
Iraq's FM holds talks with Arab and European counterparts
Shafaq News/ Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Fuad Hussein, held a series of phone calls on Monday with the prime minister of a Gulf state and four Arab and European foreign ministers, discussing the escalating conflict in the region and its potential repercussions.
According to a statement from the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hussein received calls from his counterparts in Egypt, Jordan, Bulgaria, and Oman, as well as the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.
The discussions focused on the fast-moving developments across the region and the heightened risk to its security and stability. All parties emphasized the need to prioritize dialogue and diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions and prevent the conflict from expanding further.
In his call with Qatar's Prime Minister, Hussein addressed the recent missile attack on the Gulf state, expressing concern and inquiring about the safety of the situation on the ground. Both sides stressed the importance of containing the crisis through peaceful means.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Shafaq News
3 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Trump announces full ceasefire deal between Israel and Iran
Shafaq News/ US President Donald Trump announced a full ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran, set to take effect in approximately six hours after his announcement. 'CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE! It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE (in approximately 6 hours from now, when Israel and Iran have wound down and completed their in progress, final missions!), for 12 hours, at which point the War will be considered, ENDED! ' Trump stated on his Truthsocial account. Stating that this war was supposed to go on for years, and destroy the entire Middle East, Trump said, 'It didn't, and never will! God bless Israel, God bless Iran, God bless the Middle East, God bless the United States of America, and GOD BLESS THE WORLD! Conflicting reports emerged from both Iranian and Israeli sides followingTrump's announcement. As of yet, neither side has issued an official confirmation regarding the deal.


Shafaq News
3 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Iraq's river flows and dam reserves fall below half
Shafaq News/ Iraq is entering a critical phase of water scarcity as inflows from the Tigris and Euphrates rivers drop below 50% of normal levels and strategic dam reserves plunge to historic lows—raising alarm over the country's ability to meet agricultural, domestic, and environmental demands in the months ahead, the parliamentary Committee on Agriculture and Water confirmed. Committee member Ibtisam Al-Hilali told Shafaq News that both rainfall and water releases from neighboring countries have declined sharply, placing enormous pressure on Iraq's already fragile water infrastructure. "The water reserves in our dams, as well as river inflows, have decreased to below 50%," Al-Hilali said. "The situation is especially dire at Dukan Dam, where the current reserve has dropped to just 1.6 billion cubic meters, down from 4 billion in previous years." According to Al-Hilali, the crisis is driven by a combination of environmental and political challenges, which are highlighted by Iraq's stalled efforts to reach binding water-sharing agreements with its upstream neighbors, particularly Turkiye and Iran. "The specter of drought is looming, not only because of climate conditions, but also due to the failure of Iraqi diplomacy to secure long-term solutions." She noted, adding that although Baghdad previously agreed with Ankara on a daily release of 500 cubic meters per second, "Turkiye has not adhered to the agreement." Al-Hilali urged the Iraqi government to adopt a firmer stance, suggesting that Iraq use trade and investment as leverage in future talks. "Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani must now consider economic pressure as a tool to push for increased water releases," she said. By the end of May, Iraq's total water storage had reached its lowest level in nearly eight decades. With an extremely weak rainy season, reduced snowmelt, and upstream restrictions, the country's reserves have fallen to just 10 billion cubic meters—far short of the 18 billion it needs to meet summer demands, and significantly below the 20 billion available last year. As a result, authorities have been forced to scale back the area of land allocated for summer crops, further compounding Iraq's food security concerns. A recent Forbes report described Iraq and its neighbors as facing an 'unprecedented drought', warning that the continuation of current trends would have devastating consequences. The region is already among the most water-stressed on Earth, and Iraq's dwindling reserves represent a stark warning of the challenges ahead.


Shafaq News
3 hours ago
- Shafaq News
Iran issues evacuation warning ahead of planned strike in Tel Aviv suburb
Shafaq News/ On Monday, Iran issued an urgent warning on Monday, calling on residents to evacuate a Ramat Gan, a suburb of Tel Aviv, ahead of a planned military operation. The warning, which included a map of the targeted zone, advised individuals to leave immediately, citing an imminent strike by Iranian armed forces within the coming hours. It stated that the operation would be similar to previous attacks in recent days that targeted Israeli military infrastructure in parts of Tel Aviv. The message warned that remaining in the area would endanger lives. Earlier, The Israeli Army issued an urgent warning to civilians in a Tehran red-marked zone on an attached map as a high-risk target area, urging them to evacuate immediately. Despite such warnings, Iranian authorities typically report civilian casualties or damage in targeted zones, often framing the strikes as acts of aggression that affect residential areas. According to the Iranian Ministry of Health, since June 13, Israel has killed 430 people and wounded more than 3,500 others.