Baghdad-INA
Prime Minister Ali Falih Al-Zaidi chaired today, Tuesday, the 4th regular session of the Council of Ministers, during which the overall situation in the country was discussed, along with the agenda items, and the necessary decisions and recommendations were adopted.
The Prime Minister’s Media Office said in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA): that “Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi chaired the fourth regular session of the Council of Ministers on Tuesday, during which the overall situation in the country was discussed, and the topics on the agenda were deliberated upon and the necessary decisions and recommendations were made regarding them.”
During the session, Prime Minister Al-Zaidi affirmed the government’s commitment to a policy of constructive competition among private sector companies, free from exceptions. He stressed that, in cases where exceptions are granted, the relevant ministry shall bear full responsibility for the contracting process, in order to safeguard public funds and ensure the quality of implementation.
The Prime Minister directed a reassessment of directors general across all state institutions based on standards of competence, professionalism, and integrity, in a manner that contributes to improving job performance and enhancing institutional efficiency.
Prime Minister Al-Zaidi also directed a review of investment opportunities in the electricity sector and instructed the establishment of a joint Iraqi-Uzbek Business Council to promote and develop economic, commercial, scientific, and technical cooperation between the two countries.
In this context, the Council of Ministers authorized the Minister of Trade to negotiate with the Uzbek side and sign a joint agreement on economic, trade, scientific, technical, and cultural cooperation.
The Council of Ministers also authorized the Chairman of the National Investment Commission to negotiate and sign the draft Agreement on the Promotion and Protection of Investment between Iraq and Uzbekistan, in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Iraq.
Furthermore, the Council of Ministers authorized the Ministry of Trade to take the necessary measures to regulate the distribution of ration card items in a manner that reduces expenditure, ensures the delivery of food items to poor and vulnerable groups, and maintains support for eligible beneficiaries.
The Council of Ministers approved the recommendations of the meeting held by the Prime Minister with the senior leadership of the Ministry of Oil on May 20, 2026. The recommendations included the development of a detailed plan to maximize crude oil export capacity and increase crude oil exports through pipelines from 220,000 barrels per day to 770,000 barrels per day, in two phases over a period of two and a half months. They also included increasing crude oil exports by tanker trucks to neighboring countries to 420,000 barrels per day in three phases.
The recommendations further included granting the Minister of Oil the necessary financial and contractual authorities, directing the State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) to undertake the required contracting procedures for the additional quantities, and restoring the operation of FCC units at refineries through the Japanese operating company.
In the same context, the Council of Ministers approved the Ministry of Oil’s contracting with the Syrian side for the transportation, storage, and handling of quantities of Basra Light, Basra Medium, and Basra Heavy crude oil through the ports of Baniyas and Tartus on the Mediterranean Sea. The Council also approved the opening of a representative office for the Ministry of Oil to manage export operations through this route.
The Council of Ministers approved the draft First Amendment to the Commercial Agency Regulation Law No. (79) of 2017 and referred it to the Council of Representatives for enactment in accordance with the Constitution.
The Council of Ministers authorized the Minister of Justice to negotiate and sign a cooperation agreement with the Armenian side concerning the transfer of persons sentenced to custodial penalties, in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Iraq.
The Council of Ministers approved counting the period associated with the recent military events witnessed in the region, from February 28, 2026, until 30 days after the lifting of the airspace closure, as a legitimate excuse for foreign nationals with respect to residency requirements in Iraq, in accordance with Residence Law No. (76) of 2017.