Archive | Politics

Iraq Business News brings you the latest Iraqi politics news, keeping you up to date with the latest information and developments.

Mueller witness "Helped Broker" $4.2bn Iraq-Russia Arms Deal

By Laura Rozen for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The dealmaker: Mueller witness helped broker $4.2 billion Iraq-Russia arms deal A Lebanese-American businessman reported to be cooperating with Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe helped broker a controversial 2012 Iraq-Russia arms deal valued at […]

A Distracting Debate on Banning Porn in Kurdistan

This article was originally published by Niqash. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. By Histyar Qader. One might assume that the long-stalled Kurdish parliament would have other things to talk about: One of the most pressing issues up for debate revolves around banning […]

New Iraqi Budget, New Rules To Anger and Upset

This article was originally published by Niqash. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. By Mustafa Habib. For the first time in over ten years, Iraq managed to pass a federal budget with MPs’ votes. In the process there have been last minute deals, […]

Govt-Wide Institutional Performance Management in Erbil

Launching the capacity building program on "Government-Wide Institutional Performance Management" The first in a series of capacity building workshops has been concluded in Erbil, Iraq. With the ultimate aim of helping Iraq reinforce its accountability and efficiency mechanisms, the workshop’s objective was to improve the Iraq public sector readiness to apply a new model of […]

Iraq to Seize Assets of Saddam Hussein and his Officials

By John Lee. Iraq's Commission for Accountability and Justice has reportedly completed the list of the relatives and associates of the late President Saddam Hussein (pictured), who are to have their assets confiscated. According to a report Asharq al-Awsat, the confiscation involves 52 senior officials from his former regime, and over 4,000 ex-ministers and officials […]

KRG "could Suspend" Erbil Domestic Flights

A Kurdistan 24 press quoted Talar Faiq, the Director-General of Erbil International Airport (EIA) as saying that the KRG could suspend domestic flights between the Kurdistan Region’s airports and the rest of Iraq due to financial issues and Baghdad’s international flight ban. “Since the Iraqi government’s ban went into effect late September 2017, Iraqi Airways […]

"Iranian Interference" in Iraqi Election Angers Iraqis

By Ali Mamouri for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iranian Interference in Iraqi Election stirs Anger among Iraqis Ali Akbar Velayati (pictured), Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's top adviser on international affairs, paid an official visit to Iraq from Feb. 15-18. He made statements on […]

Baghdad extends Air Blockade over KRG-held Areas

By John Lee. Daily Sabah reports that Iraq has extended its ban on international flights to Iraqi Kurdistan by three months. The Iraq Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA) reportedly told Erbil International Airport (EIA) that the ban on international flights to and from Erbil and Sulaymaniyah airports has been extended to the end of May. (Source: […]

New Oil Licensing Round Delayed by Elections

By John Lee. Platts reports that the final details of Iraq's latest oilfield licensing round will not be completed by the planned date of July, due to the upcoming elections. Abdul Mahdy Al-Ameedi, Director General of the Oil Ministry's Petroleum Contracts and Licensing Directorate (PCLD) told the CWC Iraq Petroleum Conference in Berlin: "The timing […]

Provincial Elections set for December

The Iraqi Council of Ministers has reportedly set the 22nd December 2018 as the date for the provincial elections to be held in Iraq. Previously, the provincial elections were scheduled for before the national elections; however, the fight against the IS as well as the ongoing displacement crisis prevented these from being held earlier. The […]

Iraq Falls in Transparency Ranking

By John Lee. Transparency International has said that Iraq's ranking has fallen three places its global Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). From a total of 180 countries, Iraq came in at number 169; last year’s position was 166 out of 176 countries. This result puts it behind countries such as Turkmenistan, Angola and Eritrea, and just […]

Saudis to Open Basra Consulate; Iran Opens Border To Iraqis

This article was originally published by Niqash. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. By Saleem al-Wazzan. As Saudis Prepare To Open Basra Consulate, Iran Opens Border To Iraqis Iraqis can now visit a special visa-free zone in neighbouring Iran, over the border from […]