Kurdish Policy Analysis

  Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam is expected to visit Baghdad to renew a strategic fuel agreement while both countries explore broader energy, trade, and investment cooperation—including a potential new Iraqi oil export corridor to the Mediterranean. By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis Iraq and Lebanon are set to renew their fuel agreement as Baghdad explores using Lebanon as a new Mediterranean export route for Iraqi crude oil. Iraq and Lebanon are preparing to deepen their economic partnership as Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam is expected to visit Baghdad on Sunday for high-level talks aimed at renewing Iraq's long-running fuel supply agreement while expanding bilateral cooperation across the energy, trade, and investment sectors. The visit comes as Iraq seeks to diversify its export infrastructure amid growing regional instability, with officials expected to discuss the possibility of using Lebanon as an additional Mediterranean outlet for Iraqi crude oil...

Iraq's Oil Curse Is Burying Mesopotamia By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj Sulaimani, Iraqi Kurdistan — 31 May 2026  Four thousand years after Mesopotamia gave birth to civilization, modern Iraq still cannot build the roads, hotels, and institutions needed to transform its archaeological wealth into economic and geopolitical influence. The problem is not war alone—it is an oil-dependent state that has never needed tourism to survive. Despite possessing 150,000 archaeological sites, including Ur, Babylon, Nimrud, and Hatra, Iraq remains a marginal destination for international tourism Yet the country had only 556 international visitors for its vast archaeological sites in 2024 according to a local report . This analysis examines how oil dependency, governance failures, conflict, and regional instability have prevented Iraq from transforming its ancient heritage into economic and geopolitical power. Iraq's tourism crisis is often explained through the destruction caused by war, sanctions, ...

By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj Sulaimani, Iraqi Kurdistan — 31 May 2026  Despite escalating regional conflict, shipping disruptions, and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Iraq continues to safeguard food security through alternative trade routes, with a major U.S. rice shipment arriving via Jordan's Aqaba Port. A shipment carrying 44,000 tons of US rice designated for Iraq arrived at Jordan's Aqaba Port on Sunday despite shipping disruptions and maritime restrictions affecting regional trade routes, Iraq's Ministry of Trade stated. Lama Hashem Al-Moussawi, Director General of the State Company for Foodstuff Trading, noted that the company continues to implement its 2026 distribution plan for the food basket and social welfare programs, ensuring the uninterrupted supply of essential food items.  She added that “the company is closely monitoring shipping and unloading operations while coordinating with relevant authorities to ensure the timely delivery of supplies to warehouses a...

Iraq’s New Prime Minister Faces the Impossible State: Can Ali Al-Zaidi Reform a Country Controlled by Militias, Oil, and Foreign Powers? By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj Sulaimani, Iraqi Kurdistan — 20 May 2026 Iraq’s new government program promises state control over weapons, banking reform, energy independence, anti-corruption measures, and digital modernization — but the deeper question is whether Baghdad’s political system will allow any of it to happen.  Iraq’s new Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi has unveiled an ambitious 14-pillar government program focused on militias, energy, banking reform, and governance. But deep structural obstacles threaten implementation. Iraq has a new prime minister, a new cabinet program, and a familiar national dilemma. The government of Ali Falih Al-Zaidi entered office promising reform across nearly every sector of the Iraqi state: weapons control, anti-corruption, banking modernization, energy independence, digital transformation, industrial revival, and ins...

  Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj    | Sulaimani, Iraq | 08 May 2026   US forces intercepted an “unjustified” Iranian attack while carrying out “defensive strikes” on Iranian military facilities, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated on Friday. According to the Command, Iranian forces launched several missiles, drones, and small boats toward the guided-missile destroyers USS Truxtun, USS Rafael Peralta, and USS Mason as they transited the Strait of Hormuz en route to the Gulf of Oman. None of the vessels sustained damage. A statement from Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Iran’s armed forces central command, however, accused Washington of violating the April 8 ceasefire by targeting an Iranian oil tanker near Jask and another vessel off Fujairah. The Iranian side also reported strikes on coastal areas in Bandar Khamir, Sirik, and Qeshm Island, while confirming that Iranian forces responded by targeting US naval vessels east of the Strait of Hormuz and south of Chabahar....