Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Tuesday Morning 7-21-26
The Shiite Political Bloc Can No Longer Accommodate Everyone.
A leader told One News: "The 'Coordination Framework' is heading towards a harsh restructuring, reducing its seats to 5 and excluding prominent forces."
latest news Tuesday, July 21, 2026 Baghdad - One News - Leading political sources in Baghdad revealed to One News that intense and unprecedented activity is underway within the corridors of the ruling Shiite "Coordination Framework" in Iraq, aimed at a radical restructuring of its leadership.
Discussions behind the scenes are leaning towards reducing the coalition's leadership body to just five seats, a preemptive move by influential forces seeking to expedite decision-making and avert the internal deadlock and paralysis that now threatens the framework's cohesion.
According to exclusive information obtained by “One News” from a leading source who requested anonymity, the proposed restructuring plan includes excluding five prominent figures from the decision-making circle within the coalition: Ahmed al-Asadi, Abu Alaa al-Walai, Shibl al-Zaidi, along with former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, and the head of the Supreme Islamic Council, Humam Hamoudi.
The source linked the inclusion of al-Asadi and al-Zaydi’s names on the list of those excluded to indications of prosecutions and files related to suspicions of financial and administrative corruption that some of them or their relatives have recently faced, while the exclusion of al-Abadi, Hammoudi, and al-Walai comes as part of the process of “re-engineering the difficult balances” within the Shiite alliance, with the aim of forming a smaller, more harmonious, and more maneuverable decision-making circle.
This potential organizational shake-up comes as an extension of a silent crisis that has been plaguing the “coordination framework” for months, the pace of which has noticeably increased following the formation of Prime Minister Ali al-Zidi’s government and the vote on its cabinet, as resentment prevailed among several parties who felt that they had been excluded or had not received their “electoral and executive entitlement” from ministerial portfolios and independent bodies.
But the deeper dimensions of this anticipated transformation lie in the widening rift between the "traditional" political forces and those with armed factional wings. According to the leading source, the armed wings within the framework are now facing a real dilemma in consolidating their official influence within the state structure, due to a strict, albeit undeclared, "American veto" that obstructs the assignment of any sensitive executive or ministerial positions to figures associated with the factions.
This has, consequently, led to a decline in their representation and influence, prompting other parties to move towards limiting their presence in the framework's political decision-making center.
These restructuring efforts reflect serious concerns among key figures in the Shiite alliance about entering a "highly complex and dangerous political phase."
Prominent leaders believe this phase could impose harsh scenarios on the entire Iraqi political landscape and jeopardize the continuity of the current "coordination framework" unless internal divisions are addressed and a unified discourse is established. https://1news-iq.net/البيت-الشيعي-لم-يعد-يتسع-للجميع-قيادي/
Al-Mada: Al-Zaidi Intends To Request Iranian Support For The Transfer Of Ballistic Missiles And To Finalize Iraq's Weapons File Before The End Of September
latest news Tuesday, July 21, 2026 Baghdad - One News - 7/21/2026 Al-Mada newspaper reported that Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi, five days after his visit to Washington, is preparing to head to Tehran on July 23, in a visit that will test the government’s ability to implement the pledges he brought from the American capital.
She indicated that during his visit to Iran, Al-Zaydi will ask Tehran to exert pressure on the armed factions to release what the sources described as the “ballistic card,” and to hand over the missiles in their possession before September 30, which is the date set by the government to end the issue of weapons outside the state's control.
According to the newspaper, the meetings in Tehran will focus primarily on the groups that government circles describe as “rebels,” who refuse to disarm, noting that estimates suggest they possess hundreds of drones, in addition to at least eight ballistic missiles that they obtained from Iran and refuse to hand over. https://1news-iq.net/المدى-الزيدي-يعتزم-طلب-دعم-إيراني-لتسل/
Oil Retreats On Mediation Hopes
2026-07-21 01:28 Shafaq News Oil prices softened on Tuesday, with markets weighing reports of mediation efforts between the U.S. and Iran against an exchange of fresh attacks between the two and threats of a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia by Yemen's Houthis.
Brent crude futures eased 78 cents, or 0.9%, to $88.44 per barrel by 0415 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was down 73 cents, or 0.9%, to $82.50 per barrel, while the more active contract for September delivery slipped 41 cents, or 0.5%, to $82.07 a barrel.
"There's some hope of de-escalation between the U.S. and Iran. Reports are that mediators are proposing a 10-day ceasefire, which could put the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) back on track," ING analysts said in a note, referring to the June interim deal.
However, this won't be easy as major differences remain between Washington and Tehran, while Trump has warned of retaliation after several U.S. troops were killed, ING added.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters Tehran had received a proposal from mediators for a 10-day ceasefire in efforts to salvage the deal signed on June 17, intended to pave the way for a lasting agreement to end the war that began on February 28 with U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran.
The diplomatic push followed another night of U.S. strikes on Iranian cities and attacks by Iran's Revolutionary Guards on U.S. military assets across the region. Later on Monday, U.S. Central Command said it had begun another round of strikes on Iran.
A tanker in the Strait of Hormuz reported being struck by an unknown projectile, forcing its crew to abandon ship and board a lifeboat, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said on Tuesday. Vessel crossings via the strait also dropped further amid growing caution following fresh attacks between the U.S. and Iran.
Additionally, Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis said on Monday they would impose a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, opening a potential new front against the U.S. in its war on Iran and raising the threat to global energy supplies and trade beyond the Gulf.
"The threats of a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia by the Houthis are significant because they raise the risk of disruption to another major oil exporter," said Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade.
Meanwhile, U.S. crude oil stockpiles were expected to have fallen last week alongside gasoline, while distillate stocks likely rose, a preliminary Reuters poll showed on Monday. (Reuters)
https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Oil-retreats-on-mediation-hopes
Dollar Drops In Baghdad And Erbil
2026-07-21 04:04 Shafaq News- Baghdad/ Erbil The US dollar opened Tuesday's trading lower in Iraq, hovering around 150,000 dinars per 100 dollars in Baghdad and Erbil.
According to Shafaq News market survey, the dollar traded in Baghdad's Al-Kifah and Al-Harithiya exchanges at 149,600 dinars per 100 dollars, down from Monday's 150,800 dinars.
In the Iraqi capital, exchange shops sold the dollar at 150,000 dinars and bought it at 149,000 dinars.
In Erbil, selling prices stood at 150,050 dinars and buying prices at 149,900 dinars.
https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Dollar-drops-in-Baghdad-and-Erbil-2