Category: Monitoring the Crisis

Key Takeaways: POLITICS: Media Network Faces Crackdown; Parliament Prepares New Counter-Terrorism Law; Zaidi Heads to Paris and Berlin Next Week – On September 7, Iraqi authorities arrested political television host Qusay Shafiq over alleged extortion and bribery. Communications Minister Mustafa Sanad said Shafiq was arrested “in the act,” while footage circulated online purportedly showing Shafiq […]

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 […]

Key Takeaways: POLITICS: Baghdad Says September 30 is the Starting Point, Not Deadline for Militia Disarmament – On August 26, Qasim al-Araji, a senior security adviser to Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, said that September 30—the date set for the departure of the international coalition—will be a starting point, rather than an endpoint, for the government’s […]

Key Takeaways: POLITICS: Zaidi Faces Militia Threats Over Disarmament Push; Iran’s Ghalibaf Presents Tehran’s Proposal for Compromise – On August 13, the Badr Organization warned Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi against moving too quickly to satisfy U.S. demands to place all weapons under state control. Badr official Mohammed Naji said the state and the “resistance” should […]

Key Takeaways: POLITICS: Iraq-Saudi Security Talks Focus on Drone Attacks; Anti-Corruption Campaign Targets First Significant Shia Figure; Zaidi Seeks Legislative Support for Militia Disarmament – On August 7, Saudi intelligence chief Khalid bin Ali al-Humaidan arrived in Baghdad for talks with Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and to extend a new invitation to visit Riyadh after […]

Key Takeaways: POLITICS: Government Increases Pressure on Intransigent Militias to Disarm as Neighbors Warn of Retaliation if Attacked Again – On August 5, Iraq’s State Administration Coalition, which comprises the country’s main governing parties, reaffirmed its support for the government’s efforts to bring all weapons under state control and stressed that Iraqi territory must not […]

Key Takeaways: POLITICS: Zaidi Reshapes Iraq’s Security Command Structure; Baghdad to Expand Energy, Transport, and Trade Ties with Lebanon and Turkey – On July 26, government sources said that Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi re-established the Office of the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces as part of a broader effort to reorganize the management […]

Key Takeaways: POLITICS: Zaidi Signs New Cooperation Agreements in Tehran Days After Landmark U.S. Visit – On July 23, Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi arrived in Tehran on his first official visit to Iran, where he was received at the airport by President Masoud Pezeshkian. Zaidi and Pezeshkian chaired expanded talks involving the Iraqi delegation—which included […]

Key Takeaways: POLITICS: Zaidi Gets Warm Welcome from Trump During White House Visit Rebuked by Militias – On July 13, Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi arrived in Washington accompanied by the ministers of Oil, Finance, Electricity, Trade, and Foreign Affairs, along with nearly two dozen lawmakers and senior government officials. The following day, Zaidi met with […]

Key Takeaways: POLITICS: PUK-New Generation Alliance Formalized; PM’s Allies Criticize Militarization of Anti-Corruption Sweep; Millions Attend Khamenei Funeral Events in Iraq – On July 2, the leaders of the New Generation (NG) party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) signed an agreement formalizing their political alliance, which aims to break the deadlock with the […]