Tuesday Iraq News Posted by Tishwash at TNT 6-16-2026

TNT:

Tishwash:  Partnership, security, investment, and Trump invites al-Zaidi to visit  Washington in mid-July

Iraq and the United States affirmed on Tuesday their commitment to strengthening a "strong and mutually beneficial" strategic partnership that includes security, energy, and investment, as well as supporting political and economic stability in the country.

This came in a joint statement issued today by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and US President Donald Trump's special envoy Tom Barrack.

According to the statement, Al-Zaidi and Barak reaffirmed the shared commitment of the Iraqi and US governments to establishing a strong and mutually beneficial US-Iraqi partnership capable of fulfilling the aspirations of Iraqis for a future of sovereignty, security and prosperity, and providing tangible benefits to the Iraqi and American people.

Barak conveyed President Trump's desire to receive the Prime Minister at the White House in mid-July to discuss the future of this relationship.

According to the statement, the two sides discussed the Iraqi government’s shared and ambitious vision for building a brighter future free from terrorism, and implementing Iraqi plans aimed at the complete disarmament and disbanding of all armed groups and formations operating outside the authority and control of the Iraqi state, confining weapons to the state, and imposing full sovereignty, in order to ensure that Iraq is kept away from conflicts and that its territory is not used by any party to threaten regional peace, while emphasizing the urgent need to fully accomplish these efforts.

The Prime Minister reiterated Iraq’s commitment to deepening trade and investment relations between the two countries, which Barak welcomed as a shared approach.

Both sides also commended Iraq’s decision to finalize the granting of the operating license to Starlink to provide world-class internet services to Iraqi consumers, launch negotiations with Chevron to develop the West Qurna-2 and Nasiriyah oil fields, enable American companies HKN, Western Zagros and Hunt to resume their operations with full security guarantees, move forward with the memorandum of understanding with TI Capital to rehabilitate the Kirkuk-Banias pipeline as a vital oil export route, and commit to expanding trade cooperation between the United States and Iraq to support Iraq’s electricity needs, including Excelerate Energy’s project to develop a floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal in Khor Al-Zubair.

Both sides also stressed the importance of supporting a strong, united, sovereign, federal, democratic Iraq based on well-established constitutional institutions, and ensuring full equality for all citizens, thereby enhancing Iraq’s unity, stability, and prosperity.  link

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Tishwash:  American efforts to strengthen economic presence in Iraq through investments and joint projects

Political sources confirmed that the anticipated talks between Iraq and the United States will not be limited to security and political aspects, but will also include important economic and investment files aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two sides.

She indicated that the US administration seeks, during the next phase, to expand its economic presence in Iraq and the region, by encouraging investments and joint projects in the energy, infrastructure, transportation and services sectors, in a way that contributes to supporting economic development and stimulating growth.

She added that Washington has adopted a new approach based on combining security and economic tools, stemming from the conviction that sustainable stability cannot be achieved without providing an attractive investment environment capable of supporting economic growth and creating job opportunities.

She pointed out that these trends come within the framework of broader efforts to strengthen regional economic partnerships and support development projects, in order to achieve common interests and contribute to consolidating long-term stability.  link

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Tishwash:  American Trade Delegation Arrives in Erbil, PM Barzani to Meet Delegation, Investment Board Chief Says

Mohammad Shukri, Chairman of the Kurdistan Region Investment Board, told Kurdistan24 in an exclusive interview on Monday that the delegation represents a major American company with operations in 18 countries.

An American trade and investment delegation has arrived in Erbil to explore investment opportunities, particularly in strategic industries outside the oil sector.

Mohammad Shukri, Chairman of the Kurdistan Region Investment Board, told Kurdistan24 in an exclusive interview on Monday that the delegation represents a major American company with operations in 18 countries. He said the visitors are scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Masrour Barzani to discuss expanding commercial cooperation and launching large-scale projects across the Kurdistan Region.

Shukri stressed that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is pursuing a strategy of diversifying its revenue sources and views American investment as a key component of that effort. He highlighted urban development, healthcare, and tourism as priority sectors for future cooperation.

"The Prime Minister wants these global companies to see the reality on the ground firsthand and to implement strategic projects in the Kurdistan Region in the future," Shukri said.

He also revealed that a special economic forum bringing together the Kurdistan Region and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce will be held in Washington next July, as part of broader efforts to attract foreign capital and deepen bilateral economic relations.

According to the latest data from the General Directorate of Company Registration, 169 American companies are currently registered in the Kurdistan Region. Of those, 155 are based in Erbil and are active in a range of commercial sectors.

The latest visit builds on growing economic engagement between Washington and Erbil. In October 2025, the KRG Representation in Washington announced that a high-level delegation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, accompanied by representatives from leading global firms including Google, IBM, Visa, PepsiCo, and Coca-Cola, visited the Kurdistan Region to assess investment opportunities and review ongoing reform initiatives.

During that visit, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani met with the delegation and outlined the KRG's economic reform agenda, emphasizing efforts to diversify the economy and create a more attractive investment climate. He noted that the Kurdistan Region's young workforce and strategic geographic location make it a gateway for American businesses seeking to expand into Iraq and the wider Middle East.

The American delegation also toured several strategic projects, including the Erbil Rapid Water Emergency Project, and visited the Department of Information Technology to examine the government's digital transformation initiatives and progress toward a paperless administrative system, developments that drew particular interest from technology companies.

Steve Lutes, Vice President of Middle East Affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, described the earlier mission as "a strong signal" of the Kurdistan Region's economic potential. Meanwhile, Shukri highlighted the incentives available to foreign investors, while U.S. Consul General Wendy Green underscored the importance of public-private partnerships in promoting sustainable economic growth.

The 2025 visit concluded with a tour of the historic Erbil Citadel, symbolizing the deepening relationship between the United States and the Kurdistan Region, a partnership that extends beyond trade and investment to include cultural and people-to-people ties.

The arrival of the new American delegation reflects the KRG's continuing efforts to attract international investors and position the Kurdistan Region as a regional hub for strategic investment and economic development. link

Tishwash:  Abu Kalal: We are keen to support foreign companies operating in the oil sector.

The head of the Media and Communications Commission, Baligh Abu Kalal, affirmed the commission’s commitment to supporting foreign companies operating in the oil sector, based on the importance of this sector in supporting the national economy and promoting development.

A statement issued by the Media and Communications Commission (MCC) and received by Al-Furat News indicated that its Executive Director, Baligh Abu Kalal, met with Ni Chuan, President of PetroChina International in Iraq, the operator of the West Qurna/1 oil field, to discuss several files of mutual interest in the technical and regulatory fields.

During the meeting, Abu Kalal emphasized the MCC's commitment to supporting foreign companies operating in the oil sector, given the sector's importance in bolstering the national economy and promoting development. He also noted the Commission's dedication to providing a stable and flexible regulatory environment that supports investment and facilitates the operations of companies working in Iraq.

The statement added that the meeting also addressed ways to enhance cooperation in training, capacity building, and knowledge transfer, particularly in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity technologies, to develop national expertise and keep pace with rapid technological advancements.

He continued, "Opportunities for cooperation within the framework of the company's social benefit programs were also discussed, particularly initiatives related to the communications, media and information technology sectors, which contribute to supporting development projects, building capacities and enhancing the use of modern technologies in the service of society. Both sides emphasized the importance of strengthening technical partnerships and exchanging experiences in a way that serves the goals of sustainable development and supports technological development projects in Iraq."  link

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Tishwash:  United Nations: The four Iraqi presidencies agree on ensuring a decent life for all citizens.

The UN Assistant Secretary-General and Regional Director of the United Nations Development Programme for Arab States, Abdullah Al-Dardari, confirmed on Monday that the four Iraqi presidencies are in agreement on fighting corruption and adopting a competitive economy to ensure a decent life for all citizens.

Al-Dardari said during a roundtable discussion with several media outlets: "During my visit to Iraq, I had the honor of meeting with the four presidencies and a number of ministers," indicating that "this is evidence of interest in what the United Nations program can offer to Iraq."

He added, "I listened to integrated and consistent visions among the four presidencies regarding the need to move to a strong, competitive Iraq that ensures a decent life for all citizens and public services, with an economy that is not based solely on rent-seeking, but on competitiveness, while fighting corruption, reforming and developing the social protection system, and reforming the support system, as it does not satisfy the citizen and public finances in its current form."

Al-Dardari emphasized, "I was surprised by the depth and breadth of the vision, and most importantly, the strong political consensus among the four presidencies regarding this vision and the boldness in confronting it," noting that "any government that confronts corruption, subsidies, arms control, social protection management, and economic diversification simultaneously is a testament to the boldness of its approach, and we cannot remain as we are."  link