Politics

Iraq grapples with power shortages and Iran sanctions as summer looms

The expiration of a U.S. sanctions waiver on Iranian electricity imports is complicating Baghdad's balancing act between Tehran and Washington, while the government scrambles for power supply ahead of peak demand season.

Workers from the Southern Projects Commission of Iraq's State Company for Oil Projects assemble a pipeline designed to carry regassified LNG imported via the Khor al-Zubair port in Basra to power stations in February 2025. (ALI AL-AQILY/Iraq Oil Report)

May 2, 2018

Q&A: Abdulsatar Majid of the Komal party

A politburo member of a small but influential party in Kurdistan talks about the obstacles to Kurdish cohesion in Baghdad, and the changes the party is demanding in Erbil.

Apr 25, 2018

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: Apr. 24, 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.

Apr 25, 2018

Q&A: Rabun Marouf of the New Generation party

The head of New Generation's Erbil office discusses the creation of a new party to challenge Kurdistan's political duopoly.

Apr 20, 2018

Q&A: Yousif Mohammed, Gorran’s leader in Sulaimaniya

The former KRG Parliament Speaker, once banned from Erbil, predicts a strong party showing but difficulties aligning with other Kurdish parties after next month's election.

Apr 18, 2018

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: Apr. 17, 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.

Apr 17, 2018

Q&A: Farid Asasard, PUK leadership council member

Less than a month before national elections, a member of the PUK's leadership council talks about Kurdish party in-fighting, the struggle for a united stand in Baghdad and the impact on Kurdistan's oil sector.

Apr 12, 2018

Pressured by protests, KRG seeks Baghdad bailout

Ending a de-facto policy of economic independence, KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani promises public-sector salaries that can only be sustained with Baghdad subsidies.

Apr 10, 2018

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: Apr. 10, 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.

Apr 10, 2018

Kurdistan oil lawsuit moves forward

Iraq's Federal Supreme Court will finally hear a six-year-old case on the fundamental constitutional conflicts that underpin Baghdad-Erbil oil disputes.

Apr 3, 2018

Iraqi Cabinet decisions: Apr. 1, 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.