Iraq Business News brings you the latest Iraqi politics news, keeping you up to date with the latest information and developments.
By John Lee. On this episode of Talk to Al Jazeera, Jane Arraf sits down with Massoud Barzani to find out how far he is willing to go to protect and promote the interests of the Kurdish people: (Source: AlJazeera)
By John Lee. Iraqi Kurdish security forces have prevented Iraqi government soldiers from reaching a disputed area that borders Syria, according to this video from Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera's Omar Al Saleh reports from the Fishkhabour border crossing between Iraq and Syria: (Source: AlJazeera)
By John Lee. Vice President Tariq Al Hashemi, the highest Sunni official in Iraq, is being tried in absentia in a Baghdad court. In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera on Wednesday, he said the case against him was "political", and that confessions from witnesses have been extracted "under severe torture". He also criticised Prime Minister […]
A new draft law on information technology crimes would restrict free speech in violation of international law and poses a severe threat to journalists, whistleblowers, and peaceful activists, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The pending law includes vague provisions that would allow Iraqi authorities to harshly punish expression they decide constitutes […]
By John Lee. Turkey has started importing the crude oil from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and will hold negotiations over direct sales to the natural gas. The Turkish Energy Minister said in a press conference on Friday that "Turkey has started importing five to ten trucks of crude oil per day from Kurdistan, and […]
By Shwan Zulal. 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. The disputes between Baghdad and Iraqi Kurdistan have led some local politicians to call for the semi-autonomous region to secede from Iraq and become its own […]
By John Lee. A spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Michael McClellan, has denied recent reports in the Iraqi media that the U.S. Embassy has prepared a report on the wealth of Iraq's political leaders. “Embassy officials meet regularly with Iraqi leaders across the political spectrum and engage them on a wide range of […]
By Reidar Visser. The following article was published by Reidar Visser, an historian of Iraq educated at the University of Oxford and currently based at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs. It is reproduced here with the author’s permission. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq […]
By John Lee. "Is Iraq a failing state, or has it already failed", asks Peter Lavelle on Russia Today's Crosstalk programme. Discussing the question are Robert Maginnis, Douglas Ollivant and John Glaser.
By Chris Bowers, British Consul General in Erbil. This article was originally published by Rudaw, and is re-published with permission by Iraq Business News. All good things have to come to an end. After one season short of two years, dear reader, I will be returning to London to spend more time with my family. […]
Iraq's government may soon shut down for much of the summer, says an article from Associated Press. A proposed law aims to shorten workdays and help public employees avoid soaring temperatures. It will also cut work hours during Ramadan, which this year begins on 20th July, but the law would for the first time legalise […]
The US House Oversight Committee held a hearing to assess the transition of control in Iraq from a military to a civilian-led mission. Witnesses included: The Honorable Patrick Kennedy, Under Secretary for Management, U.S. Department of State; Mr. Peter Verga, Chief of Staff for the Under Secretary for Policy, U.S. Department of Defense; The Honorable […]
