Saturday, 17 October 2026

In the oil sector, Iraq’s crude production recovered to 4.399 million barrels per day in September, ECO Iraq Observatory said Saturday. That compares with 1.406 million barrels per day in May, the lowest monthly average during the first nine months of 2026. The observatory put total production over those nine months at approximately 834.7 million barrels. Oil Minister Basim Mohammed Khudair said Saturday that the ministry was negotiating with three major US oil companies to reach the final contracting stage. He said its strategy focused on expanding oil and gas capacity, ending gas flaring and securing additional gas for self-sufficiency.

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi opened the OIC foreign ministers’ meeting in Baghdad on Saturday, as Iraq assumed the chairmanship from Turkiye. He proposed integrating energy grids and transport networks across member states. The initiative also covers digital communications, payment systems, commercial platforms and industrial zones. Al-Zaidi said Iraq still suffered from the economic fallout of regional conflicts and called for free trade, protection of trade routes and secure international transit. On existing cross-border freight, the Transport Ministry reported Friday that nearly 10,000 truck journeys had been completed through Iraq under the TIR customs transit system. It said an Iraqi-registered truck had loaded goods in Mardin, Turkiye, and begun transporting them to Amman via Iraq.

On weapons control, Commander-in-Chief spokesman Sabah al-Numan said Friday that no factions rejected weapons regulation. His assurance went further than Tuesday’s statement that most factions had responded positively to the 30 June 2027 deadline for bringing their weapons under state control. Abu Alaa al-Walai (KSS — secretary-general) said Friday that his faction would fight alongside Iran if it faced a genuine existential threat. On legislation, Jasim Muhammad Warwar (AAH — Sadiqoun MP) said the PMF bill remained with the Council of Ministers and would reach parliament soon. He also added the budget to the PMF, dual-nationality and oil-and-gas priorities that Qais al-Khazali (AAH — secretary-general) named on Thursday.

In Al-Sulaymaniyah, a fire destroyed a gasoline warehouse in Tanjaro on Saturday, with no casualties reported. Ten Civil Defense teams brought the blaze under control within an hour and cooled nearby warehouses. Civil Defense spokesperson Aram Ali said preliminary findings suggested it started during fuel unloading. Acting district mayor Fazil Omer said authorities would begin closing storage facilities this week if their owners had not signed relocation contracts. Ali said a company was developing a designated fuel-storage area near Arabat, where traders and warehouse owners have begun receiving registration forms.

Abu Alaa al-Walai (KSS — secretary-general) said on Friday that his faction would fight alongside Iran if it faced a genuine existential threat. Kurdistan24 reported the pledge alongside his rejection of normal relations with the United States. He also called the American withdrawal a military defeat. Al-Walai claimed KSS had conducted twice as many operations against US forces as Washington acknowledged. He also warned Kurdish and Sunni parties that Washington would abandon them.

On weapons control, Commander-in-Chief spokesman Sabah al-Numan said on Friday that no factions rejected weapons regulation. Rudaw also headlined his remarks as no factions rejecting weapons handover. His latest assurance went further than his Tuesday account that most factions had responded positively to the 30 June 2027 deadline for bringing their weapons under state control. An Atlantic Council analysis carried on Friday argued that fewer announced attacks could reflect tactical restraint or repositioning rather than abandonment of armed activity. It linked that restraint to easing US pressure on Baghdad while preserving military capabilities. The analysis also argued that factions were strengthening their influence inside state institutions.

On PMF legislation, Jasim Muhammad Warwar (AAH — Sadiqoun MP) said on Friday that the PMF bill remained with the Council of Ministers. Speaking on Al-Ahad TV (AAH — official), he said it would reach parliament soon. He named four legislative priorities for Sadiqoun: the PMF, budget, dual-nationality and oil-and-gas laws. The budget was an addition to the three laws Qais al-Khazali (AAH — secretary-general) named at Thursday’s meeting with Sadiqoun MPs. Warwar also reaffirmed that passing the PMF law was a priority for al-Khazali.

Separately, CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper alleged that armed groups, including Iraqi factions, had begun sending money to the IRGC. He said the alleged transfers were intended to ease economic pressure after nine months of war. In his video message, he linked the alleged payments to the IRGC’s difficulties paying personnel. Cooper also estimated that the US naval blockade had cost Iran about $25 billion in oil revenue. International Development Bank for Investment and Finance, meanwhile, rejected US Treasury allegations on Friday that it had helped Iran access US dollars, following Washington’s sanctions against it on Thursday. The bank offered cooperation with the Central Bank of Iraq and US Treasury through official and legal channels to clarify the facts and protect stakeholders’ rights.

In Nineveh, the PMF chief of staff said on Saturday that Nineveh Island would be monitored and secured by drones 24 hours a day. iNEWS (KSS — affiliated) also quoted him describing the PMF and Iraqi army as one command in Nineveh. The announcement followed a PMF statement on Friday describing Nineveh Operations Commander Khudair al-Matrouhi’s inspection of positions on the Iraq–Syria border. According to the PMF, he reviewed deployments, defensive fortifications, unit readiness and fighters’ field requirements. Al-Matrouhi was also reported to have directed stronger intelligence work.