Politics

Analysis: Worsening internal rivalries weaken KRG at key political juncture

Conflict between the KDP and PUK has driven dysfunction in Erbil and weakened Kurdish influence in Baghdad as a new government takes power.

Bafel Talabani, president of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (left), meets with newly elected Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi (right), in Baghdad in May 2026. (Photo credit: Prime Minister's Office)

Jan 15, 2020

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: Jan. 14, 2020

Whenever the media office of the Council of Ministers releases decisions of the Cabinet, Iraq Oil Report publishes a translation from the original Arabic.

Jan 9, 2020

U.S. sanctions threats cast shadow on Iraqi economy

Billions of oil dollars and access to Iranian power and gas are at risk if Trump rejects a sanctions waiver renewal next month – or worse, if Iraq is sanctioned itself, as he has threatened.

Jan 8, 2020

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: Jan. 7, 2020

Whenever the media office of the Council of Ministers releases decisions of the Cabinet, Iraq Oil Report publishes a translation from the original Arabic.

Jan 7, 2020

Iraq-U.S. rifts widen after assassinations

Following the drone strike on Mohandis and Soleimani, Iraq is seeking a U.S. military withdrawal without provoking backlash from Trump.

Jan 3, 2020

Iraqi oil sector holds fast amid storm of U.S.-Iran conflict

Production and exports so far unaffected as some foreign oil workers evacuate, following the U.S. assassination of Qassim Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Mohandis.

Dec 31, 2019

Senior brain drain looms for Oil Ministry if federal retirement order goes into effect

Order reflects new labor law mandating retirement age of 60 except for ministers.

Dec 31, 2019

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: Dec. 30, 2019

Whenever the media office of the Council of Ministers releases decisions of the Cabinet, Iraq Oil Report publishes a translation from the original Arabic.

Dec 30, 2019

Political vacuum could upend key Oil Ministry plans

A project to double the Nassiriya field's production capacity is tied to a federal budget likely strangled by political fighting.

Dec 29, 2019

Nassiriya oil field shut in as protests block staff access

Oil Ministry takes an 82,000 bpd field offline as de-escalation tactic in response to protests; overall production and exports unlikely to be affected nationwide.

Dec 26, 2019

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: Dec. 24, 2019

Whenever the media office of the Council of Ministers releases decisions of the Cabinet, Iraq Oil Report publishes a translation from the original Arabic.