Baghdad: Today’s newspapers focus on the Cabinet’s decisions, including a mechanism for dealing with detainees transferred from Syria, and the President’s visit to the holy city of Karbala. According to National Iraqi News Agency, the semi-official Al-Sabah newspaper, affiliated with the Iraqi Media Network, reported that the Cabinet, as part of its cost-cutting measures, approved halting all foreign delegations for state employees, whether centrally or self-funded, and reducing delegation allocations by 60% in the general budget. While making decisions related to enhancing oil and petroleum product export capabilities, the Cabinet also approved extending import approvals related to developing medical services, provided that the extension does not extend beyond the end of the current year.
The newspaper quoted a statement from the Prime Minister’s Media Office saying, “Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zaidi chaired the eighteenth regular session of the Cabinet yesterday, Tuesday, during which developments in the country were discussed, and the topics and files on the agenda were reviewed and the necessary decisions were made.” The statement confirmed that “the Cabinet approved the Ministry of Finance providing the Ministry of Oil with the financial allocations for centrally funded ministries and official bodies, so that the Ministry of Oil can make the necessary arrangements monthly, according to the allocation for each spending unit.”
The newspaper continued, stating that as part of the government’s measures to enhance oil and petroleum product export capabilities, the Council approved amending its Resolution (165 of 2026) regarding the mechanism for selling crude oil and petroleum products, to ensure its continued operation until the current crisis ends and maritime traffic returns to normal in the Strait of Hormuz. It added that, within the framework of regulating contractual obligations, the Council of Ministers approved amending its Resolution (348 of 2026) to include the signing of agreements between the Ministry of Oil and the American company Chevron, within the framework of advance payment agreements, crude oil security, and technical consultation.
The newspaper further stated that, regarding the framework agreement on water between Iraq and Turkey, the Council approved amending its Resolution (388 of 2026) so that the quantities of crude oil exported to the Turkish side do not exceed (33) thousand barrels per day as a first phase, within the framework of the actual financing needs of the agreement mechanism.
In another matter, Al-Zaman newspaper (Iraq edition) reported that a meeting of the Supreme Judicial Council with security chiefs resulted in a unified position regarding foreign detainees and convicts transferred from Syria to Iraq. The position stipulates that their cases will be handled piecemeal, according to bilateral agreements between Iraq and their respective countries of origin, and based on Iraqi laws and the principle of reciprocity.
The newspaper quoted a statement saying that “the meeting, chaired by the head of the Supreme Judicial Council, Faiq Zaidan, and attended by a number of security, judicial, and government officials, addressed the formulation of Iraq’s unified vision regarding the cases of foreign detainees and convicts, following the completion of the investigation and interrogation phase by the First Karkh Investigation Court and the transition to the trial phase.” The meeting concluded with a decision to address the cases of these detainees and convicts piecemeal, in accordance with bilateral agreements between Iraq and their respective countries, and based on Iraqi laws and the principle of reciprocity. It added that the National Center for International Judicial Cooperation would be tasked with reviewing any initiatives or proposals submitted by these countries or international organizations regarding aid and assistance to Iraq in this matter.
In a separate matter, Al-Zawraa newspaper, published by the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate, reported that President Nizar Amidi stressed the special attention given to the holy city of Karbala, given its profound symbolic significance in the hearts of Iraqis and Muslims. The newspaper quoted the Presidential Media Office as saying in a statement that ‘President Nizar Amidi met with the Governor of Karbala, Nassif Jassim al-Khattabi, the head of the Provincial Council, Qasim al-Yassari, members of the Provincial Council, and heads of administrative units, as part of the President’s visit to the province. During the meeting, they discussed the current situation in Karbala and its service and development needs, as well as strengthening development plans and improving infrastructure to accommodate the growing religious and tourist activity in the province.’
The newspaper noted that the President emphasized that ‘throughout its history, Karbala has not only been a center of religious and spiritual influence, but also a beacon of resistance against injustice and tyranny, and a defender of the values of freedom and dignity.’ He pointed to ‘the province’s notable patriotic stances, particularly the uprisings of 1977 and 1991, which embodied the people of Karbala’s rejection of despotism and injustice.