Friday, 16 October 2026

Hoquq (KH — parliamentary bloc) maintained its boycott of the cabinet vote, while Miqdad al-Khafaji (KH — Hoquq MP) called the new posts unconstitutional. Israa al-Hujaimi (AAH — Sadiqoun general-body member) instead backed al-Zaidi’s government and pledged reciprocal support for those who supported Sadiqoun’s entitlement. Laith al-Khazali said Friday that serving Iraqis was his priority and Iraq’s interests came above all else. Hadi al-Amiri (Badr Organization — secretary-general) received Interior Minister Yasir al-Maliki in Baghdad on Friday, congratulating him and pledging support for developing the security system. Qais al-Khazali (AAH — secretary-general) named the PMF law, oil-and-gas legislation and a dual-nationality law as priorities at a Baghdad meeting with Sadiqoun MPs on Thursday. His renewed legislative call followed Hakim al-Muhammadawi’s (AAH — Sadiqoun general-body member) warning on Tuesday of mass demonstrations if the PMF law was not passed.

On the cost of the regional war, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein put Iraq’s estimated economic losses from the U.S.–Iran conflict at $60 billion during Thursday’s talks with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in Rome. Hussein urged Italy and the European Union to support peace initiatives and negotiations and help prevent the conflict from spreading. In a Friday interview, he put losses at nearly $60 billion and attributed them to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the resulting halt in Iraqi oil exports. Exports have partly recovered to about 2.35 million barrels a day in August and about 2.6 million in the first three weeks of September, against 3.3 million to 3.5 million before the war. Oil provides more than 90% of government revenue.

Hussein and Tajani also discussed expanding security and military cooperation following the end of the U.S.-led coalition’s mission in Iraq on 30 September. Hussein praised Italy’s continued efforts to train federal Interior Ministry police and the Kurdistan Region’s Peshmerga forces. In Washington, Iraqi Land Forces Commander Lt. Gen. Qasim Mohammed Saleh al-Mohammadi reviewed modern weapons, equipment and military technology at a defence exhibition, the Defence Ministry said Friday. The ministry said the visit aimed to strengthen the army’s capabilities and modernise its weapons and equipment. Iraq is also pursuing bilateral defence cooperation with Washington covering training, armament and capacity-building after the coalition mission’s conclusion.

Parliament approved 11 ministers and three deputy prime ministers on Thursday, including Laith al-Khazali (AAH — senior leader), who is under U.S. terrorism sanctions. Hoquq (KH — parliamentary bloc) maintained its boycott, while Miqdad al-Khafaji (KH — Hoquq MP) called the new posts unconstitutional on Al-Ittijah TV (KH — official). Al-Ahad TV (AAH — official), by contrast, reported Sadiqoun MPs attending the session. Israa al-Hujaimi (AAH — Sadiqoun general-body member) backed al-Zaidi’s government and pledged reciprocal support for those who supported Sadiqoun’s entitlement. MP Muhammad Jasim al-Khafaji instead called the new posts political favours at the state’s expense on Al-Nujaba TV (Nujaba — official). On Friday, Laith al-Khazali said serving Iraqis was his priority and Iraq’s interests came above all else. Diplomatic sources told AFP that Washington tacitly approved his appointment after al-Zaidi promised to advance disarmament and guaranteed that the factions would not attack American interests in Iraq. Hadi al-Amiri (Badr Organization — secretary-general) received Interior Minister Yasir al-Maliki in Baghdad on Friday, congratulating him and pledging support for developing the security system, according to Al-Ghadeer TV (Badr Organization — official).

Qais al-Khazali (AAH — secretary-general) named the PMF law, oil-and-gas legislation and a dual-nationality law as priorities at a Baghdad meeting with Sadiqoun MPs on Thursday. First Deputy Speaker Adnan Fayhan (AAH) attended the meeting, which emphasized unity and parliamentary performance. The renewed legislative call followed Hakim al-Muhammadawi’s (AAH — Sadiqoun general-body member) warning on Tuesday of mass demonstrations if the PMF law was not passed. In Najaf, iNEWS (KSS — affiliated) reported PMF and army personnel, alongside lawyers, demanding land while continuing to live in rented housing.

Separately, the U.S. Treasury announced sanctions against Iraq-based International Development Bank for Investment and Finance on Thursday. Washington accused the bank of providing Iran with access to U.S. dollars. It also alleged ties between the bank, Iranian government entities and armed groups allied with Tehran. The sanctions package covered 16 individuals and 10 entities, and Kurdistan24 identified it as part of Operation Economic Outcast.

On Hormuz, Al-Ahad presented Iran’s position in terms of control and deterrence on Friday. Its correspondent reported that a representative of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution had affirmed Iranian control of the strait. Former Iranian diplomat Hadi Afqahi told the channel that Iran was ready for a peace agreement but would not yield to U.S. threats. Al-Ghadeer carried the Iranian army’s narrower warning that uncoordinated movements through prohibited passages endangered other ships. Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, meanwhile, put Iraq’s estimated economic losses from the U.S.–Iran war at $60 billion during talks with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani in Rome on Thursday.