The framework authorizes al-Zaydi to handle the weapons file and supports severing the Popular Mobilization Forces’ ties with political frameworks.

On Monday evening, the Coordination Framework authorized Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ali al-Zaidi to take decisions and measures “that would preserve the country’s higher interests,” while announcing its support for the project to restrict weapons to the state and to separate the Popular Mobilization Forces from political, partisan, and social frameworks.

The framework stated in a statement received by Shafaq News, following its 279th regular meeting held at the office of former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, in the presence of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, that the meeting discussed “a number of priority national and security files.”

He stressed that the choice of the political system and its representatives is “an exclusive right of the Iraqi people,” who, he said, have made “great sacrifices in defense of their state and democratic system,” emphasizing that the decision of war and peace is “a sovereign national decision that belongs to the Iraqi people through their constitutional institutions, represented exclusively by the House of Representatives and the elected government.”

The statement considered that “any action outside this framework is a violation of the law and the principles of the constitutional state.”

Regarding the Popular Mobilization Forces, the Coordination Framework affirmed that the organization is “an official security institution committed to the constitution, applicable laws, and the orders of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, and carries out its duties in accordance with the approved legal frameworks.”

According to the statement, the leaders of the framework announced their support, “out of a sense of national responsibility, for the project of restricting weapons to the state and separating the Popular Mobilization Forces from all political, partisan, and social frameworks, based on the Iraqi constitution, the directives of the supreme religious authority, the Popular Mobilization Forces Law No. 40 of 2016, as well as the ministerial program that was voted on by the House of Representatives in the session to grant confidence.”

The statement also linked this step to the desire to continue cooperation between the Iraqi government and the international community, and to complete the process of ending the mission of the international coalition in Iraq.

The framework added that its forces authorized the Prime Minister, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to “take the decisions and measures necessary to preserve the supreme interests of the country,” according to the statement.

The framework’s position comes days after the leader of the Shiite national movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, announced the disassociation from the “Peace Brigades” and their integration into the state, a move that was welcomed by the newly formed Iraqi government headed by al-Zaidi.

Most of the current armed factions trace their roots back to the period after 2003, when formations emerged linked to the security vacuum that followed the American invasion of Iraq, before expanding significantly after ISIS invaded large Iraqi cities in 2014.

On the international front, the United States is intensifying its pressure on Baghdad, as an informed political source revealed to Shafaq News Agency on Sunday that al-Zaidi received a message from the American side that included Washington’s categorical rejection of the participation of any armed faction in the new Iraqi government, even if those factions announce that they will give up their weapons or leave military action.

According to the source, the American message stressed that assigning any ministerial portfolio or high-ranking government position to an armed faction or to figures representing those factions would be met with an American and Western rejection, and could lead to a political and administrative break with the ministry concerned, which would affect Iraqi-American relations and cooperation with other Western countries.

Shafaq.com

MSC Shipping Company: The ship “Sariska” was hit by two shells in the Iraqi port of Umm Qasr

Global shipping company MSC reported on Tuesday that its ship, the SARISKA, was hit by two shells while leaving the port of Umm Qasr in Iraq.

The company confirmed in a statement that all crew members were safe and unharmed as a result of the incident, stressing at the same time that it is a “neutral company” and has no ties or connections with the United States or Israel.

The shipping company’s statement came after the Iraqi Higher Maritime Authority announced earlier this morning that it had mobilized its staff and supporting bodies to investigate the circumstances of the incident involving the ship (MSC SARISKA) within Iraqi territorial waters.

This development is consistent with what a security source revealed to Shafaq News Agency on Monday evening, that the giant ship bearing the Panamanian flag was targeted by a drone that crashed inside it while it was in territorial waters at noon yesterday, which prompted the evacuation of 20 sailors from the crew and their transfer to the search and rescue center in the port of Faw, without any human injuries being recorded.

MP: The 2026 budget will be the most complex compared to previous years

MP Mohammed al-Bayati confirmed on Monday that there is still no set date for the 2026 budget to be presented, noting that it will be the most difficult and complex compared to previous budget cycles.

Al-Bayati told Al-Maalouma, “As of now, there is no specific date for the Council of Ministers to present the 2026 budget and send it to the Finance Committee in the House of Representatives for review before proceeding with the first and second readings and then voting on it.”

He added, “If presented, the budget will be the most difficult and complex compared to previous years, due to the financial and economic challenges, as well as the repercussions of what is currently happening in the Arabian Gulf.”

He pointed out that “Iraq has lost the ability to export more than 90% of its crude oil, which is the main source of revenue for the state treasury,” indicating that “the country’s financial situation is difficult by all measures.”

Al-Bayati explained that “there is anticipation for a roadmap that the government is preparing in coordination with the Council of Representatives, in order to proceed with financial and economic reforms that will contribute to correcting many errors and formulating paths that ensure the securing of operational expenses, especially salaries, during the next phase.”

He concluded by saying that “despite the Ministry of Finance’s assurances that salaries are secured, the current phase requires real measures that contribute to creating a state of financial stability.”

Almaalomah.me

Abdul Hadi: The coordination framework is nearing completion of the cabinet formation process.

Member of the Coordination Framework, Uday Abdul-Hadi, confirmed on Monday that the Framework’s constituent forces will hold an important meeting in the coming hours to determine when to proceed with finalizing the remaining ministerial portfolios in Ali al-Zaidi’s government. Abdul-Hadi told Al-Maalouma, “The Coordination Framework forces will hold a meeting in the coming hours to discuss several issues, foremost among them proceeding with finalizing the remaining ministerial portfolios in Ali al-Zaidi’s government, after reaching an agreement on the candidates’ names.”

He added that “the coming days will be decisive,” noting that “the meeting may determine a date for an extraordinary session of Parliament to vote on the remaining ministerial portfolios.”

He explained that “Parliament has entered a one-month legislative recess from today until July 1st, which means that holding any session during this period requires a request from one of the presidencies or collecting signatures from a number of MPs, according to the constitutional procedures established for holding extraordinary sessions.”
He concluded by saying that “political consensus will remain the decisive factor in finalizing the remaining ministerial portfolios in Ali al-Zaidi’s government.”

Almaalomah.me

Al-Zaidi appoints the first female advisor in his government

An informed source reported on Monday that Azhar Hussein Saleh had been chosen as an advisor to the Prime Minister for administrative and technical affairs.

The source told Shafaq News Agency that “Azhar Hussein Saleh was chosen to assume the position of advisor to Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, in administrative and technical affairs.”

He added that “Saleh previously held the position of head of the Iraqi Engineers Syndicate, and also served as the former Undersecretary of the Ministry of Planning, and possesses extensive experience in administrative, technical and planning fields.”

Earlier today, an informed source revealed that the Prime Minister had assigned Haider al-Aboudi as the government spokesperson, Hassanein al-Sheikh as the director of the Prime Minister’s protocol, and Abdul Zahra al-Hindawi as the director of the media office.

Shafaq.com

“Disarming the factions” is on Al-Zaydi’s agenda with the framework today

The tripartite committee concerned with restricting weapons to the state will hold an expanded meeting this evening, Monday, with the forces of the coordination framework to discuss mechanisms for implementing the project to disarm the armed factions and the plan to integrate their members into state institutions.

An informed source told Shafaq News Agency that “the tripartite committee consists of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Ali al-Zaidi, as chairman, and the membership of former Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and the leader of the Badr Organization, Hadi al-Amiri.”

He added that “the meeting will discuss mechanisms for restricting weapons to the state, in addition to discussing the distribution of faction members to ministries and security agencies after verifying their data and ensuring that their records are free of criminal restrictions, as well as taking stock of their actual numbers and setting a time limit for receiving weapons.”

According to the source, the attendees will also discuss ways to provide the necessary financial allocations for the implementation of the project, whether through internal borrowing or through some Gulf banks, with the aim of concluding this matter almost definitively.

He pointed out that “the agenda includes discussing a proposal to create a security ministry specifically for the Popular Mobilization Forces or to establish an independent security apparatus that integrates the factions covered by the plan, which would allow for the development of an internal system and a clear administrative structure, as well as addressing the issue of fictitious affiliates and ghost names.”

The source explained that “the tripartite committee will listen to the observations and proposals of the coordinating framework forces regarding the mechanisms for implementing the project to restrict weapons to the state, according to a vision aimed at strengthening security stability and distancing Iraq from the repercussions of the military conflicts taking place in the region.”

The source continued, saying that “the meeting will also address other political and economic issues, in addition to discussing the completion of the government cabinet and current regional challenges,” noting that “the meeting date is still in place until now, unless new developments arise that necessitate its postponement.”

It is worth noting that a government source had previously revealed to Shafaq News Agency that Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi would hold an extensive meeting with security leaders and armed factions that had announced the handover of their weapons to the state, in order to establish mechanisms and a timeframe for integrating their members and dismantling their positions, in addition to discussing the “guarantees” that would be given to the factions.

On Wednesday, the leader of the Shiite national movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, announced the disassociation from the Peace Brigades and their integration into the state. The move was welcomed by the newly formed Iraqi government headed by Ali Faleh al-Zaidi.

Most of the current armed factions trace their roots back to after 2003, when armed formations emerged in connection with the security vacuum that followed the American invasion of Iraq, and then expanded significantly after ISIS invaded large Iraqi cities in 2014.

On the international front, the United States is intensifying its pressure on Baghdad, linking support for the Iraqi government to the removal of armed factions from state institutions.

Shafaq.com

China’s imports of Iraqi oil have fallen sharply to 60,000 barrels per day.

Recent data shows a significant decline in China’s imports of Iraqi oil during May, amid global energy market turmoil resulting from tensions in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

According to an analysis published by Reuters on Monday, China’s imports of Iraqi oil fell to just 60,000 barrels per day in May, compared to 790,000 barrels per day in February, reflecting a sharp drop in Iraqi crude flows to the world’s largest oil importer.

The data indicated that China’s total imports of seaborne crude oil fell to 6.36 million barrels per day in May, the lowest level in nearly ten years, compared to 8.10 million barrels per day in April.

The report attributed this decline to the rise in global oil prices following the escalation of tensions in the Middle East, along with supply disruptions resulting from the disruption of shipments from some major producers, including Iraq and Kuwait.

He added that Chinese refineries have reduced their purchases as prices have risen, and supplies have been affected by logistical constraints and the closure of key shipping lanes, prompting Beijing to rearrange energy sources and reduce imports from a number of producing countries.

The report also suggested that China may resort to increasing its imports again, reducing refinery operations, or drawing from its strategic reserves in the coming period to compensate for the shortage in supplies.

Shafaq.com

“It’s no longer a separate issue”: Washington is reshaping its priorities in Iraq.

Diler Khalaf Osman, a researcher in international relations and Middle Eastern affairs at the University of Tennessee, confirmed on Monday that Washington’s decision to merge the Iraq and Syria files under the supervision of a single envoy reflects a fundamental shift in the American strategy towards the region.

Osman told Shafaq News Agency that this move confirms that the United States no longer deals with Iraq as a separate or isolated case with its internal particularities, but rather as part of a broader regional security and geopolitical architecture.

He added that this trend represents a shift from the American approach that has prevailed since 2003, which focused on democracy and development, to a regional approach that views Iraq from the perspective of regional balances, with the aim of reducing Iranian influence and redirecting the geopolitical course of the two countries in a way that serves American interests.

The researcher pointed out that the background of the new envoy, Tom Barrack, and his ideology related to the idea of ​​“America First” reveal the features of his mission, as he does not seem concerned with the files of democracy, federalism and political pluralism as much as he is concerned with strengthening the central state and its security capabilities, to ensure that it does not pose any threat to American interests, and to enable it to manage its security itself in the long term, which reduces the need for a direct American military presence.

Osman predicted that Barak’s sharp style and his quick and influential decisions, which characterized his management of the Syrian file, would be reflected in his handling of the Iraqi file, indicating that the challenges Barak will face in Baghdad will be more complex and intertwined compared to the Syrian file, given the multiplicity of power centers and their distribution among different political components and entities in Iraq, without a single entity or organization controlling the state completely.

He considered the regional challenge in Iraq to be the biggest obstacle. While Turkey, Washington’s ally, was the most influential power in post-Assad Syria, Barak faced deep and multifaceted Iranian influence in Iraq that would undermine his objectives, making his new mission a real test of Washington’s ability to reshape the balance of power in a highly fragmented arena.

On Sunday, US President Donald Trump announced the appointment of Washington’s ambassador to Ankara, Tom Barrack, as a special presidential envoy to Iraq and Syria. Trump said in a post on the Truth Social platform that “Tom Barrack will continue his duties as ambassador to Turkey and will perform his new duties with the full support of the State Department.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed last Saturday that Barak will continue to play a leading role in the Syria and Iraq files within President Donald Trump’s administration, despite the end of his term as special envoy to Syria.

Barak, the US ambassador to Turkey, took over the role of special envoy to Syria in May 2025, in parallel with the Trump administration’s moves to reformulate its approach to the Syrian issue and lift sanctions on Damascus, in light of Turkey’s growing role in the Syrian issue.

Rubio’s statements give an official dimension to the broader role that Barak has begun to play practically in Iraq as well, after he emerged during the past period at the forefront of American communications with Baghdad, following the failure of Mark Savaya to officially assume the position of Special Envoy to Iraq.

Shafaq.com

After the Chinese… MSC, the giant, returns to Umm Qasr after an absence of months

The giant ship “MSC” arrived on Monday at the ports of Umm Qasr in Basra, in the far south of Iraq, after an absence of more than three months as a result of the war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

The Director General of the General Company for Iraqi Ports, Farhan Al-Fartousi, told Shafaq News Agency that the ship came from Dubai and is scheduled to carry 96 containers, all of which are for export and not for import.

He explained that the shipments include food items such as dates, soft drinks, and spare parts exported from Iraq to foreign markets.

Earlier today, the General Company for Iraqi Ports announced that the Umm Qasr North Port received its first cargo ship arriving directly from China via the Strait of Hormuz after the resumption of maritime traffic.

It stated that the ship “MV KSL XINYANG” docked at the port loaded with materials and equipment for the oil sector and various commercial goods with a total weight of 29,720 tons.

MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) is one of the world’s largest shipping companies, with a fleet of nearly 1,000 container ships, and operates a vast transport and logistics network covering hundreds of ports in more than 150 countries.

Shafaq.com

“The Red Bus”: Baghdad residents’ refuge from the summer heat and high transportation costs

The “Red Buses”, belonging to the Iraqi Passenger and Delegation Transport Company, continue to play their role in easing the burden of transportation for citizens in the capital, Baghdad, especially in areas of the city center such as Tahrir Square, Al-Shourja, Bab Al-Muadham, and the connecting lines between the two sides of Karkh and Rusafa.

These buses, which include single-decker and double-decker models, are a preferred means of transportation for a wide segment of employees, workers, and self-employed individuals, due to the low fares they offer compared to other means of transportation, as well as their contribution to reducing the suffering caused by traffic congestion during peak times.

Citizens told Shafaq News Agency that “the red buses, despite needing more attention, maintenance and improved cleanliness, still represent an important economic option for people with limited income.”

Citizen Abdul-Ilah told Shafaq News Agency, “The red buses have become a real lifeline for people with limited income. Despite their small number and the fact that we sometimes have to wait for more than a quarter of an hour in the parking lots, they remain better than the expensive taxis.”

He added that “the passenger can travel between Victory Square and Bab Al-Muadham and vice versa for only 500 dinars, which makes it a suitable means of transportation for a large segment of citizens in light of the current living conditions.”

Citizens hope for an increase in the number of red buses and the development of their services, which will contribute to strengthening public transport and relieving pressure on the main streets in the capital.

Two years ago, former Transport Minister Razak Muhaibis Al-Saadawi inaugurated the fifth public transport line in Baghdad, pledging that the “red bus” would reach all areas of the capital.

The Minister of Transport said in a speech during the opening ceremony that “the Ministry of Transport, represented by the General Company for Passengers and Delegations, has begun activating the fifth line of mass transit in the capital, Baghdad.”

Shafaq.com