Deputy: The framework is determined to hold a meeting on Monday, and if it is postponed, it will be the last one.

MP Ahmed Salem Al-Saadi, from the Al-Hikma bloc, said on Sunday that the coordinating framework is determined to hold the next meeting to decide on the candidate for prime minister, and if it is postponed, “it will be the final postponement.”

Al-Saadi told Shafaq News Agency that “the next 72 hours will be crucial for agreeing on a candidate for the position of Prime Minister, and time is starting to put pressure on the leadership of the framework to resolve the matter.”

He added that “the coordination framework is more concerned than others with respecting the constitutional timeframe, and it is not possible to tolerate or ignore the remaining constitutional timeframe being disregarded.”

Al-Saadi stressed that “there is a framework of will to hold the meeting on Monday as scheduled, and it will be decisive. If the meeting is postponed, it will be the last one.”

Earlier today, the General Secretariat of the Coordination Framework called on the forces of the framework to hold a meeting tomorrow, Monday, at the office of the leader of the Wisdom Movement, Ammar al-Hakim, stressing that the agenda is limited to deciding on the candidate for the premiership.

The coordinating framework that includes the ruling Shiite political forces in Iraq failed to hold a “crucial” meeting yesterday, Saturday, and it was postponed until tomorrow, Monday.

These developments come at a time when the government formation process has entered a critical phase, following the election of Nizar Amidi as President of the Republic. This places the largest bloc before a constitutional deadline ending on April 26 to officially present its candidate, amid fears of returning to square one of political deadlock.

The Islamic Dawa Party confirmed on Sunday afternoon that its leader, Nouri al-Maliki, remains the sole candidate for prime minister, while denying that any alternative to him had been presented.

The party said in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency, “Al-Maliki has not withdrawn his candidacy until this moment, and the decision to withdraw the candidacy is solely up to the framework, as it is the body that nominated him by majority vote, and therefore the withdrawal of the candidacy must be done by the same mechanism by which he was nominated.”

The party denied the validity of what is being circulated about al-Maliki nominating any alternative to himself, adding: “There is a clear difference between al-Maliki endorsing the nomination of a specific person from among the names, and him adhering to the nomination of the framework and abiding by it.”

The Reconstruction and Development Coalition, led by Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, responded to the Dawa Party’s statement. Khalid Walid, a leader in the coalition, told Shafaq News Agency that “the Dawa Party’s statement today, which confirms al-Maliki’s nomination through the framework, faces clear opposition after the Reconstruction and Development Coalition withdrew its support for al-Maliki and confirmed its sole candidate, al-Sudani.”

He added that “going with the Maliki option will put us in front of a more complicated crisis, and we emphasize that the support of eight parties within the framework, in addition to the support of the national space, represents the decisive element,” explaining that “the assignment of Al-Sudani lacks the decision to be taken unanimously or by majority vote and the completion of the process of forming the government, which will face great and complex challenges.”

Shafaq.com

Bloomberg: Commercial shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has completely stopped.

Bloomberg reported on Sunday that tracking data showed commercial shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz had completely stopped.

The agency stated that the halt came after the slight increase witnessed on Saturday.

Tehran, through statements by senior officials, confirmed earlier on Sunday that there is a new system governing the Strait of Hormuz, and that the imposition of security is “over”.

These developments coincide with the announcement yesterday by the military spokesman for the Iranian “Khatam al-Anbiya” headquarters that the Strait of Hormuz would be closed again, as it was during the 40-day military conflict in the region.

The spokesman stressed that the strait would remain under the control of the armed forces and under strict surveillance, noting that the continuation of this situation depended on the United States not committing to guaranteeing the freedom of movement of ships to and from Iran.

Shafaq.com

Trump: We hope Iran will accept our offer or we will destroy all power plants and bridges 

US President Donald Trump confirmed on Sunday that an agreement with Iran will happen one way or another.

Trump said in brief remarks to ABC News: “The agreement with Iran will happen one way or another, in a friendly way or a hard way.”

He added: Iran has committed a serious violation of the ceasefire, but we believe we are capable of reaching an agreement.

He added: We are making a fair and acceptable offer to Iran and we hope that they will accept it. If they do not, we will destroy all power stations and bridges.

He continued: Our representatives will head to Islamabad tomorrow evening for negotiations, explaining: It is time to end the Iranian killing machine.

He continued: Iran decided to open fire yesterday in the Strait of Hormuz in flagrant violation of the ceasefire agreement, and it is losing $500 million a day from closing the strait, while we are not losing anything.

Trump’s remarks come after the Iranian military spokesman for the Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters announced yesterday the re-closure of the Strait of Hormuz, as was the case during the 40-day military conflict in the region .

The spokesman stressed that the strait would remain under the control of the armed forces and under strict surveillance, noting that the continuation of this situation depended on the United States not committing to guaranteeing the freedom of movement of ships to and from Iran.

Shafaq.com

The President told the Iranian Ambassador: The importance of continuing dialogue and sparing the region the dangers of war.

President Nizar Amidi affirmed to the Iranian Ambassador to Iraq, Mohammad Kazem Al-Sadeq, on Sunday the importance of continuing dialogue and sparing the region the dangers of wars. The Presidential Media Office stated in a statement that “President Nizar Amidi received at Baghdad Palace the Iranian Ambassador to Iraq, Mohammad Kazem Al-Sadeq, who offered his congratulations on assuming his duties, wishing him success in carrying out his responsibilities.”

During the meeting, according to the statement, “bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to strengthen them in various fields in a way that serves common interests were discussed, and developments in the security situation in the region were also discussed,” where the President stressed “the importance of continuing the dialogue and defusing the crisis, and sparing the region the dangers of wars, in a way that contributes to consolidating international peace and security.”

Burathanews.com

A deputy reveals the map of the division within the Coordination Framework between the Sudanese and Maliki factions.

Member of Parliament Murtada Al-Ibrahimi revealed today, Thursday, the map of alliances and political changes within the coordination framework regarding the file of naming the candidate of the largest bloc, stressing the existence of a division between three fronts that support Al-Maliki and Al-Sudani and another that takes a neutral position.

In a televised statement monitored by Al-Maalomah News Agency, Al-Ibrahimi said, “The Coordination Framework map has been divided into three sections as of Wednesday night. The first section includes six leaders who support renewing the mandate of Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, while three leaders support the head of the State of Law Coalition, Nouri al-Maliki, and three others are adopting a neutral stance.”

He added, “The bloc supporting al-Sudani includes the Reconstruction and Development Bloc, the Badr Organization, the Wisdom Movement, the Sanad Movement, and the Sadiqun Movement.” He explained that “those supporting Nouri al-Maliki are the Dawa Party, the Supreme Council, and the Asas Gathering.”

Al-Ibrahimi indicated that “the section that remains neutral includes the Victory Coalition, the Determination Bloc, and the Virtue Party,” noting that “these figures reflect the nature of the ongoing movement within the framework’s forces to resolve the issue of the next prime minister.”

Almaalomah.me

Al-Dhari: Sunni forces clarify their position regarding Nouri al-Maliki, the candidate of the Coordination Framework for Prime Minister

A leader in the Azm Alliance, Mohammed al-Dhari, revealed today, Thursday, that Sunni forces, with the exception of the head of the Taqaddum Alliance, Mohammed al-Halbousi, do not oppose the nomination of Nouri al-Maliki, the Coordination Framework’s candidate, for the premiership.

Al-Dhari told Al-Maalomah News Agency that “the Sunni National Council has not received any notification from the Coordination Framework forces regarding changing their candidate for the premiership, Nouri al-Maliki, or replacing him with another figure. Most Sunni parties, with the exception of the head of the Taqaddum Alliance, Mohammed al-Halbousi, have expressed their readiness to vote for the Coordination Framework’s candidate, Nouri al-Maliki, while emphasizing flexibility and not using a veto against any figure agreed upon by the Shiite forces. This step aims to achieve political stability and form a consensus government, away from political posturing.”

He added that “the moderate Sunni political forces, which reject Halbousi’s approach, are prepared to vote for the prime ministerial candidate chosen by the Coordination Framework, the main Shiite bloc, without objecting to any individual, including former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.” He explained that “the Sunni forces’ position aims to facilitate the formation of the Iraqi government and overcome political obstacles.”
He emphasized that “this stance comes in light of the Coordination Framework’s insistence on proceeding with al-Maliki’s nomination, despite the Trump administration’s objections.”

Almaalomah.me

The framework is facing the zero hour… Will it decide on its candidate for the premiership next Saturday, or will the deadline be extended for the remaining ten days?

Political and popular circles are turning their attention to the anticipated meeting of the Coordination Framework forces next Saturday, amid urgent questions about whether this meeting will represent the coup de grâce to end the deadlock in the prime ministership file, or whether it will turn into a new stage to postpone the crisis to a maximum of ten days.

Leaked information obtained by Al-Maalomah indicates that the options within the Shia political bloc have effectively narrowed down to two main contenders: current Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who aspires to a second term bolstered by a record of service-oriented achievements, and Nouri al-Maliki, leader of the State of Law Coalition, who sees his electoral and political standing as a gateway to returning to the Prime Minister’s office.
Despite leaks attempting to promote a “compromise candidate” scenario as a middle ground to satisfy all parties, most leaders within the bloc and observers dismiss this proposal at present. They emphasize that the current phase cannot tolerate experimenting with shadowy figures, and that the decision will be clear among the prominent names being considered. This hinges on the outcome of the last-minute understandings before Saturday’s meeting, which may clarify matters or open the door to the final ten-day constitutional and political deadline.

In this context, MP Saud al-Saadi, head of the Rights Bloc in Parliament, ruled out on Thursday the possibility of the Coordination Framework leaders deciding on the largest bloc’s candidate for the next prime minister at their meeting next Saturday. He stressed the Framework’s commitment to the remaining constitutional deadlines.
Al-Saadi told the Al-Maalomah news agency that “continuous dialogue and communication is the only way to end the delay in finalizing the Coordination Framework’s candidate for the next prime minister,” emphasizing that “the Framework will not exceed the constitutional deadline, and the candidate will be chosen within the next ten days.”
He added that “the Rights Bloc supports any candidate who meets national criteria, foremost among them being a strong figure capable of leading the country through this phase and dealing with changes, and most importantly, being free from external dictates and not subject to American will.”
Al-Saadi explained that “the current phase requires a prime minister who prioritizes safeguarding sovereignty,” noting that “the selection process requires the consensus of all Coordination Framework leaders, and if this proves impossible, a two-thirds vote will be used to resolve the matter.”
In addition, Member of Parliament Murtada al-Ibrahimi revealed the map of alliances and political changes within the coordination framework regarding the file of naming the candidate of the largest bloc, stressing the existence of a division between three fronts that support al-Maliki and al-Sudani and another that takes a neutral position.

Al-Ibrahimi stated in a televised interview, monitored by the Al-Maalomah news agency, that “the coordination framework map was divided into three sections as of Wednesday night; the first includes six leaders who support renewing the mandate of Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, while three leaders support the head of the State of Law Coalition, Nouri al-Maliki, and three others adopt a neutral stance.”
He added that “the front supporting al-Sudani includes the Reconstruction and Development Bloc, the Badr Organization, the Victorious Bloc, the Wisdom Movement, the Sanad Movement, and the Sadiqun Movement,” clarifying that “those supporting Nouri al-Maliki are the Dawa Party.”

The Supreme Council and the Foundation Gathering.”
Al-Ibrahimi indicated that “the faction that remains neutral includes the Victory Coalition, the Determination Bloc, and the Virtue Party,” noting that these figures reflect the nature of the ongoing movement within the framework forces to resolve the issue of the next prime minister.
It is worth mentioning that the Coordination Framework postponed its meeting scheduled for Wednesday until next Saturday to discuss finalizing the selection of the largest bloc’s candidate for the next prime minister.

Almaalomah.me

Source: Al-Halbousi spent $160 million to prevent the election of Barzani’s candidate for the presidency.

A source in Anbar province revealed on Thursday that Mohammed al-Halbousi, head of the Progress Alliance, spent more than $160 million to prevent the election of Masoud Barzani’s candidate for the presidency.

The source told the Information Agency that “Mohammed al-Halbousi turned the parliamentary session to elect a new Speaker of Parliament into a marketplace for buying the votes of some MPs to secure the passage of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan’s candidate, Nizar Amidi, thus eliminating Barzani’s candidate and mobilizing support for his victory. This was also intended to send a message to Barzani that the will of the parties could be broken by the weapon of money.”

The source added that “Al-Halbousi succeeded in tipping the scales in favor of money by spending more than $160 million to prevent the election of Masoud Barzani’s candidate for the presidency, sending a message to the regional government about his ability to manipulate the position using political funds.” The source explained that “Al-Halbousi wanted to create a political maneuver using money to break Barzani’s grip and prevent his control and dominance over some Sunni political parties.”

The source further explained that “Al-Halbousi shifted the political discourse from dialogue to numbers and deals, which places the future of Sunni-Kurdish alliances before a new test of the resilience of political loyalties in the face of financial temptations.” The source emphasized that “Al-Halbousi’s maneuver highlights the state of division and political conflicts between the Progress Party and Barzani’s party.”

Almaalomah.me

The framework intensifies its discussions before Saturday’s decision… Al-Badri and Al-Sudani are the most likely candidates for the premiership.

The leadership of the Coordination Framework, which includes the ruling Shiite political forces in Iraq, is scheduled to hold a crucial meeting on Saturday at the home of Ammar al-Hakim, head of the National State Forces Alliance, to choose a candidate for the position of Prime Minister, especially with the shrinking of the legal period specified after the election of the President of the Republic.

In this regard, the leader of the framework, Amer Al-Fayez, told Shafaq News Agency that the framework is expected to reach an agreement in Saturday’s meeting to choose its candidate for prime minister, indicating that the most prominent candidates for this position are the current Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, and Basim Al-Badri.

He confirmed that Nouri al-Maliki, the head of the State of Law Coalition, is still a candidate for prime minister and has not officially withdrawn his candidacy, despite media reports suggesting he might withdraw due to his diminished chances of obtaining the position as a result of the American “veto” imposed on him.

Regarding the existence of sharp political disagreements between the parties of the framework due to the delay in proceeding with the formation of the next federal government, Al-Fayez stressed that “there are no divisions within the framework, but rather there is a difference of views regarding the selection of candidates for the position of Prime Minister.”

On Wednesday evening, the coordinating framework decided to postpone its meeting scheduled for that night until next Saturday, after reaching “important” understandings regarding the leadership of the government.

This comes against the backdrop of a division within the coordination framework that split it into three wings due to disagreements over the candidate for the next prime minister, according to what a well-informed political source revealed earlier on Wednesday.

The political source told Shafaq News Agency on Wednesday that “the disagreements within the framework are no longer limited to differing viewpoints, but have developed into an actual split within the alliance into three main wings, which has cast a shadow over today’s meeting scheduled to be held at Humam Hamoudi’s house, with growing doubts about the possibility of postponing it to another date.”

He explained that “the first faction insists on nominating the leader of the State of Law Coalition, Nouri al-Maliki, or any figure who enjoys his explicit support from among the proposed names, while a second faction is pushing for the renaming of the caretaker Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, while the third faction prefers to go for a compromise candidate who can gain wider acceptance within and outside the Shiite community.”

Shafaq.com

A $55 billion project to bypass the Strait of Hormuz… and Iraq is at the heart of the plan.

Gulf states, including Iraq, are considering building an alternative oil pipeline network to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, at an estimated cost of $55 billion, amid escalating geopolitical risks, according to an analysis published by Reuters.

The analysis indicates that imposing fees on tanker transit, even at limited levels, could constitute a significant financial burden on oil producers, prompting them to seek long-term alternatives that reduce dependence on this vital corridor.

Iraq stands out as a pivotal element in the project, as the plan includes the construction of two pipelines extending from its south through Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, reaching ports on the Arabian Sea, such as the port of Duqm and the port of Salalah, which would allow the export of oil directly to Asian markets without passing through Hormuz.

Despite the project’s cost, the analysis suggests it may be economically viable, as it roughly equals the potential revenue over approximately 25 years, and it also gives countries in the region, including Iraq, greater flexibility in exporting oil and reduces risks associated with maritime routes.

The project is also expected to be jointly financed by the beneficiary countries, with the cost distributed according to the volume of use, while implementation may take several years, which means continued reliance on the Strait of Hormuz in the near term.

Shafaq.com