Iraq – War Watch

Antisemitism | Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Benjamin Netanyahu | Donald Trump | Gaza | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Iraq | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Middle East and north Africa | Nuclear weapons | Palestinian territories | Petrol prices | US news | World news

‘Disposable’ operatives for hire are a new menace for western countries
ByJason Burke International security correspondent May 18, 2026

A court case in New York has highlighted how Iran is using technology to recruit agents who may not even be regime supportersWhen on Friday a 32-year-old Iraqi was brought before a court in New York to be charged with planning to attack Jewish communit…

Read More ‘Disposable’ operatives for hire are a new menace for western countries
Defense and Military Forces | Hezbollah | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Iraq | Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Kataib Hezbollah | Terrorism | United States | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

Fears Grow That Iran May Be Using Proxy Groups Beyond Mideast
ByAaron Boxerman, Neil MacFarquhar and Falih Hassan May 16, 2026May 16, 2026

The charges against Mohammad al-Saadi in the United States have raised concerns that Iran could be working with its proxies to stage attacks outside the region.

Read More Fears Grow That Iran May Be Using Proxy Groups Beyond Mideast
Commodities | Economic Conditions and Trends | Embargoes and Sanctions | Inflation (Economics) | International Trade and World Market | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Iraq | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Kuwait | Oil (Petroleum) and Gasoline | Persian Gulf | Prices (Fares, Fees and Rates) | Production | Qatar | Russia | Russian Invasion of Ukraine (2022) | Saudi Arabia | Strait of Hormuz | United Arab Emirates | United States | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

Which Countries Are Profiting From the Iran War Oil Shock
ByAmy Fan and Rebecca F. Elliott May 16, 2026May 22, 2026

An analysis of oil export data offers clues about which nations have benefited from higher prices, and which have lost a lot of revenue.

Read More Which Countries Are Profiting From the Iran War Oil Shock
al-Saadi, Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood | International Relations | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Iraq | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Kataib Hezbollah | Terrorism | United States | United States International Relations | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

Kataib Hezbollah: What to Know
ByPranav Baskar May 15, 2026May 16, 2026

A commander of one of the most-hard line and powerful Iranian proxies in Iraq has been charged with plotting to attack Jewish sites in the United States.

Read More Kataib Hezbollah: What to Know
International Relations | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Iraq | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Kuwait | Natural Gas | Oil (Petroleum) and Gasoline | Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries | Persian Gulf | Prices (Fares, Fees and Rates) | Production | Qatar | Russia | Saudi Arabia | Shutdowns (Institutional) | Strait of Hormuz | Trump, Donald J | United Arab Emirates | United States | United States International Relations | United States Politics and Government | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

Loss of Emirates Further Weakens OPEC’s Influence
ByIvan Penn and Rebecca F. Elliott April 29, 2026April 29, 2026

The exit of the United Arab Emirates is the most significant in a series of departures from the oil cartel in recent years.

Read More Loss of Emirates Further Weakens OPEC’s Influence
al-Zaidi, Ali (1986- ) | internal-open-access-from-nl | International Relations | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Iraq | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Politics and Government | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

Iraq’s Prime Minister-Designate Thrust Into U.S.-Iran Power Struggle
ByErika Solomon and Falih Hassan April 28, 2026April 30, 2026

Ali al-Zaidi, a political unknown, has been tasked with forming a new coalition government. Now, he must grapple with growing U.S. pressure to curb Iranian influence over Iraq.

Read More Iraq’s Prime Minister-Designate Thrust Into U.S.-Iran Power Struggle
Ali al-Zaidi | Appointments and Executive Changes | International Relations | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Iraq | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Maliki, Nuri Kamal al- | Politics and Government | Sudani, Mohammed Shia al- | Trump, Donald J | United States International Relations

Iraq Taps Businessman, Ali al-Zaidi, to Form New Government
ByEphrat Livni April 27, 2026

After months of tensions and pressure from both the U.S. and Iran, Ali al-Zaidi, a businessman, was named as prime minister-designate.

Read More Iraq Taps Businessman, Ali al-Zaidi, to Form New Government
Budgets and Budgeting | Central Bank of Iraq | Federal Reserve Bank of New York | internal-open-access-from-nl | International Relations | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Iraq | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Landau, Christopher T (1963- ) | Maliki, Nuri Kamal al- | Oil (Petroleum) and Gasoline | Strait of Hormuz | Sudani, Mohammed Shia al- | Trump, Donald J | United States | United States International Relations | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026) | US Dollar (Currency)

US Withholding Iraq’s Own Oil Money Over Ties to Iran
ByErika Solomon and Raja Abdulrahim April 22, 2026

The United States has halted dollar shipments to Iraq’s cash-based economy in an effort to force the Baghdad government to distance itself from Iran. The money comes from Iraq’s oil revenues.

Read More US Withholding Iraq’s Own Oil Money Over Ties to Iran
Defense and Military Forces | International Relations | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Iraq | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Maliki, Nuri Kamal al- | Politics and Government | Sudani, Mohammed Shia al- | United States | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States International Relations | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)

U.S. Turns Up Pressure on Iraq to Distance Itself From Iran
ByRaja Abdulrahim, Falih Hassan, Edward Wong and Erika Solomon April 21, 2026April 21, 2026

Washington is demanding that the Baghdad government dismantle Iran-backed Iraqi militias that have been attacking Americans and U.S. sites there recently.

Read More U.S. Turns Up Pressure on Iraq to Distance Itself From Iran
Disasters and Emergencies | Economic Conditions and Trends | Infrastructure (Public Works) | International Trade and World Market | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Iraq | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Kuwait | Natural Gas | Oil (Petroleum) and Gasoline | Persian Gulf | Pipelines | Ports | Prices (Fares, Fees and Rates) | Qatar | Saudi Arabia | Ships and Shipping | Strait of Hormuz | Trump, Donald J | United Arab Emirates | United States | United States International Relations | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026) | War and Armed Conflicts

Strait of Hormuz May Not Return to Normal, Whether It’s Open or Closed
ByRebecca F. Elliott April 21, 2026

The energy industry is planning for a future where the choke point on Iran’s southern coast is a lot less important.

Read More Strait of Hormuz May Not Return to Normal, Whether It’s Open or Closed