policy
The Council of Ministers, chaired by Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi, held its regular session, issuing a package of significant decisions covering economic, administrative, and regulatory aspects. These measures align with the government's efforts to control expenditures, enhance performance, and expand international cooperation. Supporting the oil sector and its financial mechanisms, the Council approved the Ministry of Finance providing the Ministry of Oil with financial allocations for centrally funded ministries and official entities, enabling monthly supplies per spending unit allocation. It also approved amending Decision No. (165 of 2026) on crude oil and petroleum product sales, ensuring continuity until the current crisis ends and navigation in the Strait of Hormuz returns to normal. The Council further approved amending Decision No. (348 of 2026) to include signing agreements between the Ministry of Oil and Chevron, covering advance payment, crude oil security, and technical consultation. Regarding the Water Framework Agreement with Turkey, Decision No. (388 of 2026) was amended to limit crude oil exports to Turkey to no more than (33) thousand barrels daily in a first phase, aligning with the agreement mechanism's actual funding needs. To control administrative expenditures, all external delegations for state employees (centrally or self-funded) were halted. Approval for such is now restricted to the competent minister for extreme cases only. The decision included a (60%) reduction in delegation allocations within general and sub-budgets, via transfers from other chapters, excluding the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For medical services, the Council approved extending relevant import approvals, as per the Ministry of Health's letter, not to exceed the current year's end. Addressing former regime decisions, the Council approved the draft law to annul Revolutionary Command Council (Dissolved) Decision No. (110) of February 21, 1989, audited by the State Council and referred to Parliament. To bolster international commitments, the issuance of the Ships Tonnage System was approved, audited by the State Council, based on the Constitution and the Iraqi Higher Maritime Authority Law No. (18 of 2019). The Council also authorized the Minister of Trade to negotiate and sign the economic, commercial, scientific, technical, and cultural cooperation agreement with Serbia.
