By Raad Alkadiri for the Atlantic Council. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. US energy firms are returning to Iraq -- but politics could undo their fortunes US firms are back in Iraq. Whether their outlook is as propitious a year […]
By John Lee. Russia's LUKOIL has announced that it will sell its international assets to Swiss-based Gunvor Group. In an announcement on Thursday, the company said: "The conclusion of the binding agreement for the transaction is subject to conditions precedent including obtaining OFAC permission by the Purchaser as well as any other applicable licenses, permits […]
From Amwaj Media. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Deep Dive: Trump names first US special envoy to Iraq in two decades For the first time in more than two decades, the US has appointed a special envoy to Iraq. President Donald […]
From Kurdistan24. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. "I Want to Make Iraq Great Again": Trump's New Slogan for Iraq and What It Means Savaya's "Make Iraq Great Again" echoes Trump's signature slogan, signaling a bold U.S. push to reshape Iraq's political […]
By Mohammed A. Salih for the Atlantic Council. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Why Washington's anti-PMF moves are testing the Iraq partnership Recent measures from the Trump administration against Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) -- a 240,000-strong force with an […]
By John Lee. FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands Inc., parent company of Great American Cookies and Marble Slab Creamery, has announced a development agreement to open ten co-branded stores across Iraq over the next five years. The partnership is with Eric Wilson, a 27-year U.S. military veteran who previously served in Iraq. Taylor Wiederhorn, Chief […]
By John Lee. US resident Donald Trump has announced that Mark Savaya will serve as Special Envoy to the Republic of Iraq. Trump said that Savaya's deep understanding of the Iraq-U.S. relationship, and his connections in the region, will help advance the interests of the American people. Savaya was a key player in Trump's campaign […]
By John Lee. Iraq's Minister of Finance, Taif Sami Mohammed, along with the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) and their accompanying delegation, participated in the annual meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), held in Washington from 13th to 18th October 2025. The meetings focused on […]
By John Lee. If anyone doubts the importance of last week's agreement for US oil major ExxonMobil to return to Iraq, may we suggest reading the following article from Simon Watkins in OilPrice: What ExxonMobil's Comeback in Iraq Really Means. The author describes it as "perhaps the most significant of the recent deals between firms […]
By John Lee. The second batch of US-made Bell 505 helicopters arrived at Martyr Brigadier General Mohammed Alaa Air Base this week. The delivery eight helicopter follows directives from the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to enhance and modernise the capabilities of Iraq's military forces across all branches. According to a Ministry of Defense statement, […]
By John Lee. The Ministry of Trade has held a joint meeting between the Department of Foreign Economic Relations and the economic team from US-based KBR to discuss areas of cooperation supporting Iraq's trade policies and digital transformation efforts. According to a ministry statement, Director General of the Department, Riyadh Al-Hashemi, highlighted the importance of […]
By John Lee. An Iraqi government spokesman has said Iraq views recent US sanctions against Iraqi enities, including the Muhandis General Company [Sharakat al-Muhandis al-Amma], as "deeply regrettable," describing it as a unilateral action that contradicts the spirit of friendship and mutual respect between the two countries. Basim Alawadi added that the Prime Minister has […]
