Kurdish Policy Analysis

  Iran’s Strategy in Iraq Evolves as Tehran Seeks Influence Amid Regional Turmoil By Pshtiwan Faraj , Kurdish Policy Analysis Erbil/Iraq — Iran’s efforts to expand its strategic footprint in Iraq are emerging as a pivotal element in Tehran’s broader approach to regional influence, diplomats and analysts say, a stance that could reshape power dynamics across the Middle East. Since the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq and the toppling of Saddam Hussein, Iran has incrementally deepened its political, military and economic ties in the neighbouring Arab state, exploiting shared Shiite connections and Baghdad’s internal divisions to build influence that extends far beyond Iraq’s borders. Iran’s influence has been rooted in a multifaceted strategy that combines political support for allied Shiite parties in Baghdad, financial investments, and backing for paramilitary formations such as the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF). These networks have helped Tehran to embed itself within Iraq’s sec...

  The closure of the Strait Of Hormuz has forced Iraq to rethink its oil export strategy — pivoting north and reviving old pipelines as global energy markets reel.  Can Baghdad avoid an economic catastrophe?  The story:  Iraqi authorities are scrambling to contain a   looming   financial crisis as the Israeli-US war on Iran shows few signs of letting up. The effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, Iraq’s principal   maritime   export route, has forced a radical cut in crude production. While Baghdad is   exploring   several alternate overland routes, none appear   immediately   viable or hold enough capacity to stave off a full-blown economic meltdown. The coverage:  Emirati outlet The National has  described  Iraq’s mounting challenges as a “polycrisis shock” combining economic, fiscal, political and  security  pressures. One Iraqi economic advisor has  estimated  that roughly 94% of pre-...

       Iraq emerges as critical fault line in widening Iran-Israel conflict ERBIL/BAGHDAD, March 24, Pshtiwan Faraj      Iraq is rapidly becoming a new frontline arena in the escalating confrontation between the United States, Israel and Iran, even as the country remains outside the main frontlines of the war, analysts say. While global attention has focused on Tehran, Washington and Tel Aviv, developments inside Iraq are increasingly shaping the trajectory of the broader conflict, exposing deep structural vulnerabilities in the country’s security and political system. Iraq has long struggled with instability following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion and the subsequent collapse of centralized authority. The rise and defeat of Islamic State left behind a fragmented security landscape, with numerous armed groups operating beyond full state control. As tensions between the United States, Israel and Iran intensify, global attention has fixed on Tehran, Wash...

A Kurdish identity, a Shia political alignment, and a regional crisis revealing deeper divisions inside Iraq’s power structure  March 22, 2026 — By Pshtiwan Faraj  The ongoing political and fiscal tensions between Erbil and Baghdad are exposing deeper ethnic and sectarian dynamics within Iraq’s political landscape, with one of the most vocal parliamentary blocs opposing the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) led by a prominent Feyli Kurdish figure. The Asas coalition, headed by Mohsen al-Mandalawi , has emerged as one of the most critical voices in the Iraqi parliament against the KRG, particularly over disputes involving budget transfers, public sector salaries and oil revenue sharing. Sharp Criticism of KRG Fiscal Policy Members of the coalition have argued that the KRG’s salary payments have been effectively sustained through federal revenues derived largely from southern oil-producing regions such as Basra . They have also criticized the KRG for imposing conditions o...