Some “Iraq News” Posted by Tishwash at TNT 5-13-2026
TNT:
Tishwash: Prime Minister-designate Ali Faleh al-Zaidi receives the European Union Ambassador to Iraq
Prime Minister-designate Ali Faleh al-Zaidi received on Tuesday the European Union Ambassador to Iraq, Clemens Smutner, who delivered a message from the EU countries expressing their support for the new government and their willingness to work with it in various fields.
During the meeting, the prospects for cooperation relations between Iraq and the European Union countries were discussed, as well as ways to enhance them within the framework of bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding, and the future vision in a way that promotes mutual interests and benefits.
The meeting also witnessed discussions on regional and international issues and files of common interest, and emphasized the importance of intensifying joint work to achieve stability and development, and to preserve regional and international security. link
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Tishwash: Al-Zidi is close to gaining confidence and forming a strong government with the support of all parties in Iraq.
Political analyst Ahmed Al-Tamimi confirmed on Tuesday (May 12, 2026) that the current disagreements between political forces regarding the distribution of ministerial portfolios are a natural part of the negotiations process for forming governments in Iraq, predicting that the political forces will succeed in passing Ali Al-Zidi’s government during this week.
Al-Tamimi told Baghdad Today that the political process has become accustomed to intensive rounds of negotiations and political bargaining related to the distribution of sovereign and service ministries, noting that current indicators show advanced understandings between political blocs towards resolving the cabinet and voting on it within Parliament.
He explained that the political forces are aware of the sensitivity of the current stage and the country’s need for a fully empowered government, therefore the disputes raised fall within the framework of traditional political competition and do not reach the level of disrupting or thwarting the formation of the government.
He added that there is an internal and external desire to end the state of executive vacuum and to expedite the granting of confidence to the new government, noting that some objections related to names or ministerial quotas may be resolved in the last hours before the voting session, as happened in previous government experiences.
Al-Tamimi indicated that passing Ali al-Zaidi’s government is “closer than ever,” especially in light of the initial agreements between the main political forces, explaining that the next stage will depend to a large extent on the ability of the new government to achieve political balances and present a government program capable of addressing service and economic issues.
He stressed that the success of the next government will also be linked to its ability to calm the street and enhance internal stability, in light of the economic, service and security challenges facing the country.
For weeks, the political arena has witnessed intense activity among political blocs and alliances to resolve the issue of forming the new government, amid internal and external anticipation of the nature of the ministerial lineup and the political and economic program that will be adopted in the next phase. link
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Tishwash: The most complex issue awaits resolution: Oil: The oil and gas law is the key to stability between Baghdad and Erbil.
The spokesman for the Iraqi Ministry of Oil, Sahib Bazoun, confirmed on Tuesday (May 12, 2026) that the oil and gas file between Baghdad and Erbil will not witness complete stability until the oil and gas law is approved within the House of Representatives, noting that there are existing understandings between the federal government and the region regarding the management of the oil file.
Bazoun told Baghdad Today that there is an agreement and a political decision between the two sides, but that enacting the oil and gas law during the current parliamentary session represents the most important step to ensure the stability of the oil relationship and preserve the rights of all parties.
He explained that oil still constitutes about 90% of the Iraqi state’s imports, which makes this file a top priority for the next government, noting that the Prime Minister-designate, Ali al-Zaidi, has placed among his priorities the diversification of the state’s sources of income and the reduction of dependence on oil revenues, as he is “an economist.”
Bazoun pointed out that the Ministry of Oil is working to revitalize and expand oil export outlets, stressing the reactivation of the Ceyhan and Banias port outlets, in addition to proceeding with the activation of the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline with an export capacity of up to one and a half million barrels per day.
He added that the relative calm witnessed in the Strait of Hormuz during the past month helped in exporting two oil shipments, expressing his optimism about the improvement of conditions and the stability of export activity during the coming period.
Regarding strategic alternative plans, Bazoun revealed that the ministry has begun implementing the Basra-Haditha pipeline project, a strategic project with a capacity of two and a half million barrels per day and a diameter of 56 inches.
He explained that the importance of the project is not limited to transporting crude oil, but extends to supplying refineries located along the pipeline in the south, center and north with petroleum products, as well as enabling Iraq in the future to export oil through multiple outlets including Türkiye, Syria and Jordan via the port of Aqaba.
He confirmed that the project has already entered into force at an estimated cost of about five billion dollars, of which one and a half billion dollars have been allocated so far, noting that the work is proceeding "very normally" according to the plans set.
The Oil and Gas Law is one of the most prominent controversial laws postponed in Iraq since 2005, as it is related to regulating the management of oil wealth and the distribution of revenues between the federal government, the Kurdistan Region and the producing governorates, amid repeated political and economic demands to resolve it in order to end the disputes related to oil exports and contracts. link
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Tishwash: Oil and gas law: Will the current parliamentary session succeed in resolving one of the most complex issues?
The oil and gas law is imposing itself as one of the most sensitive issues within the Iraqi scene, amid increasing questions about the ability of political forces to pass it during the current parliamentary session.
The spokesman for the Iraqi Ministry of Oil, Sahib Bazoun, confirmed on Tuesday (May 12, 2026) that the oil and gas file between Baghdad and Erbil will not witness complete stability until the oil and gas law is approved within the House of Representatives, noting that there are existing understandings between the federal government and the region regarding the management of the oil file.
Bazoun said that there is an agreement and a political decision between the two parties, but that enacting the oil and gas law during the current parliamentary session represents the most important step to ensure the stability of the oil relationship and preserve the rights of all parties.
He explained that oil still constitutes about 90% of the Iraqi state’s revenues, which makes this issue a top priority for the next government.
He then pointed out that the Prime Minister-designate, Ali al-Zaidi, had placed among his priorities the diversification of the state’s sources of income and the reduction of dependence on oil revenues, in his capacity as an “economist.”
Bazoun pointed out that the Ministry of Oil is working to revitalize and expand oil export outlets, stressing the reactivation of the Ceyhan and Banias port outlets, in addition to proceeding with the activation of the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline with an export capacity of up to one and a half million barrels per day.
He added that the relative calm witnessed in the Strait of Hormuz during the past month helped in exporting two oil shipments, expressing his optimism about the improvement of conditions and the stability of export activity during the coming period.
Regarding strategic alternative plans, Bazoun revealed that the ministry has begun implementing the Basra-Haditha pipeline project, a strategic project with a capacity of two and a half million barrels per day and a diameter of 56 inches.
He explained that the importance of the project is not limited to transporting crude oil, but extends to supplying refineries located along the pipeline in the south, center and north with petroleum products , as well as enabling Iraq in the future to export oil through multiple outlets including Turkey, Syria and Jordan via the port of Aqaba.
He confirmed that the project has already entered into force at an estimated cost of about five billion dollars, of which one and a half billion dollars have been allocated so far, noting that the work is proceeding “very normally” according to the plans set.
The Oil and Gas Law is one of the most prominent controversial laws postponed in Iraq since 2005, as it is related to regulating the management of oil wealth and the distribution of revenues between the federal government, the Kurdistan Region and the producing governorates, amid repeated political and economic demands to resolve it in order to end the disputes related to oil exports and contracts. link