Maarij arrested in widening corruption crackdown

A second deputy oil minister has been ensnared in an expanding operation that has also taken down several MPs, with potential to reshape Iraq's political power balance.

Oil Minister Hayyan Abdulghani (left) meets with Deputy Minister Ali Maarij at the Oil Ministry in Baghdad on Oct. 21, 2024. (Photo credit: Oil Ministry)

Energy

Southern export uptick unlocks production gains

A partial resumption in tanker traffic has enabled at least 250,000 bpd in increased oil output, but a full recovery still depends on wartime dynamics outside Iraq’s control.

Politics

Iraq leans on central bank reserves to weather oil export collapse

Indirect borrowing from foreign reserves is keeping the government afloat, but Iraq's fiscal leeway is shrinking fast.

Security

As Iraq tries to rein in paramilitary groups, oil sector threats remain

Several armed groups say they will put their weapons under state control, but the most aggressive Iran-backed fighters remain outside the process.

Interviews

Q&A: Bassim Mohammed Khudair, Deputy Oil Minister for Upstream

Iraq's top upstream oil official confirms that production, curtailed by war, is ready to surge back online — but only once ships can reliably resume Basra Gulf export loadings.