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Iraq: PM Haider al-Abadi and Muqtada Sadr form largest alliance

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Eleven Iraqi political groups, including those led by firebrand cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi have announced an alliance that would be the majority bloc in newly elected parliament to form new government.

After having three and a half month long dialogue before formation of government, eleven Iraqi political groups, including those led by firebrand cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi have announced formation of largest alliance on Sunday before they form new government.

According to a report quoting a document published by the Iraqi state news agency, the newly announced alliance includes 177 lawmakers out of 329 from 16 electoral lists. It is now in pole position to form the  next government.

On Monday, parliament was convened for the first time after election results declared on May 18. It will elect a new speaker and launch the process of forming a government.

The new alliance includes the blocs of Vice President Ayad Allawi and Shiite Muslim cleric Ammar al-Hakim, as well as several Sunni Muslim lawmakers and groups representing Turkmen, Yazidi, Christian and other smaller minorities.

Rad More: Iraq: Muqtada Sadr wins highest Parliament seats

The newly announced alliance does not include Kurdish groups. Since 2003, when Saddam Hussein was toppled by US invasion, country’s power has been shared. The prime minister is a Shiite, the speaker of parliament a Sunni  and the president a Kurd.

Eleven Iraqi political groups, including those led by firebrand cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi have announced an alliance that would be the majority bloc in newly elected parliament to form new government.

Iraqis voted for electing members of the parliament on May 12 since the defeat of Daesh (IS) but a contentious recount process delayed the announcement of final results until last month.

Uncertainty over the make-up of the new government has raised tensions at a time when public frantic protests were reported from different cities over poor basic services, high unemployment and the slow pace of rebuilding.

Read More: Iraq audits EVMs, orders manual vote count

The recount of the votes delayed the process of formation of new government by three months. However, it has not changed the initial results, with Sadr, a populist Shiite cleric, retaining his lead of 54 seats. Abadi’s bloc remained third with 42.

The elected members of the 329 members of the Council of Representatives, the country’s unicameral legislature, will elect the President and Prime Minister. The Iraqi parliament ordered a manual recount of the results on 6 June 2018.  However, on 10 June, a storage site housing roughly half of the ballots in Baghdad caught fire.

Read More: Iraq’s PM: Burning of election warehouse, a plot against democracy

The parliamentary elections took place six months after a non-binding independence referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan. Kurds took part enthusiastically and 93% voted in favour of independence. In return, Haider al-Abadi led government closed Erbil International Airport, seized control of all border crossings between Kurdistan and neighbouring countries.

Mobilization Force known as Hashd al-Shaabi seized control oil-rich city of Kirkuk. Nonetheless, Iraqi politicians called for dialogue with the Iraqi Kurdistan government and force them to formally annul the results.

Meanwhile Iraqi News portal reported Haider al-Abadi saying on Sunday that he will attend Parliament session on Monday “as prime minister and a winner of the elections”. However, he added that he will not take oath at the parliament tomorrow (Monday) because that will prevent him from assuming his executive tasks as a prime minister.

Iraqi President Fuad Masum issued a decree last week, ordering the newly-elected parliament to convene Monday under the leadership of oldest lawmaker, a move which precedes the election of the new president and formation of the new cabinet.

Under the Iraqi constitution, 15 days after final election results are endorsed by the Federal Supreme Court, the new parliament must hold its first session during which the speaker will be elected.

New president will be elected within three days of the legislature convening and the president will then ask the largest parliamentary bloc to form a cabinet. President is elected by the parliament by a two-thirds majority and is limited to two four-year terms.

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Trump says Iran agrees to never have nuclear weapons, rejects $300 billion fund claim

Donald Trump said Iran has agreed to never possess nuclear weapons under a proposed framework, while dismissing reports that the US would provide Tehran with a $300 billion reconstruction fund.

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Donald Trump statement

US President Donald Trump has said that Iran has agreed to a commitment that it will never develop or possess nuclear weapons, describing it as a central element of a proposed understanding between Washington and Tehran.

Speaking about the ongoing diplomatic efforts, Trump also rejected reports suggesting that the United States planned to provide Iran with a reconstruction or investment package worth $300 billion. He described such claims as false and said no such arrangement had been agreed.

The remarks come as discussions continue over a broader framework aimed at easing tensions between the two countries. According to Trump, the understanding would ensure that Iran remains without nuclear weapons while opening the door for future engagement if the terms are respected.

Questions remain over final agreement details

Despite Trump’s comments, several aspects of the proposed arrangement remain unclear because the full text of the agreement has not yet been made public.

Reports indicate that negotiations have involved discussions on sanctions relief, access to frozen assets and potential economic measures linked to Iran’s compliance with future commitments. However, the exact scope of these provisions has not been officially confirmed.

Another key issue is how compliance would be monitored. Details regarding inspections, verification mechanisms and the handling of Iran’s existing nuclear materials have yet to be fully explained.

Further negotiations expected

Officials have suggested that discussions on technical nuclear matters could continue even after the signing of an initial memorandum of understanding. Such talks would likely focus on implementation and verification measures.

The proposed framework is being closely watched internationally, as any agreement between the United States and Iran could have significant implications for regional stability and global non-proliferation efforts.

For now, Trump has maintained that the core objective remains clear: ensuring that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon while denying reports that Washington has committed to a multibillion-dollar reconstruction fund.

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USA start FIFA World Cup 2026 with dominant 4-1 victory over Paraguay

The USA opened their FIFA World Cup 2026 journey with a dominant 4-1 victory against Paraguay, earning three valuable points in Group D.

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The United States kicked off their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign in impressive fashion, securing a commanding 4-1 victory over Paraguay in their Group D opener at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

Playing in front of a passionate home crowd, the hosts delivered an attacking display to collect all three points and make an early statement in the tournament. The match also marked a significant occasion as the USA hosted part of the World Cup opening festivities before turning attention to the action on the pitch.

The Americans took control early and maintained pressure on Paraguay throughout the contest. Their attacking movement and clinical finishing helped them establish a comfortable lead, while Paraguay struggled to contain the hosts’ pace and creativity in the final third.

USA seize control after fast start

The United States settled quickly and found success going forward, creating several opportunities through quick passing and aggressive pressing. Their attacking approach paid off as they built momentum and gradually stretched Paraguay’s defence.

Paraguay attempted to respond and managed to get on the scoresheet, but the South American side found it difficult to match the intensity shown by the hosts. The USA continued to create chances and added further goals to put the result beyond doubt.

With the victory, the United States moved to the top section of Group D and gained an important boost in confidence ahead of their upcoming fixtures in the tournament.

Strong opening result for hosts

A winning start is particularly important in a World Cup campaign, and the USA achieved exactly that with a comprehensive performance. The result gives the hosts valuable momentum as they prepare for the next stage of group play.

For Paraguay, the defeat means they will need a strong response in their remaining group matches to keep their hopes of progressing to the knockout rounds alive.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, with the tournament featuring an expanded format and more participating teams than previous editions.

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Jaishankar raises deaths of three Indian sailors with Marco Rubio, lodges strong protest

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar conveyed India’s strong protest to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio over an attack that killed three Indian sailors, stressing that lethal action against commercial shipping is unjustified.

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External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday spoke with Marco Rubio and conveyed India’s strong protest over recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Gulf that resulted in the deaths of three Indian sailors.

According to reports, Jaishankar told Rubio that the use of lethal force against commercial shipping was not justified and underlined India’s serious concerns regarding the safety of civilian seafarers operating in the region. The conversation came days after three Indian mariners were killed in an attack on the Palau-flagged tanker Settebello near the Oman coast.

The incident has triggered diplomatic engagement between New Delhi and Washington. India had earlier summoned a senior US diplomat to register its concerns and seek accountability following the attack. The Ministry of External Affairs has emphasized that actions endangering civilian shipping undermine maritime safety and stability in a strategically important region.

India reiterates concern over maritime safety

India has stressed the importance of protecting civilian seafarers and ensuring the security of international maritime commerce. Officials have expressed concern over multiple incidents involving Indian crew members in West Asian waters in recent days.

The deaths of the three sailors have also sparked calls within India for stronger diplomatic efforts to safeguard Indian nationals working aboard commercial vessels in conflict-affected maritime zones.

Background of the incident

The attack involved the tanker Settebello, which was operating near Oman when it was struck during ongoing tensions linked to the conflict involving Iran and maritime operations in the Gulf region. Initial reports indicated that Indian crew members were among those affected, and later confirmations established that three Indian sailors had died in the incident.

India has maintained that civilian shipping should not become a target and has continued diplomatic outreach to ensure the safety and welfare of Indian seafarers working across global shipping routes.

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