Iraq
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Kazemi has invited the leaders of the political parties to discuss the political stalemate and solutions to overcome the political crisis at the Council of Ministers building.
Meanwhile, leaders of the Coordination Framework, Sunni and Kurdish parties, and the head of the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council Fayeq Zeidan are attending the meeting, but Muqtada al-Sadr has boycotted the meeting.
The roundtable meeting is to end the stalemate between the Iraqi political parties that have foiled government formation talks.
"They then resorted to burning hospitals, power plants and blowing up towers, just to impose themselves and prevent the formation of a national majority government," al-Iraqi added.
The Fatah coalition, a key party within the Coordination Framework said that "delaying negotiations will lead to chaos in the streets and Iraq’s complete demolition."
"The Sadr movement has now chosen this path [no talks] and no longer believes in dialogue, and is only working to expand the crisis and complicate the situation to impose will, and take over Iraq," the coalition said.
Erbil is a Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) strong hold, and has been hit by rockets several times since the last two years. Most of the attacks were carried out using Katyusha rockets that usually targeted American bases in Erbil. Although, on March 13, multiple ballistic missiles were fired from Iran and shook Erbil. The attack was condemned by the US, and other regional and European powers.
Talks between the Iraqi political parties came to a halt when the supporters of the Sadrist movement stormed the Iraqi parliament when the assembly was about to meet to vote on the candidate for the prime minister and the president.
The parliament has been occupied ever since and al-Sadr has called for fresh elections, a call largely rejected by Coordination Framework parties.
The Iraqi Army and the PMF forces launched a large-scale operation in Miqdadiya district from four axes to eradicate ISIS sleeper cells and ensure security in the area, the commander of Diyala operations said.
"The operation is based on intelligence received from our agents," Mousavi said, adding that the aim is to drive out ISIL fighters in the Diyala River areas north of Miqdadiya.
A long strip of land between the Peshmerga and Iraqi forces has become a safe haven for remaining ISIS militants. The area is a bare desert land stretching from the middle of Iraq until the Syria border to the northwest. The site is relatively less populated and far from local authorities. ISIS has used the are to recruit and reorganize itself.
Although, a recent agreement between the Iraqi forces and Peshmerga has seen joint commitment to end ISIS presence in the area.
Dozens of Basra residents took to the streets and blocked several main roads between the area of Kiziza, Zuber and Baghdad, Iraqi media reported.
In Dhi Qar, protesters blocked the Olive Road in Nasiriyah, citing electricity problem and saying that they worsen every summertime.
Electricity was cut for the third time in southern Iraq's Basra, Maysan, Ziqar and Wasit provinces last night, provinces with globally record high tempratures, due to the failure of the Zuber power plant, and a fire in part of the plant caused by overload.
On Friday, Iraqi electricity spokesman Ahmad Musa said to high pressure and heat caused an explosion at a 132-KV substation at the Basra power plant, causing general blackouts in most southern provinces.
Simmering temperatures have obliged Iraq’s to use more energy than any other time in a year, putting large burdens on power plants across Iraq. A rapidly increasing population and slow update at power infrastructure has made power outages more frequent in Iraq.
Although, Iraq announced some major stepping at linking its electricity infrastructure with the Gulf’s, and importing electricity to fill its domestic needs, yet power outages are common across the country.
Iraqi Resources Ministry spokesman Hatem Hamid said the Iraqi government has been protesting against the construction of the Jizera dam on the Tigris River for ten years, but Ankara has ignored the protests and demands of the Iraqi government, and construction is ongoing on the dam.
Suppose the dam on the Tigris River is completed. In that case, Iraq's water share will be reduced by 56 per cent, which will further complicate Iraq's water shortage problems, Hamid added.
Jizera Dam is the last dam of the series of Dams that Turkey builds on the Tigris River. The Jizera Dam and Hydroelectric Power Plant, built on the Tigris River in the Cizre district of Şırnak, will have an installed power of 240 MWe and an annual electricity generation capacity of 1 billion 208 million kilowatt-hours.
The Dam will be the second largest hydroelectric power plant to be built on the Tigris River after the Ilısu Dam, which is near its completion and has dramatically reduced the river's southward flow Iraq relies on for its freshwater needs.
A security source reported an explosion in a weapons depot in the Al-Hawli area of Najaf Governorate.
The source told the "Iraqi Media News Agency" that "a weapons depot exploded on the Hawally road in Najaf, and the number of dead and wounded is unknown."
Sources speculate that the warehouse belongs to one of the Popular Mobilization factions and that the explosion may have been caused by high temperatures and poor storage, as has been repeated in similar incidents in the past years.
"The Coordination Framework has refused to involve people in the political disputes," Mousavi added.
"There are political parties that want to impose themselves through force, but the door of the Coordination Framework is open to all parties that are in favor of negotiations and understanding because there is no other option other than dialogue and forming a new government.
After the Sadrists stormed the Parliament building in Baghdad and impeded the normal political process when the Coordination Framework tried to vote for the prime minister, Muqtada al-Sadr refused negotiations with the Coordination Framework.
Al-Sadr instructed his followers to evacuate the Parliament building in 72 hours, and the speaker of the Parliament suspended the council of representatives' meetings indefinitely.
In a televised address tonight, Wednesday, Muqtada Al-Sadr told the Iraqi people that "A Sadrist revolution has begun and the Sadrists are a part of the nation and the homeland, and even if among the Sadrists there is somebody whose is corrupted and has been tried (already serviced in office but has failed), the revolution would not accept him.
Al-Sadr has repeatedly said that people who have served in the past shall not serve again. His remarks angered Nuri al-Maliki, the former Iraqi premier and leader of the Daawa party who wishes to run for the office of the prime minister again. The Sadrists rebuked his candidacy, and after al-Maliki's leaked audio recordings, al-Sadr asked him to leave politics once and for all.
Following al-Sadr's speech, Nuri al-Maliki, the leader of the rule of law coalition, tweeted that serious dialogue is the hope to resolve the issues and return the situation to the right path and respect for the constitutional institutions.
Meanwhile, Nasr Coalition leader Haider al-Abadi whose also a member to the CF expressed his support for Sadr, saying his speech is consistent with their demands in several ways, calling on all parties to coordinate to serve the people, reform and support constitutional institutions through the democratic and peace process.
"I have never claimed that we are not corrupt and we are above doubts," al-Sadr added. The Sadrists have claimed to end endemic corruption that has become a serious challenge facing the country and preventing its development.
Al-Sadr vowed to bring the corrupt officials to justice through "democratic and peaceful means," after saying that when the courts acquit corrupt officials when delivered to them.
After more than ten months, the Iraqi parties have failed to form a government mainly because the Sadr movement, in contrast to the Coordination Framework (CF), wants a government dominated by his party, a move that the Coordination Framework parties see as a coup.
In July, the Sadrist MP withdrew from the council of representatives and claimed to have paved the way for other parties to form the government. Their resignation made the CF parties a majority as the CF PMs replaced the Sadrist MPs. When the Coordination Framework named Mohammed Shia' Sudani as its candidate for the prime minister, the Sadrists disapproved of Sudani and stormed the parliament before voting him into office.
Al-Sadr refuses to negotiate with the coordination framework that now commands the majority in the parliament. He called for dissolving the parliament after his supporters stormed the building in late August. "Talking with the Coordination Framework is useless," a-Sadr explained in his speech.
"I am ready to die for reform," al-Sadr told his audience. His latest moves and speech indicate that he wants another election and would not negotiate with the other parties.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said on Wednesday that Iraq is an important neighbor and they are closely monitoring the situation in the country.
He stressed that Iran will not interfere in Iraq's internal affairs, and that the conflict should be resolved through negotiations.
Days after supporters of Iraqi opposition leader Muqtada al-Sadr have resumed demonstrations in Baghdad for three days. They stormed the parliament and have camped inside the building.
Last night, the Iraqi army was mobilized into Baghdad to prevent the entrance of militias into the capital, as rivalling parties have come toe-to-toe over naming the next Iraqi prime minister.
Kadhimi’s daily policy and behavior is only to gain the support of several domestic and foreign parties in order to remain in the office of prime minister, which further complicates the crisis, especially as some parties prefer someone else to assume the office of prime minister, added Zrijawi.
"What is happening in in Baghdad’s Green Zone is directly prompted by Al-Kadhimi, because if he did not allow and open the Zone’s gate, the demonstrators would not have breached the Green Zone and could not enter the House of Representatives and take it over.
On July 28, Sadrist protesters stormed the Baghdad’s Green Zone and breached its tall concrete gates after the prime minister gave the order to open the gates. The protesters stormed the Parliament and camped inside the building.
The Iraqi parliament speaker Mohamed Al-Halbousi announced that the assembly’s meetings would be halted indefinitely, and Coordination Framework leaders that live in the Green Zone were endanger from the Sadrists.
After a leaked audio recording in which Al-Maliki accused Al-Sadr being in the payroll of foreign powers, the relations between the two Shiite parties hit an all-time low.
Al-Sadr responded with mobilizing the streets, which he commands the majority of them. First called on his followers for a Friday prayer which was attended by hundreds of thousands, and later his supporters stormed the Iraqi capital where the majority of Coordination Framework leaders reside.
Nouri Al-Maliki was seen armed with his body guards trying to flee the Greene Zone as Sadrists were preparing to takeover the political capital of Iraq.
Kurdsat News reporter in Baghdad said that supporters of the Coordination Framework began camping in front of the gates of the Green Zone. In a message to the protesters Qais Khazali, Secretary General of Asaib Ahl al-Haq, asked the protesters to avoid marching into the Green Zone.
Supporters of the Sadr Movement, who have camped and occupied the House of Representatives for three days, continue to express their protests. Demonstrations were also organized at the request of the Sadr Movement in Mosul, Diyala, Maysan, and several other cities.
Saleh Mohammed Iraqi, known as Muqtada al-Sadr's minister, has denied rumors that they will end the strike and temporarily withdraw from the House of Representatives and the Green Zone until negotiations between the political parties resolve outstanding issues.
Sadr's minister urged demonstrators in other provinces to stay in their places until evening prayers and then wait for instructions.
Iraqi Security Media Cell also reported that the security and military forces would not interfere in political affairs and are under the command of the armed forces commander-in-chief.
Various armed forces are vying for power in Baghdad with different agendas and international and regional backing, and the recent protests are unique; the people have come to the forefront of power politics in Iraq.
Iraqi Electricity Ministry spokesman Ahmad Musa said, "the reduction in electricity supply hours is due to Iran's failure to export gas to Iraq as agreed, and that has affected the supply of electricity, coupled with problems in the power lines that need to be fixed."
On June 19, Iran and Iraq signed a long-term deal to assuage Iraq’s acute power problems. The deal came after a Saudi deal that aims to link Iraq’s power grid to the Gulf’s.
Saudi Arabia and Iraq signed an executive report on the principles of the electricity interconnection agreement between the two countries implementing the memorandum of understanding signed at the beginning of 2022.
According to a spokesman for the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity, Iraq generally imports 50 to 70 million cubic meters of gas a day from Iran in summer and winter, which generates electricity. Recently, imports from Iran reached 5 to 8 million cubic meters per day, so much so that some production units stopped operating.
The United States has given Baghdad a waiver to import its energy needs from Iran as Washington has spearheaded one of the toughest sanctions in history on Iran.
He said the final vote on the nomination of Mohammed Shia Sudani came after Qassim al-Araaji withdrew from running for prime minister.
Fatlawi said Sudani is close to the Coordination Framework and independent parliamentarians and hoped that the Kurdish parties to decide on the presidential candidate soon. The Kurds have been divided on settling on a common presidential candidate since late 2021.
Mohammed Shia Sudani was born in 1970 in Maysan province. He holds a bachelor's degree in agricultural sciences and was the minister of social affairs. He was the Governor of Maysan Province between 2009 and 2010.
Sudani is believed to have the best chance of becoming the next Iraqi premier. Just an hour after announcing his candidacy, Ahmed al-Asady tweeted his approval of Sudani for the position of prime minister.
Al-Asady said, "We congratulate our brother, Mr. Muhammad Shia' Al-Sudani, in his unanimous choice of the leaders of the Coordination Framework as a candidate for the presidency of the Council of Ministers. We ask God to grant him success in the performance of his duty towards his country and his people."
After almost a year of stalemate and changes and the withdrawal of candidates for the position of the Iraqi prime minister. The Iraqi parliament is expected to meet on Wednesdays to vote the candidate for prime minister into office.
However, the Kurds who are granted the office of Iraq's president are yet to settle on a joint candidate that can delay the voting of the premier into office.
The Karkh Court of Investigation has received a request from the prosecutor general to take legal action against leaked audio recordings attributed to the Rule of Law coalition leader Nuri al-Maliki, the Supreme Judicial Council said.
The council added that the court had launched a preliminary investigation into the recordings.
In recent days, the Iraqi activist and journalist Ali Fadel, who resides in the United States, published an audio leak attributed to Al-Maliki, in which he dealt with several issues, most notably his relationship with the Sadrists.
In the audio, al-Maliki accused the chief of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Massoud Barzani, of seeking to strike the Shiites by embracing the displaced Sunnis and their leaders.
The leaked audio has caused an uproar among Shiite leaders, most notably Muqtada al-Sadr, who called on Maliki to leave politics and hand himself over to the authorities.
The leaked recordings has deepened the political impasse and many warn of a possible clash between Al-Maliki and Al-Sadr.
The leaked audio recordings came after long delays in forming the next Iraqi government. As various meetings and alliances collapsed, the Sadrist MPs resigned from the council of representatives. A move Sadr described as an opportunity for other parties to form the government. However, long after the withdrawal of Sadrists and other blocs from the assembly, no prospect is visible of forming the next Iraqi government.
He added that Iran is considered the largest producer and distributor of electricity in West Asia and the strongest country despite the recent economic slowdown in the electricity industry.
In an interview with the Fars news agency, the Iranian energy minister, referring to Iran's capabilities in the field of electricity among West Asian countries, said, "Iran's power in the field of electricity is not only limited to the installed capacity of power plants, and due to the expansion of local know-how, not only in the areas of construction, upgrading, repairs and maintenance of power plant units. We are a self-sufficient country in the world, but we have significant exports of all kinds of engineering services in the field of electricity."
According to a spokesman for the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity, Iraq generally imports 50 to 70 million cubic meters of gas a day from Iran in summer and winter, which generates electricity. Recently, imports from Iran reached 5 to 8 million cubic meters per day, so much so that some production units stopped operating. The United States has given Baghdad a waiver to import its energy needs from Iran as Washington has spearheaded one of the toughest sanctions in history on Iran.
On July 17, Saudi Arabia and Iraq signed the executive report on the principles of the electricity interconnection agreement between the two countries implementing the memorandum of understanding signed at the beginning of 2022.
The electrical interconnection will link from Arar in northern Saudi Arabia to Yusufiya near Baghdad and have a capacity of 1,000 megawatts and a voltage of 400 kilovolts, with a length of 435 km.
Iraq hopes to increase its electricity production as the country provides electricity to households only several hours a day, and the rest is supplied by generators that pose tremendous health problems. Iraq's electricity problems deepen during the summertime as demand for electricity increases in blistering heat.
Today, July 17, Sadr tweeted a response to the leaked audios of the former premier and asked al-Maliki to leave politics. Sadr asked to denounce the leaders allied with al-Maliki and his clan, considering that al-Maliki had no right to lead Iraq in any way.
He also stressed in his response his admiration for "the attempt to kill him by the Dawa Party and their chief al-Maliki." "I advise al-Maliki to abstain and retire from political work," he said, noting that "his accession to power will bring ruin and destruction to Iraq and its people."
The audio leaks attributed to the head of the State of Law coalition, Nuri al-Maliki, have caused an uproar in political and popular circles amid warnings of a high level of provocation between those parties.
The Iraqi activist and journalist Ali Fadel, who resides in the United States, published an audio leak attributed to Al-Maliki, in which he dealt with a number of issues, most notably his relationship with the Sadrists. He also accused the chief of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Massoud Barzani, of seeking to strike the Shiites, by embracing the displaced Sunnis, as well as their leaders.
The KDP-controlled Erbil is home to thousands of former Sunni political figures, business people, and military and intelligence officers who leave Baghdad.
Al-Maliki asked: "How many [people] Muqtada al-Sadr killed in Baghdad? How many [Sadr] kidnapped with duck cars?".
"I wanted to make the PMF like the Iranian Revolutionary Guard," al-Maliki said in the leaded audio records.
Also, in a new clip of what has become known in Iraq as "WikiLeaks al-Maliki," the former prime minister threatened to attack Najaf to "protect the religious authority" if al-Sadr attacked it. He also spoke of a "cruel war from which no one gets out," and he prepared for that by arming 15 groups to confront it.
Iraq has been mired since the end of the last parliamentary elections on October 10, 2021, in a political crisis in which the main political parties were unable to agree on electing a president and forming the next government after each bloc claimed that it had a majority in Parliament, which includes 329 deputies.
Because of this political dispute and the inability of any party to resolve matters despite the strong Shiite leader's leadership, Parliament failed three times to elect a president of the republic, exceeding the deadlines stipulated by the constitution.
Despite the resignation of Sadr deputies, the Shiite leader remains present on the political scene in Iraq through the statements he was publishing on his Twitter account and a recent million-strong gathering in Baghdad.