As tensions over trade, Taiwan, technology, and global influence intensify, the meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping may determine the future balance of power between Washington and Beijing. By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Sulaimani, Iraq | 13 May 2026 — Kurdish Policy Analysis "We don't have permanent allies and we don't have permanent enemies, only our interests are permanent, and we have to follow them." – Henry John Temple. The root of the current Strait of Hormuz tensions is not only about shipping routes or oil prices, but also about the final collapse of the historical US concept towards Beijing. However, the 2025 National Security Strategy, released by the White House in November, says this was a historic mistake because China used the assets it accumulated to strengthen itself and compete with the West, not to become their partner. For many years, the United States alone maintained maritime security; The fifth US ship in Manama, Bahrain, worked only to keep o...
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Iran’s Qaani Visits Baghdad Amid Rising Shiite and Kurdish Political Tensions
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High-level Iranian military diplomacy signals deepening regional political realignment
By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj, SULAIMANI, Kurdish Policy Analysis, April 22-- Iraq’s Shiite political forces failed to convene as planned to choose a candidate for the country’s next prime minister.
The groups, aligned under an alliance known as the Coordination Framework, had been expected to meet Saturday evening in Baghdad to settle on a nominee, but the meeting was postponed.
A source within the Coordination Framework told Alhurra that the delay came at the direct request of current Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who informed alliance leaders that he needed an additional “24 hours” to consolidate his alliances and secure the votes of undecided members to win a second term.
The “old guard” within the alliance initially rejected postponing the meeting, but political pressure pushed them to agree at the last minute. The delay, made at Sudani’s request, has raised questions about his ability to outmaneuver his rivals.
Sudani is determined to secure a second term, believing that his coalition’s victory with the highest number of votes in the most recent parliamentary elections, held in November 2025, qualifies him to remain prime minister.
The political deadlock coincided with the arrival in Baghdad of the commander of Iran’s Quds Force, Gen. Esmail Qaani, on an unannounced visit.
According to observers, Qaani, who is seeking to coordinate the positions of Iraq’s Shiite factions, does not possess the same level of influence as his predecessor, Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. strike in Baghdad in 2020.
Sources who spoke to Alhurra said Qaani met with several Coordination Framework leaders and stressed the need to form a “strong government capable of confronting regional challenges.”
One source interpreted the concept of “strength” from the Iranian perspective as a government that “does not compromise the strategic relationship with Tehran,” amid serious Iranian concerns about declining influence in Iraq due to international pressure and reports suggesting a loss of control over some key files ahead of the formation of a new government.
Qaani is scheduled to meet with other Coordination Framework figures on Sunday, with the aim of resolving the situation within the alliance by Monday and agreeing on a consensus candidate.
According to a second source, Iran fears losing its influence in Iraq and “therefore sent Qaani to salvage what can be salvaged before the government is formed.”
Leaked information indicates that the race has effectively narrowed to two candidates: Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who is relying on his “service achievements” and his growing parliamentary bloc (the Reconstruction and Development Coalition), the largest with “at least 45 seats,” and Bassem al-Badri, head of the Accountability and Justice Commission, who has emerged as a “compromise” candidate backed strongly by State of Law Coalition leader Nouri al-Maliki and Qais al-Khazali, secretary-general of Asaib Ahl al-Haq.
Under the Coordination Framework’s internal voting mechanism, a candidate must secure a two-thirds majority (eight out of 12 votes) to become the bloc’s official nominee.
The complexity of the political scene is not limited to Shiite factions, but also extends to Kurdish forces.
The Kurdistan Democratic Party bloc announced it would boycott parliament sessions until further notice, protesting what it described as violations of the constitution and the law within the legislative institution.
In an official statement, the bloc affiliated with the Kurdistan Democratic Party, led by Masoud Barzani, said the boycott decision was due to what it viewed as a disregard for the principles of partnership, balance and consensus, which are fundamental pillars of Iraq’s political process. It added that the decision was based on directives and recommendations issued by the party’s leadership amid escalating disputes over decision-making mechanisms within parliament.
The move follows an earlier announcement by the Kurdistan Democratic Party rejecting the outcome of the election of Nizar Amidi as president of Iraq, saying the mechanism of his election did not reflect the true representation of the Kurdish majority. The party also instructed its representatives in both parliament and the federal government to return to the Kurdistan Region for internal consultations.
The party’s bloc had already boycotted the parliamentary session to elect the president, in a step reflecting a notable political escalation that could have repercussions for the stability of the legislative process and political balances in Iraq in the coming period.
Iran Drops “Lord of the Straits” Animation — A Chilling Signal Over Hormuz Control March 23, 2026 Iranian state-affiliated media outlets have released a stylized animation titled “Lord of the Straits,” centered on the strategic Strait of Hormuz , as tensions in the region continue to escalate. The animation, which has circulated widely on social media, depicts a dramatized narrative emphasizing Iran’s control and influence over the narrow maritime passage, a critical artery for global oil shipments. While the video does not include official military statements, analysts say its messaging aligns with Tehran’s broader strategic signaling amid the ongoing confrontation involving the United States and its allies. The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly a fifth of the world’s oil trade, making any perceived threat to its security a major concern for global energy markets. Recent weeks have seen heightened rhetoric from multiple sides, including warnings over potential di...
Godzilla escorts an oil tanker through the Strait of Hormuz in a viral meme capturing the chaos of rising global tensions in 2026 Japan Deploys Legendary Asset to Secure Strait of Hormuz: Godzilla Now on Escort Duty As tensions surge in the Strait of Hormuz —a critical artery for nearly 20% of global oil—an unexpected viral moment has taken over the internet: Japan has “deployed” Godzilla . What started as a joke is now one of the most shared reactions to a rapidly escalating geopolitical crisis in 2026. Why This Matters The Strait of Hormuz handles nearly 20% of global oil Any disruption impacts fuel prices worldwide Escalation could affect Iraq, Kurdistan, and global markets In a move that has stunned military analysts and delighted meme lords everywhere, Japan has apparently answered the call to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz —by sending its most fearsome maritime guardian straight from the silver screen. A now-viral image shows the King of the Mo...
ANALYSIS — Last-ditch diplomacy tests limits as U.S.–Iran war nears escalation point. Backchannel diplomacy scrambles for a 45-day pause as threats escalate and the fate of the region hangs on a rapidly closing window. Kurdish Policy Analysis , April 6 (Analysis) — A flurry of high-stakes diplomacy aimed at halting the U.S.–Iran war has emerged as what officials describe as a “last realistic opportunity” to prevent a far wider regional conflict, even as military threats intensify and timelines compress. At the center of the effort is a proposed 45-day ceasefire , structured as a two-phase process: an initial pause in hostilities followed by negotiations toward a permanent settlement . A narrow diplomatic window The urgency reflects a rapidly closing window. U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed a deadline—extended slightly to Tuesday evening— warning of major strikes if Iran fails to meet key demands, including reopening the Strait of Hormuz , a vital artery for glo...
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