Iraq, Iran discuss rail links, regional security in Baghdad talks
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein met Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani in Baghdad on Monday for talks on bilateral cooperation and regional security challenges.
The two sides reviewed the stalled Shalamcheh–Basra railway project, agreeing to accelerate demining and remove technical obstacles. They also discussed extending the line from Iran's Khosravi to Iraq's Khanaqin and Baghdad, linking it to Iraq's Development Road project to boost economic ties and religious tourism.
استقبلتُ اليوم في بغداد أمين المجلس الأعلى للأمن القومي الإيراني السيد علي لاريجاني، حيث ناقشنا تطوير العلاقات الثنائية ومشاريع الربط السككي بين #الشلامجة – #البصرة و #خسروي – #خانقين – #بغداد وإمكان ربطها بطريق التنمية، بما يعزز التعاون الاقتصادي ويخدم السياحة الدينية. pic.twitter.com/PWxiDumgif
— Fuad Hussein | فؤاد حسين (@Fuad_Husseein) August 11, 2025
In addition, talks covered Israel's military campaign in Gaza, alleged plans to displace Palestinians to Egypt, and threats to annex the West Bank, as well as security risks facing Iran and the impact of the Syrian crisis on regional stability.
Hussein and Larijani underscored the need for joint regional security mechanisms and explored a UN-backed proposal for a '6+2' dialogue involving the GCC states, Iraq, and Iran on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rudaw Net
16 minutes ago
- Rudaw Net
Iraq says nearly 8,000 prisoners released under general amnesty law
Also in Iraq Iraq, Kurdish forces capture nearly a dozen ISIS suspects in joint ops Grid collapse causes widespread power outage across Iraq Kirkuk landowners face arrests, lawsuits despite land restitution law Iraqi top court to hear case against Kurdistan electricity prices A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq's justice ministry said on Tuesday that nearly 8,000 inmates across the country have been released under the general amnesty law, which took effect in mid-February. 'The total number of inmates released under the general amnesty law, since its implementation, until today, has reached 7,995 inmates across all correctional departments in Iraq,' state media said, citing a justice ministry statement. Passed in February, the law amended the 2016 law's interpretation of affiliation with terrorist organizations, and was pushed by Sunni Arab lawmakers. The amendment was a key prerequisite for Sunni blocs to agree to join the ruling State Administration Coalition, which was formed in September 2022 and backed Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani into office. The ministry asserted that it will 'continue to follow up on the implementation of the law with transparency and accuracy,' adding that the released prisoners included male and female inmates. The law went into effect alongside two other controversial laws demanded by Shiite and Kurdish lawmakers – the personal status and land restitution laws, respectively. The Islamic State (ISIS) seized vast swathes of Iraqi territory in 2014. During the liberation battles, thousands were arrested for suspected ISIS links, particularly in Sunni-majority provinces, like Anbar, Nineveh, and Salahaddin provinces. According to the justice ministry statistics, there are 30 prisons in Iraq with some 67,000 inmates, 1,600 of whom are foreigners. This number excludes the Kurdistan Region's prisons and those held by security forces and different armed groups across the country.
Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Iraq vote integrity questioned: Candidate barring, money impact spark row
Shafaq News Concerns over the transparency of Iraq's November 2025 parliamentary elections are mounting, as political tensions grow over candidate disqualifications and the influence of money and power on the electoral process. Emerging political movements accuse entrenched parties of leveraging state institutions to sideline rivals, while the 'impartiality' of the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) is increasingly contested. Persistent Trust Deficit Since Iraq's first post-2003 vote, five parliamentary elections have been held — each shadowed by allegations of manipulation, vote-buying, and misuse of state resources. In 2021, despite disputes over the results, international observers — including the European Union — praised IHEC's technical performance. Yet turnout was historically low, with around 60% abstaining. Analysts warn that disillusionment could deepen this year, especially after influential factions such as Muqtada al-Sadr's bloc announced a boycott. Targeting New Political Entrants Political analyst Muhannad al-Rawi told Shafaq News that the sidelining of emerging forces has become 'a recurring pattern since 2003,' as dominant political blocs work to limit competition. He pointed to IHEC's recent disqualification of around 70 candidates, citing reasons such as de-Ba'athification, criminal convictions, or procedural violations. Al-Rawi questioned the consistency of the process: 'Why do we see figures accused of corruption or electoral fraud still competing, while others are excluded?' suggesting political motives may influence eligibility rulings. Legal appeals are now before the Supreme Court, which has the final authority to reinstate candidates. Power And Money Remain Decisive Kamel al-Ghurairi, former MP and leader of the newly formed Sovereignty and Legislation Party (Al-Siyada wal Tashri'e), told Shafaq News that while IHEC has shown procedural fairness toward all blocs, 'the real threat lies in the influence of powerful parties that have both financial resources and political authority.' He warned these forces could 'pressure the Commission or interfere with ballot boxes,' potentially undermining confidence in the entire process. For foreign readers, ballot box manipulation in Iraq has historically ranged from direct vote tampering to intimidating election staff in politically sensitive districts. IHEC Defends Its Neutrality IHEC spokesperson Jumana al-Ghalai reiterated to Shafaq News that the Commission is 'fully committed to neutrality' and operates within the framework of Law No. 4 (2023). She stressed that candidate disqualifications result from formal eligibility checks, with final rulings issued by the judiciary. Hassan al-Zayer, from IHEC's media team, added that disqualified candidates have three days to appeal, and appeals are reviewed by the Commission's legal and complaints units. 'We deal with names and numbers — not political affiliations.' Reform Measures On The Table In a move to strengthen electoral integrity, President Abdul Latif Rashid submitted a proposal — later backed by the Coordination Framework, the powerful Shiite alliance in government — to restrict state-linked advantages in the lead-up to the vote. According to Rashid's plan, some actions would be suspended until after election day, including preventing infrastructure or procurement deals from being used as campaign tools, avoiding the perception of vote-buying through social assistance expansion, land distribution schemes — a common form of political patronage in Iraq, and mass commendations and official awards to public employees. Transfers and promotions within security and military institutions, as well as public endorsements by senior officials, are also a part of the proposal. The Road Ahead With the final candidate list still pending, Iraq is heading into a contentious campaign season where political trust is fragile. Analysts agree that unless IHEC's neutrality is widely recognized, and unless restrictions on state resources are enforced, the November vote could deepen skepticism toward the democratic process — further weakening Iraq's already strained political legitimacy.
Iraqi News
3 hours ago
- Iraqi News
General Electric's projects in Iraq to generate 24,000 megawatts
Baghdad ( – The Iraqi Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, said on Monday that the government has moved on with the largest project with General Electric (GE), which is expected to produce 24,000 megawatts. Al-Sudani's remarks took place during the inauguration of an expansion project at the Bismayah Combined Cycle Power Plant, located southeast of Baghdad. The additional unit installed in the power plant will increase its production by 300 megawatts, raising its total capacity to 5,000 megawatts, according to a statement released by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). On April 9, GE Vernova and the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) covering proposals for combined-cycle gas-fired power plants with a capacity of approximately 24,000 megawatts. With the potential to get funding from foreign institutions, the MoU with General Electric (GE) is the largest and most comprehensive electrical agreement in Iraq's history. The deal covers the construction of new power plants to boost electricity production as well as maintaining and improving the operation of current ones. The largest electricity contract in Iraq's history marks a step forward in the Baghdad government's attempts to fulfill the country's growing energy demand. Over the next four years, the US company plans to carry out initiatives in three stages, which include enhancing the efficiency of current generating units and implementing cutting-edge technology to boost output without requiring more fuel. The Iraqi Minister of Electricity, Ziyad Ali Fadel, said earlier that the ministry has reached agreements with GE to develop power facilities with a capacity of 24,000 megawatts, as well as with Siemens, a Germany-based company, for an additional capacity of 14,000 megawatts. Fadel added that a deal with Shanghai Electric Group will be reached shortly to generate 10,000 megawatts of electrical power to fulfill the country's growing needs.
