Summary Iraq: August 18, 2026. 

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Iran’s parliament speaker to visit Baghdad for strategic and energy talks

Iran’s parliament speaker and top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, is scheduled to arrive in Baghdad on Wednesday to lead a high-level delegation for talks with Iraqi leaders on regional developments and strategic bilateral cooperation, state media reports.

The discussions will cover key areas including border security, counterterrorism initiatives, the expansion of economic partnerships and the implementation of existing agreements.

According to Iraqi media, the agenda is also expected to include a proposal concerning Iraqi oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz.

 

   

Qatar condemns drone attack in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq

Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned a drone attack on the office of the prime minister of Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government on Monday, describing it as a “blatant violation of the sovereignty of the Republic of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, as well as a flagrant breach of the rules of international law”.

The attack targeted not just the office of Kurdish Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, but also the head of the semi-autonomous Iraqi region’s security and intelligence agency.

In its statement on Tuesday, Qatar also stressed the need to “spare the region the repercussions of these unjustified attacks and to maintain the course of dialogue, diplomacy, and de-escalation, thereby contributing to the consolidation of security and stability at both the regional and international levels”.

On Monday, the Kurdistan Counter-Terrorism Service said in a statement cited by Iraq’s state news agency that “two Hadid-110 drones” were involved in the attacks, while the intelligence and security agency said they were launched from Iranian territory, without clarifying whether the drones hit their targets.

 

   

Ghalibaf expected in Iraq for official three-day visit

Iran’s parliamentary speaker and chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, is expected in Iraq on Wednesday for an official three-day visit.

The Iranian official’s trip will include stops in Baghdad, Karbala, and Najaf.

He is expected to attend a parliamentary meeting between the Iranian and Iraqi delegations, followed by a meeting with his Iraqi counterpart in the capital, where he is also expected to meet the Iraqi president and the prime minister.

Ghalibaf is then expected to travel to the holy city of Karbala to participate in ceremonies commemorating 40 days since the July funeral of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on February 28.

The Iranian official is scheduled to travel to Najaf on Friday, his final day in Iraq.

 

   

Top Saudi diplomat discusses regional situation with Iraqi counterpart

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud has held a phone conversation with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein, according to Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry.

The top diplomats discussed ways to develop bilateral relations, as well as enhance consultation and coordination on regional issues, the ministry said.