Shafaq News-Basra

The IstimrarParty, led by Basra Governor Asaad Al-Eidani, has declared a new politicalalliance with Al-Asas Alliance, according to an official party documentaddressed to Prime Minister-designate Ali Al-Zaidi.

Signed byAl-Eidani in his capacity as party president and secretary-general, thedocument states that Istimrar signatories consider themselves unaffiliated withcandidates put forward by the Tasmeem Alliance, the Ajyal Gathering, and theAbsher Ya Iraq coalition.

The alliancehas nominated Mohsen Ali Al-Mandalawi, Al-Asas head, for the communicationsministry portfolio in the incoming cabinet. Political sources told Shafaq Newsearlier that MP Mustafa Sanad, Absher Ya Iraq coalition head, had been rejectedfor the same post.

Al-Asas holds 8seats in the Council of Representatives, followed by Tasmeem with 6, Absher YaIraq with 4, and Ajyal Gathering with 1.

Iraq's Councilof Representatives is scheduled to vote Thursday evening on the fullministerial cabinet of Prime Minister-designate Ali Al-Zaidi.

Shafaq News- Washington

Washington is closely monitoring the formation of Iraq’s next government, the US State Department spokesperson told Shafaq News on Thursday, warning that its future approach toward the incoming administration will depend on the role Iran-linked armed factions play inside state institutions.

“The US is looking for action, not words… Iraq has a choice to make,” the spokesperson added.

“Iran’s terrorist militias must have no role in state institutions,” he said, noting that Iraqi state funds should not be used to support such groups, “we will calibrate our approach to the new government on that basis.”

PM-designate Ali Al-Zaidi continues efforts to finalize his cabinet ahead of the anticipated confidence vote, amid ongoing political discussions over the role of armed factions and the balance of power within the ruling Shiite Coordination Framework that nominated him.

Read more: Ali al-Zaidi named Iraq's prime minister: Easy nomination, harder road ahead

Political sources previously told Shafaq News that negotiations over restricting weapons to state control have become one of the main unresolved issues surrounding the cabinet formation process, with some factions opposing disarmament or integration without guarantees and conditions.

Earlier today, Sadiqoon Movement, Asaib Ahl Al-Haq’s political wing, stated that its participation in Al-Zaidi’s government would be discussed after talks concerning “the issue of restricting weapons according to the vision of the religious authority.”

For Shafaq News, Mostafa Hashem, Washington D.C.

Shafaq News- Washington

Iraqi political satirist Ahmed Al-Basheer on Wednesday delivered a public critique of Iraq’s post-2003 political order, mocking the opaque rise of businessman Ali Al-Zaidi toward the premiership and arguing that elections in Iraq have become little more than a ceremonial exercise overshadowed by elite bargaining and foreign influence.

Speaking during a session hosted by the Atlantic Council, Al-Basheer said Iraqis were introduced to Al-Zaidi’s candidacy with almost no public understanding of who he was politically. “We woke up one morning to headlines saying Ali Al-Zaidi would become the next prime minister,” he said. “Honestly, I had never heard of him as a politician. I only knew him as a businessman whose food products I personally buy abroad.”

The comedian then turned the discussion into a broader indictment of Iraq’s political culture. “We know nothing about this man,” he continued. “Is he Islamist? Liberal? Atheist? Nobody knows because he has never even given an interview. We are dealing with a ghost prime minister. We do not even know what his voice sounds like. The voice we eventually hear could literally be AI.”

Read more: Who is Ali Al-Zaidi? The businessman tapped for Iraq's premiership

Drawing laughter from the audience, Al-Basheer mocked the media image circulated of Al-Zaidi, saying he had expected “the traditional Iraqi political figure with a thick moustache and an old-fashioned suit,” only to find someone who “looks more like your friend from a café smoking shisha than the man expected to run a country drowning in crises.”

But the sharpest part of Al-Basheer’s remarks targeted the political system itself rather than Al-Zaidi personally. He argued that Iraqi elections have steadily lost meaning because real power lies in closed-door negotiations among party leaders and regional actors.

“Since 2005, Iraqis vote in one direction and America or Iran pushes things in another,” he said. “We exhaust ourselves with purple ink [elections] while nine political leaders sit in a room deciding who comes next. Why continue this game at all?”

Al-Basheer described parliament as a “gold mine” for comedy, portraying lawmakers as figures driven less by policy conviction than by instructions from party leadership.

“Our MPs suddenly become guardians of morality when a woman wearing a short skirt appears on television,” he said sarcastically. “But on oil, corruption, and stolen money, they turn into puppets waiting for WhatsApp instructions.”

The Iraqi presenter also painted a bleak picture of media freedom inside the country, arguing that most television channels operate as extensions of political factions rather than independent institutions. “Yes, Iraq has hundreds of channels,” he said. “But they function exactly like our democracy. Every outlet attacks the rival side only until political deals are reached. Once agreements happen, the ‘freedom of expression’ disappears overnight.”

He added that his ability to criticize political figures openly was tied largely to the fact that he lives outside Iraq.

Still, Al-Basheer surprised some attendees by saying that the era of former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki witnessed broader tolerance toward media criticism than later periods. “I criticized al-Maliki relentlessly and he never pursued me legally,” he said.

Despite his criticism, Al-Basheer ended on a more hopeful note, saying meaningful change in Iraq would ultimately come from society itself rather than from outside intervention.

He also recalled receiving a phone call from former Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi after Al-Abadi left office, during which Al-Abadi thanked him for exposing “the snakes” surrounding his administration, despite years of criticism directed at him on the show.

“I once believed one sentence could change the country overnight,” he said. “Now I believe change takes time. Iraqis will eventually reclaim their country from corruption and militias, just as the October protest movement surprised all of us. No Iron Man is coming to save Iraq —Iraqis will have to do it themselves.”

Shafaq News- Baghdad

The Iraqi Artists Syndicate pushed back on Wednesday against efforts toinclude the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities in Iraq’s politicalquota-sharing system, warning that treating cultural institutions as part ofpolitical bargaining risks weakening their national role.

It stressed that culture andarts cannot be reduced to a minoradministrative sector or symbolic portfolio, describing them as central toIraq’s historical memory, identity, and cultural presence, with a direct impacton education, social cohesion, and public awareness.

Rejecting the continued division of ministerial posts along partisanlines, the Syndicate reiterated that leadership of cultural institutions shouldbe entrusted to qualified professionals selected strictly on merit.

Earlier today, a source told Shafaq News that Iraqi PrimeMinister-designate Ali al-Zaidi has yet to finalize his cabinet lineup andcontinues to review candidates submitted by political blocs and parties.

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Debate over restricting weapons to Iraqi state control has emerged as a key obstacle ahead of Thursday’s parliamentary vote on Prime Minister-designate Ali Al-Zaidi’s cabinet, as major political blocs continued unveiling ministerial nominees amid unresolved negotiations.

Sadiqoon Movement, the political wing of Asaib Ahl Al-Haq armed group, said Wednesday that its participation in the incoming government would depend on discussions surrounding the “file of restricting weapons according to the vision of the religious authority.”

Political sources told Shafaq News that Al-Zaidi is attempting to form a cabinet that avoids direct confrontation with the US position on armed factions while preserving internal balances within the Shiite ruling Coordination Framework.

Naeem Al-Aboudi, political aide to Qais Al-Khazali, said during an interview on Al-Ahd TV that Sadiqoon “will join the government after discussing the issue of restricting weapons,” adding that the movement had been “the first to call for regulating weapons.”

He added that Sadiqoun’s ministerial share in Al-Zaidi’s government “would be delayed” until discussions are completed, without elaborating further.

The movement holds 28 seats in Iraq’s parliament and recently strengthened its influence after senior member Adnan Fayhan was elected first deputy speaker of parliament.

Negotiations over cabinet formation are face mounting pressure tied to factions refusing to disarm. A political source previously told Shafaq News that a committee formed by Al-Zaidi categorized armed groups, including political factions with military wings represented in government, and informed them they must end armed activity outside state institutions.

According to the source, some factions continue to attach conditions to disarmament and integration efforts despite calls to accelerate the handover of weapons and absorb fighters into state structures.

Earlier this month, the United States Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on officials and figures allegedly tied to armed groups loyal to Iran, including leaders within Asaib Ahl Al-Haq, which Washington designated a foreign terrorist organization in 2020.

Meanwhile, National Wisdom (Al-Hikma) Movement,led by Ammar Al-Hakim, announced the nomination of Faleh Al-Sari for finance minister and Safaa Al-Kinani for youth and sports minister.

The parliamentary bloc of Taqaddum Party also revealed nominations for Mohammed Nouri Al-Karbouli as industry minister and Abdul Karim Abtan as education minister.

A source close to Al-Zaidi told Shafaq News that the prime minister-designate has yet to finalize several cabinet positions and is still reviewing names submitted by political blocs.

The source said Al-Zaidi has held intensive meetings with a special team examining candidates’ backgrounds and may postpone decisions on some ministries until shortly before the confidence vote. The source added that Al-Zaidi requested replacements for some nominees after raising concerns regarding several proposed candidates.

Iraq’s parliament has officially scheduled Thursday, May 14, for the vote on Al-Zaidi’s cabinet. He was tasked with forming the government on April 27, 2026, succeeding caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani.

Read more: Ali al-Zaidi named Iraq's prime minister: Easy nomination, harder road ahead

Shafaq News- Washington

Kurdistan Region Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani on Wednesday notedthat Iraq’s next government is likely to adopt a more “independent” approach todecision-making, arguing that a policy of “balance” will shape the country’supcoming political phase.

Speaking at the “Iraq Dialogue Day” forum in Washington, Talabani addedthat Iraq has a rare opportunity to transform its geographic position from a“security burden” into a “strategic asset,” stressing that national interestsare best served by maintaining strong relations with all parties withoutexception.

“Iraq is almost the only country where all global and regional powersseek to maintain good relations,” he remarked.

Former US ambassador to Iraq Alina Romanowski warned during the sameevent that Baghdad can no longer afford to postpone major decisions, pointingthat hesitation could trigger “dramatic” reactions from Gulf States and theUnited States, ranging from sidelining Iraq to measures that could ultimatelyproduce adverse consequences for Baghdad.

She described the main challenge facing Iraq’s next government asdemonstrating readiness to integrate into the region’s evolving order, not onlyeconomically but also within a gradually forming regional security framework.

Earlier today, a source told Shafaq News Agency that Iraqi PrimeMinister-designate Ali al-Zaidi has yet to finalize his cabinet lineup andcontinues to review candidates submitted by political blocs and parties.

For Shafaq News, Mostafa Hashem, Washington D.C.

Read more: Ali al-Zaidi named Iraq's prime minister: Easy nomination, harder road ahead

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Prime Minister-designate Ali Al-Zaidi held talks withTaqaddum Party leader Mohammed Al-Halbousi in the Jordanian capital, Amman, twodays ago, to discuss issues related to the formation of Iraq’s next government,a senior political source revealed to Shafaq News on Wednesday.

The meeting focused on demands by parties within the Sunnipolitical coalition regarding the allocation of political “points” tied togovernment positions. According to the discussions, the Taqaddum Party wouldbear the political cost of the parliament speaker position from its own share,without reducing the coalition’s broader allocation of ministerial posts andstate positions.

The source added that the meeting ended without anagreement, stressing that the process of the new government formation “will notbe easy.” He noted that several scenarios remain possible, including a boycottof the parliamentary session designated for voting on the cabinet, failure tosecure the required quorum, or withholding approval for some nominees.

“Al-Zaidi is continuing efforts to bridge differencesbetween political factions and end disputes among rival parties,” the sourcesaid, noting that meetings are ongoing between Al-Zaidi and leaders of theCoordination Framework, a coalition of mainly Shiite political parties, toreach broader understandings.

Earlier in the day, a source close to Al-Zaidi told ShafaqNews that he didn’t yet finalize his cabinet selections and is still reviewingcandidates submitted by political blocs and parties. He has been holding intensive meetings with a specialteam tasked with reviewing candidates’ résumés and backgrounds ahead of makingfinal decisions on members of the new cabinet.

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraqi Prime Minister-designateAli Al-Zaidi has yet to finalize his cabinet lineup and continues reviewingcandidates submitted by political blocs and parties, a source close to thenegotiations told Shafaq News on Wednesday.

Al-Zaidi is holding intensivemeetings with a special advisory team to assess résumés and proposed nomineesbefore making final decisions on ministerial posts, according to the source,who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of thediscussions. “Some portfolios may remain unresolved until the final hoursbefore Parliament convenes for the confidence vote tomorrow.”

The prime minister-designate hasalso raised objections to several nominees and requested replacement candidatesfrom certain political blocs and parties, the source added.

Earlier today, Hoqooq bloc* MPMiqdad Al-Khafaji told our agency that Parliament is moving ahead with thevote despite lawmakers not yet receiving the names or résumés of ministerialcandidates. He noted that the bloc hopes they would be submitted at least 48hours before the session to allow lawmakers sufficient time to reviewqualifications and records, warning that some MPs may boycott the vote if theyremain unconvinced by the proposed nominees.

Parliament’s presidencyofficially set Thursday as the date for the confidence vote following days ofpolitical disputes over the timing of the session and the distribution ofministries among rival factions. Political sources previously said disagreementspersist over sovereign and security portfolios, particularly the oil anddefense ministries, raising the possibility that Al-Zaidi may present only partof his cabinet for parliamentary approval.

* Hoqooq is the politicalwing of the armed group Kataib Hezbollah and is part of the Shiite CoordinationFramework, the largest bloc with about 162 of parliament's 329 seats.

Read more: Al-Zaidi named Iraq's prime minister: Easy nomination, harder road ahead

Shafaq News- Washington/ Baghdad

US-Iraq relations are entering a new phase centered more on investment and economic cooperation than security, participants at “Iraq Dialogue Day” in Washington said on Wednesday, as Baghdad and Washington reassess ties amid the gradual reduction of the US military presence in Iraq.

Speaking at the opening session hosted by the Atlantic Council, Victoria Taylor, director of the institute’s Iraq Program, said the approaching end of the Global Coalition mission marks a major turning point in bilateral relations. For the past 20 years, security has been the foundation of the relationship, "but current realities require a different approach,” Taylor added.

She argued that the current US administration’s emphasis on economic deals creates an opportunity to deepen cooperation in business and investment, while warning that political engagement between the two countries has noticeably declined.

“We are no longer in the period when the US president would hold weekly calls with Iraqi leaders or candidates,” she remarked, urging Iraqi delegations to intensify visits to Washington to better communicate Iraqi priorities and understand shifting American policy interests.

Former Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said the stagnation in bilateral relations was not caused by a lack of legal frameworks, but by “weak political will” in successive Iraqi governments.

Read more: The US exits Iraq: A withdrawal heralds a sovereign future

Zebari defended the Strategic Framework Agreement, which he helped negotiate, describing it as a deal that could have given Iraq advantages “envied by countries in the region” had it been fully implemented. He attributed the failure to activate many of its provisions to “negligence and lack of interest” by previous administrations.

According to Zebari, the current US administration appears more direct and serious in dealing with unresolved Iraqi issues, adding that officials in Baghdad have begun to recognize Washington’s determination despite a “sometimes transactional approach.”

For Shafaq News, Mostafa Hashem, Washington D.C.

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraqi Health Minister Saleh Al-Hasnawi, who currently servesas acting communications minister, filed a legal complaint on Wednesday againstformer Communications Minister Hiyam Al-Yasiri on charges of defamation.

A document reviewed by Shafaq News shows that the complaintwas linked to social media posts and statements published by Al-Yasiri onFacebook, including a letter she submitted to Iraq’s Federal IntegrityCommission alleging irregularities related to the reinstatement of disciplinedand dismissed employees at the Communications Ministry.

The document stated that Al-Hasnawi considered theallegations “misleading” and damaging to him personally and administratively,prompting him to pursue legal action.

On May 6, 2026, Al-Yasiri submitted a complaint to theIntegrity Commission against Al-Hasnawi and officials at the CommunicationsMinistry, accusing them of reinstating employees who had been disciplined ordismissed despite final judicial rulings issued against them.

She also alleged that authorities had halted proceduresaimed at recovering large sums of money she said had been wasted by thestate-owned telecommunications company, arguing that reinstating the employees“undermines justice and anti-corruption efforts.”

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraq’s parliament is set to vote on May 14 on Prime Minister-designate Ali Al-Zaidi’s cabinet despite not yet receiving the names or résumés of candidates for ministerial posts, Hoqooq parliamentary bloc* member Miqdad Al-Khafaji said Wednesday.

Speaking to Shafaq News, Al-Khafaji described the process as “an unsuccessful beginning” for the incoming administration, arguing that the cabinet was being formed on the basis of partisan, sectarian, and ethnic power-sharing rather than competence and integrity.

The bloc hoped candidates’ names and résumés would be submitted to lawmakers at least 48 hours before the confidence session to allow time to assess their qualifications and records, he said, warning of a possible boycott if lawmakers remained unconvinced by the ministerial nominees.

Basra MPs Uday Awad and Amer Al-Fayez had also warned that lawmakers from the province could boycott the session if Basra was denied key ministerial portfolios.

Iraq’s parliament presidency has officially scheduled Thursday for the vote on Al-Zaidi’s cabinet following days of political disputes over the timing of the announcement and the distribution of portfolios among rival factions. Political sources earlier told Shafaq News that disagreements persist over sovereign and security ministries, particularly the oil and defense portfolios, raising the possibility that Al-Zaidi could present only part of his cabinet for approval.

* Hoqooq is the political wing of the armed group Kataib Hezbollah and is part of the Shiite Coordination Framework, the largest bloc with about 162 of parliament's 329 seats.

Read more: Ali al-Zaidi named Iraq's prime minister: Easy nomination, harder road ahead

Shafaq News-Baghdad

Iraq’sParliament will convene on Thursday to vote on the ministerial program andcabinet formation presented by Prime Minister-designate Ali Faleh al-Zaidi.

According toan official parliamentary document, Session No. 24 is scheduled to begin at 4:00p.m. local time on May 14.

President NizarAmedi tasked al-Zaidi with forming a new government on April 27, 2026,succeeding former Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.

Read more: Ali al-Zaidi named Iraq's prime minister: Easynomination, harder road ahead

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iraq’s incoming leadership is unlikely to deliver the structural reforms needed to address corruption, armed factions, and economic instability, according to an analysis that portrays Prime Minister-designate Ali Al-Zaidi as a consensus manager rather than a transformative figure.

In a report titled “What Al-Zaidi Will Not Bring to Iraq,” the Gulf International Forum said the replacement of Nouri al-Maliki with Al-Zaidi may appear to outsiders as a political breakthrough, but for many Iraqis it represents another product of what it described as a “dysfunctional political system.”

The report pointed to chronic corruption, armed factions, and the fallout of the US-Israeli war with Iran as among Iraq’s most urgent challenges, arguing that the country needs “a reformer” but is instead receiving “a manager.”

Al-Zaidi lacks an independent political base, party structure, or personal agenda, making him an “ideal consensus candidate” whose nomination reflects the continued erosion of Iraq’s fragile political order, according to the analysis.

To continue reading, click here.

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Disagreements over disarming armed factions and disputes among political blocs over key ministries are delaying the announcement of Iraq’s new government lineup, with political sources warning Prime Minister-designate Ali Al-Zaidi could withdraw from the process altogether.

One of the main obstacles stems from a committee formed by Al-Zaidi and the ruling Shiite Coordination Framework to oversee efforts to restrict weapons to state control, a political source told Shafaq News, adding that several armed factions continue to reject surrendering their weapons due to uncertainty over “who would ultimately control the arsenals and how they would be handled.”

The committee reportedly divided the factions into four categories, including groups formally integrated into the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) but still maintaining separate armed identities and command structures, such as Saraya Al-Salam and Saraya Ashura.

“Other factions that participated alongside Iran in the recent regional war are also resisting proposals to hand over weapons to Iraq’s Counter-Terrorism Service,” the source continued, noting that Al-Zaidi proposed personally supervising the transfer of arms to a state security institution.

The discussions also include armed wings affiliated with political parties holding representation in government, which would be required to dissolve structures operating outside official military and security institutions. The source indicated that some factions “responded positively” to integration proposals, while others “continue to negotiate conditions tied to disarmament.”

The issue emerged after the Coordination Framework agreed with Al-Zaidi to form a committee overseeing the process, headed by the prime minister-designate alongside caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani and Badr Organization leader Hadi Al-Amiri.

The move came days after Shiite cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr proposed merging armed factions under a body linked to Iraq’s Hajj and Umrah Authority, while offering to dissolve his own movement’s armed wings if the plan proceeds.

Separate political disputes have further complicated cabinet negotiations, with Shiite, Sunni, and Kurdish blocs revising nominee lists and reopening competition over sovereign ministries, particularly oil, finance, and interior.

Sources told Shafaq News that rivalry remains intense between the State of Law Coalition led by Nouri Al-Maliki, the Reconstruction and Development Coalition associated with Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, and the Al-Hikma (Wisdom) Movement led by Ammar Al-Hakim, especially over control of the oil ministry.

Political analyst Abu Mithaq Al-Masari warned that mounting disputes and pressure on Al-Zaidi could ultimately push him to step down from the task of forming the government if mediation efforts fail in upcoming Coordination Framework meetings.

Read more: Ali al-Zaidi named Iraq's prime minister: Easy nomination, harder road ahead

ShafaqNews- Baghdad

IraqiParliament Deputy Speaker Farhad Atrushi confirmed on Tuesday that the date fora parliamentary session to grant confidence to the new government remains“unknown,” citing continued disputes and negotiations among the country’s Shiiteand Sunni political forces.

Speakingto reporters at the Parliament building in Baghdad, Atrushi said thatPrime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi has not yet formally requested a sessionto present his cabinet for approval.

Lastweek, al-Zaidi submitted a 14-point ministerial program to Parliament SpeakerHaibet al-Halbousi ahead of an expected confidence vote. Under Article 76 ofIraq’s constitution, the prime minister-designate has 30 days from his April 27nomination to form a government and secure parliamentary approval.

Alawmaker from the Shiite Badr bloc told Shafaq News, earlier today, thatdisputes within the Shiite Coordination Framework (CF), the largest bloc thatnamed al-Zaidi, over the distribution of sovereign and security ministries werepreventing him from finalizing his cabinet lineup. Separately, ShakhawanAbdullah, head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) bloc, linked thepossible delay in government formation to what he described as “regional andinternational interventions.”

On theSunni front, political blocs have submitted competing candidate lists forministerial posts in the incoming federal government, according to oursources.

Read more: Ali al-Zaidi named Iraq's prime minister:Easy nomination, harder road ahead

Shafaq News-Baghdad

Multiple Sunnipolitical blocs have submitted competing candidate lists for ministerial postsin the incoming federal government, sources close to the National PoliticalCouncil told Shafaq News on Tuesday.

The Taqaddumparty, led by former parliament speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi, nominated threecandidates for the industry ministry —Mohammed Nouri, Abdul-Karim Hassanal-Dulaimi, and Sinan al-Jumaili— and four for education: Muqdam al-Jumaili,Abdul-Karim Abtan, Ghazi al-Jabbouri, and Watban al-Jabbouri. The party alsoput forward Mohammed Tamim, Khalid Battal, and Falah Hassan al-Zaidan for thedeputy prime minister post.

The al-Siyadacoalition, led by Khamis al-Khanjar, submitted five candidates for the tradeministry: Atheer al-Ghurairi, Shaalan al-Karim, Abdullah al-Nujaifi, MustafaNizar, and Farhan Saleh.

The al-HazmAlliance nominated its leader, Thabit al-Abbasi, alongside Nayef al-Shamari,for the defense ministry. The al-Jamaheer al-Wataniya party, led by Ahmedal-Jabbouri, put forward Mazen al-Jabbouri, Tariq al-Jabbouri, and Badr al-Fahlfor the culture portfolio.

On Saturday,the al-Azm Alliance submitted the names of its ministerial nominees to PrimeMinister-designate Ali Al-Zaidi, days after its leader, Muthanna al-Samarrai,boycotted the National Political Council session, at which Sunni blocs draftedtheir unified demands and conditions for the incoming government.

Al-Zaidi wastasked with forming the government on April 27, succeeding Mohammed Shiaal-Sudani. He is expected to present approximately 14 ministerial portfolios toparliament for the confidence vote this week, amid continuing disputes amongcoalition partners over sovereign and security ministries, particularly oil anddefense.

Read more: Ali al-Zaidi named Iraq's prime minister: Easy nomination, harder road ahead

Shafaq News-Baghdad

Deepdisagreements among the Shiite Coordination Framework's constituent blocs overthe distribution of sovereign and security ministries are blocking Prime Minister-designateAli al-Zaidi from finalizing his cabinet, with Thursday now emerging as a harddeadline, one that, if missed, could end his mandate entirely.

The disputescenter on the oil, interior, and finance portfolios, according to Shaker AbuTurab al-Tamimi, a member of parliament from the Badr bloc within theFramework, the Shiite-dominated political alliance that holds a parliamentarymajority and nominated al-Zaidi to form the government. Al-Tamimi told ShafaqNews that the unresolved allocations have directly delayed submission of thecabinet lineup to parliament.

The interiorministry —claimed by the Badr bloc as its political entitlement— was ultimatelyconceded, al-Tamimi said. In exchange, Badr accepted the communications andtransport portfolios, though neither appointment had been confirmed as ofTuesday. "We took two ministries below our political due," he said.

If al-Zaididoes not present his cabinet to parliament on Thursday, al-Tamimi warned, hewill have failed to form the government. A parliament session to hold theconfidence vote on the same day is not assured, and its absence, according toal-Tamimi, would indicate that political factions are actively working to blockthe designation.

Earlier,Shakhwan Abdullah, head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party's (KDP) parliamentarybloc, said that the announcement of the federal cabinet may slip to next weekdue to “regional and international interference.”

Members ofparliament representing Basra province also signed a petition on Tuesday demandingthe province's "ministerial entitlement," specifically the oil,transport, and water resources portfolios. The lawmakers, in a statement,warned they would boycott the confidence vote session if their demands wereignored.

Al-Zaidi wastasked with forming the government on April 27, succeeding Mohammed Shiaal-Sudani. Political leaks shared with Shafaq News indicated he had intended topresent approximately 14 ministerial portfolios to parliament for theconfidence vote, amid continuing disagreements over sovereign and securityministries, particularly oil and defense. Parliamentary sources had alsoreported a political agreement to advance al-Zaidi's government this weekfollowing the submission of the ministerial program to the parliament speaker'soffice.

Read more: Ali al-Zaidi named Iraq's prime minister: Easy nomination, harder road ahead

Shafaq News-Tehran

IranianPresident Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday thanked Iraq's top Shia cleric, GrandAyatollah Ali al-Sistani, known as The Marjaiya, for his support of the Iranian people, expressinggratitude as well to the Iraqi people for their solidarity with the IslamicRepublic.

In a post onX, Pezeshkian described al-Sistani's religious authority as "an enduringfortress and steadfast pillar for the oppressed."

أرفعُ أسمى آياتِ الشكرِ للدعمِ السخيِّ الذي أولاهُ سماحةُ آيةِ اللهِ العظمى السيد السيستاني(دام ظله) تجاهَ الجمهوريةِ الإسلاميةِ الإيرانيّة والمتضررينَ من العدوانِ الأخير، مُثمناً تضامنَ الشعبِ العراقيِّ الشقيقِ. لقد استمرت المرجعيةُ دائمًا حِصناً مَنيعاً وسنداً راسخاً للمظلومين.

— Masoud Pezeshkian (@drpezeshkian) May 11, 2026

Last March,al-Sistani urged “Muslims and free peoples of the world” to stand with Iran,warning that the continuation of war risked triggering "sweeping chaos andwidespread instability" across the region.

TheMarjaiya, alongside several other institutions, also launched a humanitarianaid campaign for both the Iranian and Lebanese peoples during the war.

Shafaq News- Wasit

Prime Minister-designate Ali Al-Zaidi is unlikely to submit Iraq’s cabinet lineup to parliament this week despite earlier expectations of a swift confidence vote, Mohammed Al-Mayahy, head of the Wasit parliamentary bloc, told Shafaq News on Monday.

Al-Mayahy warned against rushing the government formation process, saying there was still sufficient constitutional and legal time to finalize the cabinet and cautioning that haste could produce a “distorted government.”

He explained that the next 10 days would likely determine the shape of the incoming government amid “broad political consensus” on forming the cabinet. Safwan Al-Gargari, Secretary-General of Iraq’s Parliament, had revealed that a parliamentary confidence session could be held on Monday or Tuesday once the cabinet lineup is submitted.

Al-Zaidi had not yet adequately reviewed the nominees proposed for ministerial portfolios, Al-Mayahy added, stressing that electoral entitlements and political balance would shape the final cabinet lineup.

Under Article 76 of Iraq’s constitution, Al-Zaidi has 30 days from his April 27 designation to form a government and secure parliamentary approval. Political sources earlier told Shafaq News that disputes continue over several sovereign and security ministries, particularly Oil and Defense, while Al-Zaidi was considering initially presenting around 14 ministerial portfolios for parliamentary approval as negotiations continue.

Read more: Ali al-Zaidi named Iraq's prime minister: Easy nomination, harder road ahead

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Several figures are competing for Iraq’s finance ministerpost in the anticipated government formation, political sources told ShafaqNews on Monday, adding that current Finance Minister Taif Sami could remain inoffice as negotiations continue among the Shiite Coordination Framework (CF)over cabinet portfolios.

The Prime Minister-designate, Ali Al-Zaidi, asked CF partiesto grant him direct authority over the finance and interior ministries,allowing him to personally select qualified candidates tolead the two portfolios, the sources revealed. The request came after Al-Hikma(Wisdom) Movement secured the finance ministry under ongoing politicalagreements.

According to the sources, Mohammed Sahib Al-Darraji iscurrently viewed as the leading candidate for the finance ministry, whileRafidain Bank Director General Ali Karim Hussein has also been proposed for theposition.

The nomination of Hussein comes amid previous controversysurrounding allegations linked to Rafidain Bank, Iraq’s largest state-ownedbank. Finance Minister Taif Sami had earlier ordered the suspension of thebank’s director and more than 20 officials and employees over suspicionsrelated to alleged manipulation in US dollar sales at Baghdad InternationalAirport, as well as other administrative and financial violations. Later, shereversed the suspension order and reinstated the employees under investigation,according to an official document. Information circulating at the time suggestedthat political pressure contributed to settling the case and closing theinvestigation without recommendations for penalties against those accused.

One source told Shafaq News that additional allegationslinked to Rafidain Bank have circulated, including suspicions of moneylaundering, waste, and mismanagement.

In August 2025, US Congressman Joe Wilson accused RafidainBank, under Hussein’s management, of conducting financial transactions withYemen’s Houthi movement and warned that the issue could lead to the suspensionof US financial support for Iraq.

The bank’s branch in Abu Dhabi was also found to havecommitted financial and administrative violations, according to the sources,while indicators of mismanagement prompted the Central Bank of the United ArabEmirates to impose what were described as large financial penalties on thebranch.

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Prime Minister-designate Ali Falih Al-Zaidi is expected to present around 14 ministerial nominees during Monday’s parliamentary session, as political blocs move toward holding a confidence vote on the new Iraqi government.

Independent Iraqi politician Abu Mithaq Al-Masari told Shafaq News that the number represents more than half of the cabinet lineup and could secure parliamentary approval for Al-Zaidi to assume office if the ministers are formally passed without delay.

According to preliminary information obtained by Shafaq News, the proposed cabinet includes Reber Ahmed for foreign affairs, Omar Al-Waeli for interior, Yassin Al-Ethawi for planning, Mohammed Nouri for industry, Badr Al-Fahal for culture, Khaled Shawani for justice, Sarwa Abdul Wahid for environment, Nozad Hadi for reconstruction, and Muqdad Al-Jumaili for education.

Deputy prime minister positions are expected to go to Fuad Hussein, Mohsen Al-Mandalawi, and Muthanna Al-Samarrai.

A source within the Sunni National Political Council told Shafaq News that the defense ministry has been informally settled in favor of Al-Hasm Alliance led by Thabet Mohammed Al-Abbasi following intra-Sunni agreements.

The source added that several ministries remain under negotiation among Shiite factions, particularly the oil ministry, which is being contested by the State of Law Coalition led by Nouri Al-Maliki, the Reconstruction and Development Coalition associated with caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, and the Al-Hikma (Wisdom) Movement led by Ammar Al-Hakim.

Negotiations also continue over sensitive security positions and appointments to independent bodies, with some business-linked figures who failed to cross the electoral threshold reportedly being considered for senior posts, including Baghdad governor and positions within the National Investment Commission.

A parliamentary source previously told our agency that political factions had reached an agreement to pass Al-Zaidi’s government this week before lawmakers depart for Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj (pilgrimage) rituals.

Al-Zaidi submitted his government program to Parliament Speaker Haibet Al-Halbousi on May 7 ahead of the confidence session, while President Nizar Amedi officially tasked him with forming a government on April 27 following his nomination by the Coordination Framework to succeed Al-Sudani.

Read more: Ali al-Zaidi named Iraq's prime minister: Easy nomination, harder road ahead

Shafaq News- Baghdad

Iranian reservations over Iraqi PrimeMinister-designate Ali Al-Zaidi, reportedly tied to what Tehran views as strongUS support for his appointment and possible efforts to curb Iran’s influence inBaghdad, prompted the visit of Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani to Iraq, asource told Shafaq News on Sunday.

Qaani arrived in Baghdad in recent hours and heldtalks with leaders of the Shiite Coordination Framework and commanders ofseveral armed factions on the formation of the next government, though thesource said no agreement has yet emerged and Tehran’s position on Al-Zaidiremains unclear.

The visit coincided with intensified political andparliamentary efforts to hold a confidence vote on Al-Zaidi’s cabinet withinthe next two days. A parliamentary source told our agency on Saturday thatpolitical blocs had reached an understanding to pass the government this weekbefore several lawmakers travel to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrimage.

Last Thursday, Al-Zaidi submitted the government’sministerial program to Parliament Speaker Haibet Al-Halbousi ahead of itsdistribution to lawmakers for review, while the cabinet lineup is expected tobe presented separately at a later stage.

Read more: Iraq after ceasefire: US bases and unresolved political questions

Shafaq News- Riyadh/ Baghdad

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomed Iraqi PrimeMinister-designate Ali Al-Zaidi on Saturday following his appointment to formIraq’s next government, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

Several countries, including Syria, the UAE, Qatar, Turkiye,Iran, Pakistan, Spain, Jordan, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and theUnited States, along with the United Nations mission, have also congratulatedAl-Zaidi on his nomination to form the new Iraqi government.

Read more: Countries welcome Iraq’s designation of Al-Zaidi to form new government

Shafaq News- Baghdad

The al-Azm Alliance submitted on Saturday the names of its ministerial nominees to Prime Minister-designate Ali Al-Zaidi,days after its leader, Muthanna al-Samarrai, boycotted the National PoliticalCouncil session, at which Sunni blocs drafted their unified demands andconditions for the incoming government.

On its nominee selection, al-Azm saidcandidates were chosen based on” competence and capacity” to manage governmentinstitutions and shoulder the responsibilities of the coming phase.

A political source told Shafaq Newsearlier this week that the Ministry of Higher Education is expected to go toTaqaddum —the 33-seat bloc that secured the parliament speakership— while theMinistry of Defense is expected to be allocated to the al-Azm Alliance, whichholds 15 seats.

Read more: Ali al-Zaidi named Iraq's prime minister: Easy nomination, harder road ahead

Shafaq News-Baghdad

PrimeMinister-designate Ali Al-Zaidi’s private-sector background could help reduceits dependence on oil and revive productive sectors as the country facesmounting economic pressure, Al-Hikma (Wisdom) Movement leader AmmarAl-Hakim stated on Saturday.

Speaking during ameeting with professional and union elites in Baghdad, Al-Hakim describedIraq’s next phase as “economic above all,” calling for broader export routes,economic diversification, and renewed investment in agriculture, industry,tourism, technology, and other non-oil sectors.

The incominggovernment must move beyond “routine and bureaucratic approaches,” he said,arguing that the state should act as a regulator and guarantor of citizens’interests while giving the private sector a larger role in driving growth andabsorbing unemployment. He also called for tighter regulation of foreign laborand preserving union independence alongside efforts to stimulate private-sectoremployment.

Iraq remainsheavily dependent on oil, which accounts for more than 90% of state revenues,while the public sector employs most formal workers. Al-Zaidi faces mountingpressure to reform the country’s rentier economic model as a rapidly expandinglabor force outpaces the state’s ability to absorb workers into the publicsector, though many of the reforms now being promoted, including bankingreform, digital transformation, and private-sector expansion, were previouslyoutlined in Iraq’s 2020 “White Paper” economic reform program.

Read more: The rentier trap: Iraq’s existential reform race

Unlike many Iraqi political figures whose experience comesmainly from government or parliament, Al-Zaidi led private-sector institutions,including Al-Watania Holding Group and Al-Janoob Islamic Bank.

Read more: Who is Ali Al-Zaidi? The businessman tapped for Iraq's premiership