Archive | Politics

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

Video: Balance of Power shifts in Kirkuk

From AFP. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. With the return of Kirkuk to Iraqi control, the balance of power appears to have shifted between the ethnic communities in the Kurdish-majority city, to the delight of its Turkmen residents.

Video: Concern over Alleged Abuse of Kurds in Kirkuk

From Al Jazeera. Any opinions expressed are those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. About 100,000 Kurds have fled the Kirkuk region since it was retaken by Iraqi forces from Kurdistan's regional government (KRG). The UN says it is worried by reports of civilians being forcibly displaced […]

Kurdish Elections to be Suspended

In a statement released on October 18, the Kurdish Independent High Electoral and Referendum Commission (IHERC) said it had decided to suspend the preparations for the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections, due to be held on November 1, due to the recent violence in Kirkuk and other disputed territories. The suspension is due to not […]

KRG welcomes Iraqi PM’s call for Dialogue

The Council of Ministers of the Kurdistan Regional Government held a meeting on Thursday to discuss the latest developments in the region. Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani and Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani attended the meeting and discussed the situation in Kirkuk and other areas that witnessed tensions and clashes this week. The Council of Ministers […]

Luaibi asks BP to Return to Kirkuk Oilfields

By John Lee. Iraqi Oil Minister Jabar Ali al-Luaibi [Allibi, Luiebi] (pictured) has asked UK-based BP to develop the disputed Kirkuk oilfields. The move comes just a day after Baghdad regained control of the area from Kurdish forces. Control of the field remains split between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Baghdad’s North Oil Company […]

How Turkey's Nuclear Plant could curb KRG Ambitions

By Dr. Olgu Okumuş for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. On Sept. 28, when Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan jointly stated their support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq, they also made a point of stressing their […]

Turkmens unite against Kurdish Designs on Kirkuk

By Hamdi Malik for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. The Sept. 25 referendum, in which voters overwhelmingly voted for independence for Iraqi Kurdistan, increased the division between the Turkmen and Kurdish populations in the disputed city of Kirkuk. But Turkmens believe the Kurdish […]

Assessing the Impact of Shifting Iran-KRG Relations

By Bijan Khajehpour, for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iran and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in Iraq have historically been on good terms. During the Saddam Hussein years, Iran was one of the main countries to host Kurdish leaders. In the post-Saddam […]

Baghdad warns Erbil not to Shut Down Kirkuk Oil

By John Lee. Iraq is reportedly considering using security forces to prevent Kurdistan from blocking oil output from Kirkuk. A spokesman for the North Oil Company (NOC) told Reuters that Kurdish officials indicated that they would shut down production at the Kirkuk oilfield, ostensibly for security reasons, but as a means of putting pressure on […]

Federal Forces Advance on Kirkuk City

Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), Counterterrorism Services (CTS), Federal Police (FP), and Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) launched a combined offensive with intent to seize the K1 military base, Kirkuk airport, and Kirkuk's oilfields at around 0200hrs (local) on October 16. The offensive followed two days of failed negotiations after the government of Iraq demanded Kurdish forces […]

Iran Reported to have Shut Crossing with Kurdish Region

Iran reported to have shut crossing with Kurdish region; subsequently denied by Iran Reports on October 15 claimed that the Iranian authorities shut a main border crossing with the Kurdish region amid increased tensions. Ali Tawfiq, director of the terminal in Sulaimaniyah province reported that the main border crossing at Bashmaq had been closed by […]