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)

Dec 3, 2011

Military ceremony marks the beginning of the unknown

U.S. troops will be gone by the end of the year, and a truly sovereign Iraq is now a country with an uncertain fate.

Nov 25, 2011

Q&A: Barham Salih

Shortly after signing watershed deals with ExxonMobil, the KRG's prime minister discusses the resource curse, the U.S. withdrawal, and the future of Kurdistan's oil sector.

Nov 18, 2011

Oil law negotiators hit reset

Casting aside the two latest conflicting oil laws, Baghdad's Luaibi and the KRG's Hawrami will negotiate based on 2007 draft legislation.

Nov 15, 2011

Q&A: Ashti Hawrami

The Minister of Natural Resources for the Kurdistan region of Iraq talks about the ExxonMobil deal, prospects for the oil law, and refining policies.

Nov 14, 2011

Maliki to IOCs: us or them

The Iraqi prime minister has sent clear messages to ExxonMobil -- and other companies -- threatening retaliation against controversial deals with Kurdistan.

Oct 28, 2011

Oil law sees political progress

PM Maliki and Kurdish PM Salih return to the negotiating table with ambitions to bridge the KRG-Baghdad divide by passing oil legislation and resolving territorial disputes.

Oct 18, 2011

Opinion: Now is the time for an Iraqi oil dividend

By giving oil revenue to citizens, Iraq can diversify its economy, reduce poverty, and start bridging national divisions, writes Middle East oil expert Johnny West.

Oct 17, 2011

Kurdish flag controversy highlights unresolved disputes

Kurdish-Arab disputes erupted into protests after Prime Minister Maliki banned the Kurdistan Regional Government flag from the contested city of Khanaqin.

Oct 10, 2011

Iraq delays 4th bid round

Oil Ministry moves January auction to March to account for upcoming holidays and need for more planning.

Oct 6, 2011

Exclusive: Iraq’s two oil laws

Iraq Oil Report publishes the full English texts of the two competing oil laws drafted by the Cabinet and the Parliament.