Politics

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)

Oct 12, 2015

KRG ruling party ejects rivals, escalating political crisis

Speaker of Parliament denounces "coup" as security forces loyal to Massoud Barzani's ruling KDP party block him, and other ministers, from the capital.

Oct 6, 2015

Pressure mounts on Kurdistan’s oil minister

Polarized by the dispute over President Barzani's tenure, rivals factions in Kurdistan are targeting Ashti Hawrami with political attacks and a legal investigation.

Oct 6, 2015

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: Oct. 6, 2015

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

Oct 6, 2015

Strikes spreading over KRG salary delays

Public-sector employees are losing patience with a government hobbled by a financial crisis and internal political squabbling over the presidency.

Sep 24, 2015

Court blocks KRG’s oil route to U.S. as Israel exports grow

Appellate court ruling affirms Baghdad's legal foundation to contest KRG exports in the U.S., as Kurdistan's oil sector increasingly relies on opaque sales via Israel.

Sep 23, 2015

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: Sept. 22, 2015

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

Sep 2, 2015

New North Oil Company chief appointed

Former NOC planning director Akram Fouad Ahmed appointed by order from PM Abadi as new director general.

Aug 26, 2015

UPDATE: Pipeline outages threaten Kurdistan oil autonomy

The KRG's economic lifeline is down again - and has been for one-third of August - as the government risks sliding into a spiral of debt.

Aug 20, 2015

Barzani remains in office after term expires

Kurdistan's president still wields power after Parliament failed to reduce his authority. But his term has formally ended and his legitimacy remains contested.

Aug 20, 2015

IOCs feel heat of Basra protests

Amidst the fervor of a national protest movement, unemployed locals are blocking access to work sites and oil workers are calling for increased scrutiny on IOCs.