channels of dialogue and diplomatic communication with Iran, to allow the passage of Iraqi oil tankers and ensure their safety without obstacles.

In his book, the MP pointed out that the current regional tensions and the resulting halt of some Iraqi oil tankers from crossing have greatly affected the economic situation in Iraq, stressing the need to take urgent measures to protect the country’s economic interests.

At the end of the letter, Al-Kaabi asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take the necessary measures in this regard and to inform the House of Representatives of the procedures taken to address the issue.

Concerns are mounting in Iraq about the economic repercussions of the ongoing regional conflict, especially given the threat of the closure of the vital Strait of Hormuz, which is the main outlet for Iraqi oil exports.

Iraq’s economy is heavily dependent on oil revenues, which represent about 90 to 95 percent of the general budget revenues. This crisis presents the Iraqi government with a financial challenge regarding its ability to continue funding operational expenses, primarily the salaries of employees and retirees, should the disruption of oil exports continue for an extended period.

Shafaq.com

Maliki’s coalition criticizes the delay in resolving constitutional entitlements and warns of its repercussions on citizens.

Zuhair al-Jalabi, a member of the State of Law Coalition, confirmed that the repercussions of the delay in forming the government and deciding on the presidencies are negatively affecting the people.

Al-Jalabi told Al-Maalomah, “The political parties in Iraq do not care about the delay in forming the government or deciding on the position of President of the Republic, whether it is delayed or decided quickly.”

He added that “the people are the ones harmed by the delay in resolving the constitutional requirements represented by choosing the president and forming the government,” noting that “Al-Sudani, despite being the head of the caretaker government, acted in the opposite manner.”

He noted that “there are question marks surrounding the large number of advisors employed by al-Sudani at a time when the country is suffering from various crises, most importantly the economic one,” adding that “al-Sudani has recently dismissed a number of these advisors after the government transitioned to a caretaker role.”

Almaalomah.me

Brent crude surpasses $106 a barrel amid market volatility

Global oil prices hit a new high in the latest trading, with Brent crude, the global benchmark, jumping 2.88% to $106.11 a barrel.

Economic reports monitored by Al-Maalomah Agency stated that “US West Texas Intermediate crude also rose by 2.54%, recording $101.22 per barrel, immediately after trading opened on the Chicago Stock Exchange.”

The reports added that “this noticeable rise was less severe than the sudden jumps seen in recent sessions, but it reflects the continued state of tension in global energy markets.”

It is worth noting that oil prices have risen sharply since the outbreak of recent international crises, with West Texas Intermediate crude increasing by about 50% in a short period, amid concerns about the impact on global energy supplies.

Almaalomah.me

Anbar United: The regional government’s stance on oil exports via Ceyhan is shameful and disgraceful.

Mohammed al-Dhari, a leader in the United Anbar Alliance, launched a scathing attack on the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) on Monday, describing its refusal to allow oil exports to Turkey via the Ceyhan port as “shameful and disgraceful.”

In a statement to Al-Maalomah News Agency, al-Dhari said, “The Kurdistan Regional Government, led by Masoud Barzani, refusing to allow oil exports to Turkey via the Ceyhan port and imposing conditions related to settling its disputes with the federal government in Baghdad, paying the salaries of the region’s employees, and not demanding revenues from border crossings, in addition to other concessions, represents an irresponsible stance.”

He added, “Preventing oil exports via the Ceyhan port is a dangerous precedent that requires a firm stance against the regional government’s attempts to control the fate of the Iraqi economy and hold it hostage to schemes that have become exposed.”
He indicated that “the Baghdad government is required to deter what he described as Kurdish ambitions and to redraw Iraq’s economic policy, free from the interference of the ruling parties in the region,” emphasizing that “imposing impossible conditions for exporting oil to Turkey via the Ceyhan port constitutes blatant interference in the country’s economic policy.”

Al-Dhari stressed the necessity of “asserting the federal government’s authority over all state resources.”

Almaalomah.me

Iraqi oil announces export alternatives and confirms Kirkuk pipeline will be ready within a week

Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Affairs and Oil Minister Hayyan Abdul-Ghani Al-Sawad revealed on Monday alternative plans for exporting oil in light of the halt in exports through the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that the “Kirkuk-Turkey” pipeline will be ready to operate within a week “without passing through the Kurdistan Region.”

Al-Sawad said in a statement via video clip, which was received by Shafaq News Agency, that Iraq’s crude oil production amounts to about 4.4 million barrels per day according to the quota set by the “OPEC” organization, noting that the military operations in the Gulf and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz led to the cessation of Iraqi oil exports days after the outbreak of war in the region.

He added that Iraq used to export about 3.4 million barrels per day through the southern ports, most notably the Basra oil port, but the closure of the strait prompted the Ministry of Oil to reduce production from the oil fields, with current production reaching between 1.5 and 1.6 million barrels per day to cover the needs of refineries and power plants.

He explained that the refineries are currently operating at their maximum design capacity to provide white petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel and kerosene, in addition to liquefied gas “LPG”, which covers local demand, while keeping a portion of it as an emergency reserve.

The minister pointed out that the daily consumption of cooking gas is about 6,000 tons, while the South Gas Company, in cooperation with Shell, produces about an additional 4,000 tons, in addition to investing in associated gas from several fields to produce about 600 million cubic feet per day of dry gas and quantities of cooking gas.

He added that Iraqi refineries also produce between 1,400 and 1,500 tons per day of liquefied gas, as well as 400 to 500 tons of northern gas, with a strategic reserve of more than 50,000 tons underground available for use when necessary.

Al-Sawad confirmed that oil and gas products currently cover local needs, despite the halt in exports and the impact on oil revenues, noting that there are efforts to start exporting quantities of oil through the Turkish port of Ceyhan, in addition to tenders to export oil through the port of Banias in Syria and the Aqaba pipeline.

He explained that the Iraqi-Turkish pipeline for transporting Kirkuk oil, with a capacity of 200,000 to 250,000 barrels per day, is currently undergoing final inspection and qualification, and only about 100 kilometers remain to be tested hydrostatically within a week, which will allow oil to be pumped directly from the Kirkuk fields to the pipeline without passing through the Kurdistan Region.

He also noted the suspension of production in a number of oil fields, including West Qurna 1 and 2, Al-Faiha and Al-Majnoon, in addition to some fields in Maysan such as Al-Halfaya and Al-Buzurgan, while production continues in the central fields to provide gas to power stations despite its low rates.

He confirmed that the Kirkuk oil fields are currently operating at their maximum capacity to secure the oil needed for the northern refineries, explaining that the Ministry of Oil was able during the past two months to rehabilitate some of the pumps at the strategic station, allowing for the pumping of about 250,000 barrels per day of Basra oil to the northern refineries, with a similar quantity of Kirkuk oil to be exported via the Iraqi-Turkish pipeline after the final inspection is completed within a week.

Shafaq.com

Iraq excluded from the 2026 Index of Economic Freedom… and an expert explains the repercussions

The Heritage Foundation’s “Index of Economic Freedom 2026” report revealed that Iraq was not included in the ranking of countries this year, due to a lack of reliable economic data and a weak level of transparency necessary to calculate its scores, continuing its absence from the index since its last official assessment more than two decades ago.

The organization stated in a report seen by Shafaq News Agency that Iraq was included in the list of unranked countries, along with Afghanistan, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, Liechtenstein and Ukraine, due to the lack of sufficient data on key indicators including investment freedom, business freedom, monetary freedom and property rights, which makes it difficult to assess its business environment or compare it with other countries included in the ranking.

The report explained that the index covers about 176 countries and is based on four main pillars: (the rule of law, the size of government, regulatory efficiency and open markets). It also measures 12 sub-indicators, which are given scores ranging from zero to 100 to determine the level of economic freedom in each country.

According to the results, Singapore topped the global rankings with 84.4 points, followed by Switzerland with 83.7 points, and then Ireland with 83.3 points, benefiting from open market environments, strong property rights protections, and high institutional efficiency. In contrast, Lebanon and Iran ranked among the lowest globally, scoring 43.1 and 41.8 points respectively.

On the Arab level, the report showed a disparity in levels of economic freedom, with the United Arab Emirates topping the list with 71.9 points, followed by Qatar with 70.2 points, then the Sultanate of Oman with 68.5 points, while Tunisia, Lebanon and Egypt came in the category of medium to low scores.

For his part, economist Mohammed Al-Hassani told Shafaq News Agency that “Iraq’s absence from the economic freedom index is mainly due to weak government transparency and a lack of accurate data that would enable the measurement of indicators such as investment and trade freedom and business freedom.”

Al-Hassani added that “not including Iraq in the index weakens the ability of foreign investors to assess its business environment, reduces its investment attractiveness, and deprives decision-makers of an international comparison tool that can be relied upon in guiding economic reforms and improving the investment climate.”

Shafaq.com