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What's happening now in iraq
ISHM: August 27 – September 3, 2026
Key Takeaways: POLITICS: Central Bank Freezes Assets of 12 Politicians on Corruption Charges; Militia Leader Acknowledges Role in Suppressing 2019 Popular Protests – On August 28, Iraq’s Central Bank (CBI) instructed banks, financial institutions, and relevant government agencies to freeze the assets of 12 current and former lawmakers and a senior government adviser who were arrested in June in connection with anti-corruption cases. Meanwhile, an Iraqi court sentenced Deputy Oil Minister for Distribution Ali Maarij and former lawmaker Talal al-Zobaie, who were also arrested in June, to seven years in prison after finding them guilty of illegally enriching themselves. On August 31, Badr leader Hadi al-Amiri made remarks in which he appeared to acknowledge the direct involvement of Iran-backed militia groups in acts of violence against civilians during the 2019 Tishreen protests, when hundreds of protesters were killed. Addressing a crowd of Badr supporters, Amiri praised the “Resistance that stood
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News and Features
Join Team EPIC in Support of the Iraqi Children Foundation’s Annual 5K
Join Team EPIC on August 29 at Burke Lake Park—or virtually from anywhere—for the Iraqi Children Foundation’s annual 5K supporting vulnerable children across Iraq.
Iraq’s Turbulent Season: War, Militias, and Political Change
The past several months have been among the most consequential Iraq has faced in years. Since the Iran war began on February 28, Iraq has been pulled deeper into a conflict it did not choose. Military confrontations have spilled onto Iraqi territory, while disruptions to oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz have exposed just how vulnerable Iraq’s economy remains to regional instability. At the same time, Iraq has undergone a major political transition. After six months of deadlock, intense
What Does the U.S.-Iran MOU Mean for Iraq?
By Omar Al-Nidawi The U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding signed last week at Versailles could mark a new opening in relations between Tehran and Washington after months of violent confrontation. However, its regional implications, particularly for Iraq, remain uncertain, and it is still too early to determine whether the agreement will ultimately benefit or harm the country. What is clear, however, is that while Iraq suffered significantly as a result of the conflict, the emerging settlement does not appear to address
Publications
Iraq Caught in the Middle: The Iran War’s Impact and What Comes Next
A temporary ceasefire in the Iran war has not stabilized Iraq. Instead, it has exposed the country’s structural vulnerability to external conflict and pressure—caught between the United States and Iran, with economic strain, disrupted oil exports, and militia activity amplifying internal fragility.
New Report Identifies Glaring Gap in Iraq’s Wastewater Management
Iraq faces a profound and growing shortage of clean water. Climate change, upstream damming, and rising demand are drastically reducing the volume of freshwater in the Tigris and Euphrates river systems—the nation’s hydrological lifelines. This physical scarcity is exacerbated by a largely unseen crisis: the large-scale contamination of these dwindling resources with untreated wastewater. Iraq’s extensive deficits in wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure, overwhelmed by population growth and decades of neglect, transform wastewater management from a mere environmental concern into
SIX YEARS AFTER TISHREEN: NEW REPORT ON IRAQ’S POPULAR MOVEMENT FOR REFORM
Six years after the Tishreen uprising shook Iraq’s political establishment, the popular struggle for reform continues. In October 2021, EPIC published The Long Game, a groundbreaking study on the birth of this movement. Today, as Iraqis prepare to head to the polls on November 11th, we are proud to release our latest report, which answers a critical new question: What is the state of the pro-reform movement today, and what are its prospects for the future? This report by EPIC