Politics

Political disunity clouds KRG fiscal and energy outlooks

Deadlocked talks over forming a new regional Cabinet highlight a bitter rivalry between two ruling parties that poses risks to Kurdistan's economy and energy sector.

PUK President Bafel Talabni (left) meets with KDP President Massoud Barzani (right) on Sept. 27, 2025. (Photo credit: KDP presidency office)

Oct 3, 2018

Adil Abd al-Mahdi, ex-oil minister, tapped as Iraq prime minister

Hours after being elected president, Barham Salih tasks Adil Abd al-Mahdi, the former oil minister, to form the next government.

Sep 27, 2018

Lawsuit imperils formation of Iraq National Oil Company

A major restructuring of Iraq’s oil sector appears to be delayed — and could possibly be derailed — by a legal challenge.

Sep 23, 2018

Iraq seeks sanctions waiver on vital Iran energy trade

Iraq depends on Iran for more than one-third of its power generation — a major sticking point as Washington prepares to re-impose sanctions.

Sep 10, 2018

Baghdad-KRG oil rights case delayed again

Iraq's Federal Supreme Court is struggling to appoint impartial technical experts to help parse the arguments over the legality of Kurdistan's independent oil sector.

Sep 6, 2018

Basra protests explode into widespread violence

As rioters burned government and political party offices, protesters threatened action against oil facilities.

Aug 29, 2018

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: Aug. 28, 2018

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

Aug 29, 2018

Court replaces expert in oil rights case

The Supreme Court rescinded the appointment of a technical expert after KRG lawyers challenged his objectivity, further delaying a case to adjudicate Baghdad-KRG oil disputes.

Aug 29, 2018

Basra calls on oil companies to solve water crisis

The Basra governor wants to hold IOCs responsible for building treatment plants for a province starved of clean water.

Aug 15, 2018

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: Aug. 13, 2018

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

Aug 15, 2018

Technical expert appointed in Baghdad-KRG court case

Hamza al-Jawahery, a published critic of the KRG, will provide industry expertise to the Supreme Court as it evaluates constitutional issues around Kurdistan's oil sector.