Government formation stalemate deepens

Nouri al-Maliki's path to the premiership becomes increasingly unlikely as political power brokers struggle to contend with U.S. opposition and regional uncertainty.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani (left) and former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki (right) meet on Feb. 11, 2026 in Baghdad. (Photo credit: Prime Minister's Office)

Energy

January oil production inches higher despite Rumaila dip

Nationwide crude production increased by just over 50,000 bpd as state-operated Basra fields ramped up to compensate for a temporary decline at Rumaila.

Politics

Iraq faces political disarray after Trump opposes Maliki’s return

Maliki defiantly asserts his right to lead the formation of a new government while Kurdish parties remain at odds over presidency.

Security

Kurdistan refinery protests spark deadly violence

At least one person is dead and several injured after security forces cracked down on unemployed truck drivers demanding work at the Lanaz refinery near Erbil.

Interviews

Q&A: Muntaser Kadhim Haloub, deputy director general of the South Refineries Company

Southern Iraq's refining sector is expanding, creating a better supply of high-quality fuels and rising demand for crude feedstock.