Regional disputes escalate… Calls to resolve the government formation crisis and end the revenue crisis

Political disputes continue within the Kurdistan Region amid the stalled formation of the new government, coinciding with escalating calls to compel the regional government to fulfill its constitutional obligations towards Baghdad, particularly regarding the handover of oil and non-oil revenues, amid warnings of the impact of these crises on the living conditions of citizens.

Ongoing political deadlock

Political observer Atheer Al-Sharaa confirmed that the disagreements between the Kurdish political forces regarding the formation of the Kurdistan Regional Government are still ongoing and have not witnessed any real progress, indicating that the struggle over positions has led to the disruption of the work of government institutions within the region.

Al-Sharaa told Al-Maalouma that the continued political deadlock has directly impacted the service and living conditions, given the delay in resolving administrative and economic issues that affect citizens’ lives. Economics

He added that ending the crisis requires genuine political understandings, far removed from partisan interests, to ensure the reactivation of institutions and the improvement of the level of services.

Out-of-control revenues

For his part, former MP Bassem Al-Gharabawi confirmed that the Kurdistan Regional Government is still stalling in fulfilling its financial obligations towards the federal government, especially with regard to handing over oil revenues and border crossings, considering that this represents a clear violation of the constitution.

Al-Gharabawi pointed out that the continuation of this approach was a result of the political favors pursued by previous governments, which contributed to the continuation of financial disputes between Baghdad and Erbil.

Al-Gharabawi called on Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi to adopt a more decisive stance in managing the relationship with the regional government, and to push for the transfer of all oil and non-oil revenues to the federal government, in exchange for Baghdad’s commitment to deliver the region’s entitlements according to constitutional frameworks.

He stressed that the current stage requires ending the policy of political courtesies and adopting the principle of mutual commitment in implementing agreements between the two sides.

Entitlements awaiting resolution

Observers believe that the ongoing disputes within the Kurdistan Region, coupled with the stalled implementation of financial obligations between Erbil and Baghdad, are exacerbating the political and economic crises. This necessitates serious action to resolve the issue of forming the regional government and implementing the constitution in a way that safeguards the rights of all Iraqis and strengthens stability in the country.

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Al-Bayati: We are waiting for a roadmap from the Ministry of Finance to address the economic challenges.

MP Mohammed al-Bayati confirmed on Wednesday that he is awaiting a roadmap from the Ministry of Finance for managing the financial situation in the coming period, given the challenges facing the Iraqi economy.

Al-Bayati told Al-Maalouma that “Iraq is going through a difficult financial phase due to its declining ability to export oil at high levels,” noting that “the Ministry of Finance faces significant challenges, and we are waiting for a roadmap that clarifies the features of the next phase, the proposed solutions, and the mechanisms for correcting the financial course.”

He added that “the Ministry of Finance faces complex challenges, and this is undeniable,” explaining that “the next phase will be one of searching for exceptional solutions to address the significant decrease in budget revenues.”
He pointed to “the importance of developing realistic and objective solutions that contribute to achieving financial stability and ensuring the state’s ability to face the upcoming economic challenges.”

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A member of parliament predicts the completion of the government cabinet by the end of this month.

MP Murtada al-Saadi, from the Reconstruction and Development bloc, confirmed on Wednesday that the House of Representatives is waiting for Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi to send the names of candidates for the vacant ministerial portfolios, while he predicted that the vote on them would take place at the end of this month. Politics

Al-Saadi told Shafaq News Agency that “some of the names nominated for ministerial portfolios had some reservations and did not gain the confidence of the council due to some political problems.”

He added that “currently there is an understanding and political rapprochement to resolve the vacant ministries in the government, but the matter is currently postponed until after the Prime Minister’s visit to the United States of America,” indicating that “the House of Representatives will vote on the candidates for the vacant ministries at the end of this July, and there will be some changes to the names of the candidates by the political parties and the coordination framework, and the most suitable one will be chosen for the ministerial portfolio.”

An informed source revealed on Sunday that Prime Minister Ali al-Zubaidi will discuss, during his upcoming visit to Washington next month, the release of one of the Iraqi bank guarantees held by the United States, estimated at about $30 billion, in addition to economic and investment files.

An informed source revealed earlier that the political forces that did not complete their share of the government cabinet, according to their electoral entitlement in the last parliamentary elections, have begun forming internal committees to sort and study the names of candidates to fill the ministries that fall within their government quotas.

The Shiite Coordination Framework linked the completion of the ministerial formation of Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi’s government to the results of his anticipated visit to the United States, stressing that the vacant ministries will not be decided before his return from Washington, according to a statement by the leader in the Coordination Framework, MP Amer al-Fayez, to Shafaq News Agency.

These developments coincide with al-Zaidi’s anticipated visit to Washington in mid-July, at the invitation of US President Donald Trump, which is seen as a pivotal moment in shaping the relationship between Baghdad and Washington.

Shafaq.com

Iraq issues a postage stamp commemorating Khamenei’s funeral procession in Najaf and Karbala

Iraqi Minister of Communications, Mustafa Sanad, issued a decision on Wednesday to release a postage stamp to commemorate the funeral procession that Iraq witnessed for the body of the late Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. News

This comes as the funeral procession for Khamenei begins in the city of Najaf, with broad popular and official participation, amid strict organizational and security measures to keep pace with the event.

The bodies of Ali Khamenei and several members of his family arrived at Najaf International Airport, after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, and a number of senior Iranian officials arrived on Tuesday evening to participate in the funeral ceremonies.

According to sources, after the funeral procession in Najaf, the bodies will be transported by a military convoy to the city of Karbala, for the funeral procession from the “Sayyid Jawda” intersection, then the Governorate Street (the Courthouse intersection), towards the shrine of Imam Hussein, and then the shrine of his brother Abu al-Abbas.

Prime Minister Al-Zaydi directed earlier on Tuesday that official working hours be suspended in all state institutions on Wednesday, coinciding with the funeral ceremonies for the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, according to a statement issued by his media office.

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UAE: Iran is incapable of turning the page on the war

The UAE described Iran on Wednesday as “still unable to turn the page on war” as security tensions in the region returned due to the exchange of strikes between the US and Iran and the targeting of commercial ships, Kuwait and Bahrain.

Anwar Gargash, diplomatic advisor to the UAE president, said in a post on the X platform that “Iranian attacks on Qatari and Saudi commercial tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, and the repeated aggression against Bahrain and Kuwait, are a clear indication that Tehran is still unable to comply with the requirements for de-escalation.”

Gargash added: “The Gulf Arab states cannot remain a target for Iran’s vacillation between the logic of escalation and the path of rationality, stability and peace.”

Early Wednesday morning, the US Central Command announced a new round of military operations against Iran, during which it said it targeted more than 80 sites, including air defense systems, command and control networks, coastal radars, anti-ship missile platforms, and more than 60 Revolutionary Guards fast boats in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz.

Following this, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard announced that it had carried out a missile and drone attack targeting 85 American military sites and facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait, saying it came “in response to American aggression.”

Shafaq.com

Iraq exports more than one million barrels of oil to America in June

The U.S. Energy Information Administration announced on Wednesday that Iraq’s crude oil exports to the United States exceeded one million barrels during the month of June. News

The administration stated, in a table seen by Shafaq News Agency, that “Iraq exported 1.35 million barrels of crude oil to the United States during the month of June, a decrease from the month of May, in which Iraqi exports amounted to 1.625 million barrels.”

She added that “Iraq exported an average of 107,000 barrels per day of crude oil to the United States during the first week of June, while its exports reached zero in the second week, and its average exports reached 71,000 barrels per day in the third week, while its exports recorded zero in the fourth week.”

The U.S. Energy Information Administration explained that “Iraq ranked eighth among oil-exporting countries to the United States last month, after Canada, which topped the list, followed by Venezuela, then Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia.”

The administration noted that “Iraq ranked second among Arab countries exporting oil to the United States, after Saudi Arabia, which came first with exports of 2.040 million barrels, while Libya came third with exports of 1.110 million barrels.”

Shafaq.com

As confirmed by Shafaq News, the Central Bank reduces the dollar allocation for travelers.

On Wednesday, the Central Bank of Iraq issued new regulatory instructions regarding the mechanism for meeting the demand for foreign currency for citizens traveling outside Iraq. Broadcast& Network News

The bank stated in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency that the new instructions included setting a ceiling for the cash quota for an adult traveler at (2000) US dollars per month, instead of (3000) dollars, within the framework of developing the management of foreign exchange sales operations, enhancing the efficiency of resource distribution, and in line with best international banking practices.

According to the statement, this measure comes as part of a package of regulatory reforms implemented by the Central Bank with the aim of ensuring that foreign currency reaches everyone, which contributes to strengthening the stability of the money market and raising the efficiency of resource management.

He added that these measures are purely regulatory, within the process of enhancing its ability to face economic changes efficiently and sustainably, and to keep pace with global developments in payment systems, by encouraging the use of electronic payment cards, whether credit or prepaid, as a primary and secure means of covering travel expenses outside Iraq, which provides greater flexibility for citizens, promotes the shift towards a digital economy, and keeps pace with modern international banking standards, thereby supporting confidence in the banking sector and serving the country’s higher economic interest.

It is worth noting that an informed source revealed to Shafaq News Agency yesterday, Tuesday, that the Central Bank of Iraq issued new directives to reduce the share of foreign currency (dollars) for travelers to 2,000 US dollars instead of 3,000 dollars, within the approved mechanism to meet travel requests.

According to the source, the decision will include Iraqi citizens departing through all airports and border crossings, whether they are traveling for tourism, medical treatment, study, or to perform Hajj and Umrah rituals, as well as for business trips.

Shafaq.com

The framework calls for a new mechanism to arrest corrupt officials “without tanks” and awaits al-Zaidi’s visit to Washington.

An informed source revealed on Tuesday what transpired between the attendees at the home of Hadi al-Amiri, head of the Badr Organization, indicating that they focused on adopting a new mechanism for summoning those involved in suspected financial corruption, away from “tanks and security forces,” while pinning their hopes on Prime Minister Ali al-Zubaidi’s visit to Washington.

The source told Shafaq News Agency that “those gathered stressed the need for summoning those involved in suspected corruption and squandering of public funds to be done through official reports issued by the judiciary, without using security or military force, and without concealing information related to the ongoing investigations with detainees within the ‘Dawn Campaign’ to combat corruption, which is led and supervised by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi . ”

He added: “It was also emphasized that investigations with the detainees will be completed and matched with the facts, and that funds smuggled or acquired illegally will be recovered.”

The source indicated that “some political leaders expressed their displeasure with the information being circulated about the nature of the investigations and the funds to be recovered, and that all the leaders of the framework pledged to Al-Zidi to continue supporting the government’s measures in combating corruption and to support him in issuing red notices for the extradition of wanted persons who are outside Iraq.” Politics

Regarding the red notices, the attendees stressed, according to the source, that the notices should be issued by the Ministry of Justice, since most international agreements regarding the extradition of wanted persons involved in financial corruption crimes stipulate that arrest warrants be issued by the Ministry of Justice and not by the Iraqi Judicial Council.

He revealed that there are “five countries that have shown cooperation with Iraq in this field and handed over wanted persons or those proven to be involved in the crimes attributed to them through Interpol International, namely the United States, France, Britain, and only one Arab country,” without the source naming the Arab country or the fifth country.

The meeting also touched on the electoral process and the remaining ministerial appointments, “but all indications point towards postponing the decision until after al-Zidi’s visit to Washington,” according to the source.

He explained that “the State of Law bloc insists on its candidate Qasim Atta for the Ministry of Interior, even though it is about to present six candidates to Al-Zaidi to choose the most suitable among them. Therefore, a specific mechanism will be adopted to decide on the security ministries after Al-Zaidi’s visit to Washington.”

He pointed out that “all political forces are counting on the success of Al-Zaidi’s visit and on achieving great gains for Iraq, including the release of some of the bank transfers held by international banks and the US Federal Reserve, as well as tracking down and recovering the money smuggled out of Iraq, monitoring the whereabouts of those involved, and bringing them back and prosecuting them according to Iraqi law, even if they hold a second nationality or enjoy external support.”

According to the source, the attendees also discussed “finalizing the process of dismantling armed factions and handing over their light and heavy weapons to the state.”

On Monday evening, the Coordination Framework held a meeting at the office of the Secretary-General of the Badr Organization, Hadi al-Amiri, in the presence of the President of the Supreme Judicial Council, Faiq Zaidan, and the Prime Minister, Ali al-Zaidi, according to a statement received by Shafaq News Agency.

The participants discussed the anti-corruption campaign and the cessation of public money waste, and the leaders of the framework, according to the statement, renewed their support for the governmental and judicial measures aimed at combating corruption, stressing the need to proceed with steps that preserve public money and strengthen the rule of law.

Yesterday, Member of Parliament Abdullah Al-Khaigani also revealed that there was an agreement between Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi and the head of the Supreme Judicial Council, Faiq Zaidan, to proceed with holding those involved accountable without targeting any political entity at the expense of another.

Al-Khaigani told Shafaq News Agency that “Al-Zaydi, Zaidan, and the security force carrying out the operations agreed to hold corrupt individuals accountable without targeting any party at the expense of another,” indicating that “anti-corruption measures will extend to all Iraqi governorates.”

He added that “the next round of anti-corruption operations will include a large number of defendants, and will be carried out in more than three batches,” explaining that “the measures will affect ministers, directors-general, current and former members of parliament, as well as governors.”

Informed government sources had previously revealed to Shafaq News Agency that the legal procedures for the second phase of the campaign to pursue those involved in corruption cases, which includes files in the Ministries of Health, Oil and Electricity, have been completed. This phase involves tracking funds, real estate and investment projects belonging to officials in the United States, Europe and Turkey, in conjunction with preparing a new list of names of accused persons, as well as studying the draft law “Where did you get this from?” in preparation for completing its legislative course.

Shafaq.com

A political move is expected to finalize the cabinet formation.

With the end of the legislative recess and the return of the House of Representatives to its duties, the political arena enters a new phase of dialogues aimed at accomplishing a number of postponed obligations, foremost among them completing the cabinet and resolving the vacant ministries. Politics

Political circles confirm that the next phase will witness momentum in consultations between political forces, in parallel with the government continuing to implement its priorities related to combating corruption and restricting weapons to the state, which will enhance stability and push towards completing the implementation of the government program.

Deputy Walaa Al-Jizani, Vice President of the Badr parliamentary bloc, told Al-Sabah: “The resumption of the House of Representatives’ work after the end of the legislative recess will bring back to the forefront a number of important issues, most notably completing the cabinet and resolving the vacant ministries.” He explained that “this issue is still subject to intensive political dialogues and consultations between the blocs in order to reach final agreements on the candidates.”

Al-Jizani added that “the political forces are working to bring viewpoints closer and resolve points of disagreement related to the nominated names, noting that some of the figures that were put forward in previous sessions did not receive enough votes, which led to postponing their resolution, and it is expected that they will be put forward again or that new candidates who enjoy broader political acceptance will be presented during the upcoming sessions.”

Al-Jizani stressed that “the next stage requires cooperation between all political forces to expedite the completion of the formation of the government cabinet, especially since fulfilling this constitutional requirement will contribute to enhancing government performance and enabling the executive authority to implement its program in an integrated manner, as well as supporting political and administrative stability and meeting the requirements of the current stage.”

For his part, Mohammed Hassan Al-Saadi, who is close to the Coordination Framework and a researcher in political affairs, told Al-Sabah: “The Coordination Framework held two meetings during the past period, during which it discussed the most prominent developments on the internal and regional political scenes, most notably the issue of completing the cabinet, in addition to the issues of restricting weapons to the state and combating corruption.”

Al-Saadi added that “the coordination framework stressed the importance of proceeding with the completion of the cabinet after the Prime Minister’s return from his visit to the United States of America,” noting that “there are extensive discussions between the government and the political forces regarding a number of important issues, foremost among them being the restriction of weapons to the state in a manner consistent with the government’s program and that enhances the prestige of the state and its institutions.” He pointed out that “the file of combating corruption represents a major priority for the government of Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi, and that Operation Dawn came under his direct supervision, and included a number of governorates, with movements to complete it in other governorates.”

Al-Saadi explained that “the campaign reflects a unified political will to confront corruption, noting that there is good security cooperation and coordination with the Kurdistan Region that contributed to handing over a number of wanted persons to the judiciary, which reflects the spirit of national responsibility and cooperation between the various parties in pursuing corrupt individuals inside and outside Iraq.”

Political analyst Mohamed Salah told Al-Sabah that the issue of completing the government formation will be present and ready for resolution after the conclusion of discussions between the political forces, as it is one of the files that must be completed as quickly as possible in light of the requirements of the current stage, especially with regard to combating corruption and improving performance.

Governmental.

He added that “completing the cabinet will give the government greater momentum to implement its program and contribute to supporting its efforts to combat corruption and achieve the required reforms,” ​​noting that “there are new names that will be put forward for discussion within the cabinet formation before proceeding to decide on them within the House of Representatives.”

Alsabaah.iq

MP: No political pressure on al-Zaidi’s campaign; holding those involved accountable must continue.

MP Mohammed Hadi called on Tuesday for support for Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s anti-corruption campaign through the enactment of several laws that strengthen government procedures in prosecuting corrupt individuals, stressing the importance of the Parliament’s oversight role at this stage.

Hadi told the Information Agency that “Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s anti-corruption campaign needs legislative support through the passage of several laws that bolster the state’s efforts in prosecuting corrupt individuals and protecting public funds.”
He added that “the legislative body is required to fulfill its oversight role and monitor the performance of government institutions, in accordance with its constitutional responsibilities in combating corruption.”

He called for “the avoidance of any pressure from political blocs to obstruct the anti-corruption campaign, and the necessity of providing full support for governmental and judicial procedures to ensure that those involved are held accountable according to the law.”

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