Latest news with #pro-Iranian
Rudaw Net
8 hours ago
- Business
- Rudaw Net
Rubio tells Sudani important to pay KRG salaries 'consistently'
Also in World Brawl breaks out between pro-Damascus, Kurdish rallies in Germany's Dusseldorf US encourages Iraq to end tensions with Kurdistan Region US orders return of Baghdad embassy, Erbil consulate staff US says attacks on Kurdistan Region 'unacceptable' A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke by phone with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, emphasizing the importance of ensuring uninterrupted salary payments to civil servants in the Kurdistan Region. Rubio also conveyed Washington's concerns regarding a pending bill in the Iraqi parliament that seeks to further institutionalize pro-Iranian militia groups, a State Department spokesperson said on Wednesday. The phone call came just hours after the Iraqi government decided to resume the payment of the salaries of public employees in the Kurdistan Region after nearly three months of suspension due to financial disputes with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). 'The Secretary noted the importance of paying Iraqi Kurdistan Region (IKR) salaries consistently,' read a statement from State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce. Sudani's office has yet to comment on the phone call. Tensions between Baghdad and Erbil escalated in late May when the federal finance ministry suspended transfers, accusing the KRG of exceeding its 12.67 percent share of the federal budget and failing to deliver the agreed oil volumes to Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO). The freeze affected more than 1.2 million public sector employees in the Kurdistan Region. Last week, the federal and regional governments reached a new deal over financial and oil disputes following the failure of several similar deals in the past. The Iraqi government approved the agreement during a cabinet meeting and decided to resume the disbursement of the salaries of KRG's civil servants on Tuesday. The payment will only cover the month of May, and the disbursement of salaries for the remaining months will depend on how the agreement is implemented moving forward. The Erbil-Baghdad agreement also includes the resumption of KRG's oil exports. The process has been halted since March 2023 when a Paris-based arbitration court ruled in favor of Baghdad against Ankara, saying the latter had violated the 1973 pipeline agreement by allowing Erbil to begin exporting oil independently in 2014. Under the agreement, the KRG must export its entire oil output through Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO), keeping 50,000 barrels daily for local use. In return, Baghdad is expected to make budget transfers and provide refined fuel if needed. The KRG is also obligated to hand over 120 billion Iraqi dinars (nearly $92 million) in non-oil revenues monthly for May. Washington has been pressuring Erbil and Baghdad to resume the Kurdish oil exports. Rubio told Sudani during the phone call that it is also important to resume the flow of the Kurdish oil to international markets through the Iraq-Turkey Pipeline, Bruce said in the statement. Kurdistan Region has come under nearly 20 drone attacks, including strikes on its oil fields, in recent weeks. The KRG has blamed Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF, or Hashd al-Shaabi) for the drone attacks, a charge Baghdad has denied. The drones were seen by many as a pressure tactic by pro-Iran groups on the Kurdish government to make compromises to the federal government during negotiations over the resumption of the KRG's oil exports. The attacks have stopped since both governments finalized the agreement on Thursday. The Rubio-Sudani phone call focused on the drone attacks. Some of the targeted sites are operated by US companies. Rubio 'stressed the importance of the Iraqi government holding the perpetrators accountable and preventing future attacks,' Bruce noted in her statement. The attacks have been condemned internationally and locally, including by the US, UK and UN. The Iraqi government has launched an investigation into the strikes but has yet to announce the results. The federal parliament failed to discuss the matter on Monday after Kurdish lawmakers boycotted the session for unknown reasons. Rudaw has learned that some Kurdish parliamentarians feared that the Shiite factions could exploit the session to add a pending bill seeking more rights for the PMF members. The PMF was established in 2014 during the Islamic State group (ISIS) blitz, which saw the group seize control of large parts of Iraq's north and west. Although the PMF has been integrated into the security apparatus, the inclusion of some pro-Iran groups and their failure to answer to Sudani as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces has concerned Washington. The Iraqi government in February sent a bill to the parliament to further institutionalise the PMF, including retirement rights. 'The Secretary also reiterated serious U.S. concerns with the Popular Mobilization Commission (PMC) bill currently pending in the Council of Representatives (COR), emphasizing that any such legislation would institutionalize Iranian influence and armed terrorist groups undermining Iraq's sovereignty,' Bruce said. Rubio later said on X that he told Sudani that he desires to see an Iraq 'free of Iran's pernicious influence." Spoke with Iraqi PM Sudani about the recent attacks against oil companies in Iraq, including U.S. companies. We support a prosperous Iraq, free of Iran's pernicious influence. — Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) July 23, 2025 Iran is believed to have many proxy groups in Iraq, which it has used in the past to target US interests in the region. Washington has taken several measures to ensure that Baghdad is free of Tehran's influence, including the termination of a waiver which had allowed Iraq to buy Iranian electricity for years.
Gulf Insider
6 days ago
- Politics
- Gulf Insider
Iran Seizes Foreign Oil Tanker In Sea Of Oman
It remains important for energy traders to closely monitor the Strait of Hormuz and other key critical maritime chokepoints in the region (recall Red Sea events last week, given persistent geopolitical tensions involving Iran and Israel. Tehran retains a diverse toolkit—both asymmetric and conventional—for disrupting tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. These methods include naval mine deployment, anti-ship missile and drone launches, fast-attack craft swarms, and the seizure of vessels transiting the critical waterway responsible for 20% of the world's oil flows. Shortly after the U.S. launched 'Operation Midnight Hammer' in late June, deploying stealth bombers to strike Iran's nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan using Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs, Iran's parliament voted to authorize the closure of the strait. However, Tehran never closed the strait, but there was at least one report we covered that said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps mulled over littering the waterway with mines. Given that the mines were not deployed, a troubling new report from local media indicates that the IRGC has intercepted and seized a foreign tanker in the Gulf of Oman. The seizure was reportedly carried out under the pretext of 'fuel smuggling,' according to Iranian state media outlet Mehr News Agency (MNA) on X. 'The Chief Justice of Hormozgan Province has announced the seizure of a foreign oil tanker on charges of smuggling 2 million liters of fuel in the Sea of Oman,' MNA reported. The Chief Justice of Hormozgan Province has announced the seizure of a foreign oil tanker on charges of smuggling 2 million liters of fuel in the Sea of Oman.#BREAKING #BreakingNews — Mehr News Agency (@MehrnewsCom) July 16, 2025 Here are more details from pro-Iranian news channel Al Mayadeen: 'Following persistent surveillance of suspected fuel smuggling operations off Iran's Sea of Oman coast, security forces boarded and searched a foreign oil tanker,' Ghahremani said. Iranian authorities confirmed the seizure of the foreign tanker after detecting irregularities in its cargo documentation, with security forces arresting 17 crew members, including the ship's captain, during the operation. The vessel was suspected of transporting two million liters of smuggled fuel through the Sea of Oman. Fuel smuggling via 'dark fleet' tankers has been a consistent tactic used by Iran to circumvent Western sanctions, with much of the crude oil ultimately making its way to China. Details about the seized vessel's ownership and final destination remain limited. Also read: Drone Attacks On Northern Iraqi Oil Field On The Rise Amid Iran Tensions
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Israeli drone strike kills two in north Lebanon
An Israeli drone strike on a vehicle in northern Lebanon on Tuesday killed at least two people, according to Lebanese security sources and the Ministry of Health. The strike targeted a car in the Al-Ayrouniyeh area near the northern city of Tripoli, leaving three others injured, the Health Ministry reported. Lebanese security officials said the main target was a Hamas operative. The Israeli military confirmed the attack, stating: "A short while ago, the IDF struck a key Hamas terrorist in the area of Tripoli in Lebanon." The identity of the individual targeted has not yet been released. Hamas has strong ties with the pro-Iranian Hezbollah movement in Lebanon. Under a ceasefire agreement reached in November between Hezbollah and Israel, the Iran-backed group was to withdraw its fighters north of the Litani River, approximately 30 kilometres from the Israeli border. The Lebanese Army and UN peacekeepers were designated as the only armed forces permitted to operate in southern Lebanon. However, Israel has maintained military positions in five strategic areas of southern Lebanon and has vowed to continue its operations until Hezbollah is fully disarmed.
Qatar Tribune
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Palestinian news agency says Israeli military arrested its editor-in-chief
RamallahcTypeface:> A Palestinian news agency on Monday said its editor-in-chief was arrested by the Israeli military in the West Bank. The Maan agency said Israeli authorities ordered the editor, Nasser Lahham, to be detained until Thursday. The arrest took place late on Monday at Laham's home in the village of Al Doha, near Bethlehem. The Israeli military said that a 'wanted person' was arrested in Bethlehem. No information has been released on the reasons for the journalist's detention. Lahham is the head of the Bethlehem office of the Lebanese Al Mayadeen television station, which is seen as close to the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia. The station is banned in Israel and the occupied Palestinian Territories. (DPA)
Iraqi News
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Iraq downs drone near Erbil airport hosting American forces
Erbil – A drone was intercepted late on Thursday near Erbil airport, which houses US-led anti-jihadist coalition troops in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region, Kurdish security forces said. 'At 21:58 (1858 GMT) an explosive-packed drone was downed near Erbil International Airport, without causing casualties or damage,' said the counterterrorism services of the Kurdistan region. Erbil airport, which includes a military base of the international anti-jihadist coalition, was a frequent target in previous years for rocket and drone attacks. Dana Tofeek, the airport's interim director, told AFP that the airport is 'safe', adding that 'only one flight was slightly delayed due to security measures'. There has been no claim of responsibility for the drone. In less than two weeks, drone and rocket attacks have been reported in different parts of Iraq, including drones that landed in open spaces. Earlier on Thursday, an explosive-packed drone fell near Kirkuk airport, which was struck on Monday by two rockets, a senior security official told AFP. Kirkuk airport hosts Iraqi army units, federal police and the Hashed al-Shaabi, a coalition of former pro-Iranian paramilitary forces now integrated into the regular armed forces. Early on Tuesday, Iraq's anti-aircraft defence engaged at least one drone near the key refinery of Baiji in Salaheddin province. Last week, hours before a ceasefire ended the 12-day Iran-Israel war, unidentified drones struck radar systems at two military bases in Baghdad and southern Iraq. Iraq has long been a battleground of drone and rocket assaults and proved fertile ground for proxy wars. It only recently regained a semblance of stability after decades of devastating conflicts and turmoil.
