Latest news with #Jiyad
Shafaq News
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq caught between US-Iran axis: Experts debate Baghdad's fate
Shafaq News/ Iraq is no longer a top priority for US foreign policy, according to former Assistant Secretary of State Denise Natali. Speaking Monday at a Chatham House panel in London—attended by Shafaq News—Natali, now a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, stressed that Washington views Baghdad as increasingly aligned with Tehran and is closely watching whether Iraqi authorities will comply with sanctions on Iran. Although the US has not completely disengaged, Natali explained that American involvement in Iraq's state-building and civil society development is steadily diminishing, marked by sharp reductions in institutional support. UK MENA Director Stephen Hickey acknowledged, during the panel, Iraq's efforts to stay neutral amid rising regional tensions but cautioned that its stability remains precarious, urging Baghdad to advance governance reforms, crackdown on corruption, and restructure its security forces to avoid being pulled into a wider conflict. He also recommended deeper ties with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar as a path to regional stability, calling them increasingly constructive actors. Another Speaker, Hamidreza Azizi of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs argued that Tehran still clings to its foothold in Iraq, despite growing resistance, warning that Iran perceives Iraq's economic recovery and closer Arab ties as threats to its dominance. 'Iran doesn't want a strong Iraq; it wants a Shiite-led Iraq,' Azizi remarked, adding that Tehran now favors Oman over Baghdad as a diplomatic channel, despite their formal alliance. In addition, Political analyst Sajad Jiyad of Century International urged a recalibration of Iraq-Iran relations, framing the moment as a strategic opening for Baghdad. 'Iran knows the region has changed. It can't keep managing Iraq through the IRGC,' Jiyad observed, referencing Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi's recent visit to Lebanon as evidence of Tehran's shifting approach. Jiyad recalled that the last major shift in Iraq-Iran ties came in 2011, following the US troop withdrawal, when Iran's focus turned to countering American presence. Today, he argued, regional realignments give Iraq's current or future leadership a chance to renegotiate the relationship based on the realities of a transformed geopolitical landscape.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Time of India
Cab driver assaulted, robbed in midnight attack in Bengaluru
Bengaluru: A 26-year-old man was attacked with lethal weapons and robbed by four unidentified miscreants on Kasavanahalli Main Road in the late night of May 20. The victim, Mohammed Jiyad, was reportedly assaulted for nearly four hours before police intervened, according to a complaint filed with Bellandur police. Jiyad, a resident of Rajiv Nagar in Choodasandra and a cab driver, was on his way to fetch food and refill petrol around midnight. He was riding his Bajaj Pulsar 220 when two bike-borne assailants allegedly collided with his motorcycle around 12.15am near Nandini Junction. He fell and as he tried to get up, two more individuals arrived, and all four reportedly began to assault him, leaving him unconscious. After regaining consciousness, Jiyad was reportedly coerced into riding to an isolated area in Haralur. The assailants demanded money and his mobile phone. When he said he had no cash, one of them allegedly stabbed him in the wrist and back after checking his pockets. The attackers then took his phone and insisted he transfer Rs 1.5 lakh to secure his release. Unable to meet the demand, Jiyad was told to contact family or friends. He called his roommate, Azharuddin, and explained the situation. Realising the severity of the threat, Azharuddin contacted the police helpline, providing officers with Jiyad's number and location. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo A Hoysala patrol team reached the location by 4am. However, upon spotting the police, the assailants fled with Jiyad's bike and mobile phone. Jiyad was then taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Police have since registered a case under BNS sections 309 (robbery) and 311 (robbery or dacoity with attempt to cause death or grievous hurt). A senior officer said CCTV footage from the vicinity is being examined, and efforts to identify and apprehend the suspects are underway.
Iraq Business
01-04-2025
- Business
- Iraq Business
Rebalancing IOCs Positioning in Iraq's Upstream Petroleum Sector
By Ahmed Mousa Jiyad. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Rebalancing IOCs Positioning in the Upstream Petroleum Sector in Iraq The Ministry of Oil (MoO) recently concluded an agreement with BP covering four main oilfields in Kirkuk, following an earlier contract with an unidentified Ukrainian company to resume development of the Akkas gas field. Approximately a year prior, MoO finalised and executed an agreement with TotalEnergies and QatarEnergy encompassing four different projects. These three agreements could, if implemented, reverse the exodus of International Oil Companies (IOCs) and rebalance their positioning in Iraq's upstream petroleum sector. The lack of transparency surrounding these deals makes it difficult to assess how well they serve Iraq's interests. However, available information suggests the agreements, particularly with BP and TotalEnergies, strongly favor these IOCs from a comparative perspective. IOCs include well-known majors, medium-sized enterprises, and smaller companies, broadly categorised as Western IOCs (WIOCs) and non-Western IOCs (NWIOCs). Their positioning in Iraq's upstream petroleum sector over the past twenty years has evolved through three distinct yet overlapping phases. The initial phase, coinciding with the aftermath of the 2003 Anglo-American invasion and occupation, was characterised by clear WIOC dominance. This dominance gradually and dramatically weakened during the second phase, culminating in an exodus of several major WIOCs, which created opportunities for NWIOCs to enter the market and, for larger companies among them, to consolidate their strategic positions. The third phase has witnessed new agreements with select WIOCs, two of which could significantly rebalance their own positions and, consequently, overall WIOC positioning in Iraq's upstream petroleum sector. While IOC positioning carries geopolitical and strategic implications from both corporate and national perspectives, this article focuses primarily on the corporate viewpoint. The contractual frameworks, governance modalities, processes, and stakeholder relationships differ across these three phases. After reviewing and analysing these phases, this article provides a comparative assessment of the latest two agreements-the TotalEnergies and BP-Kirkuk deals. Click here to read the full article. Mr Jiyad is an independent development consultant, scholar and Associate with the former Centre for Global Energy Studies (CGES), London. He was formerly a senior economist with the Iraq National Oil Company and Iraq's Ministry of Oil, Chief Expert for the Council of Ministers, Director at the Ministry of Trade, and International Specialist with UN organizations in Uganda, Sudan and Jordan. He is now based in Norway (Email: mou-jiya(at) Skype ID: Ahmed Mousa Jiyad). Read more of Mr Jiyad's biography here.
