By bnm Gulf bureau Iraq is trying to convince Iran-backed armed factions to lay down their weapons or join official security forces, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said, Al Hurra reported on January 17,

Iraq is trying to convince powerful armed factions in the country that have fought U.S. forces and fired rockets and drones at Israel to lay down their weapons or join official security forces, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said.

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq’s electricity ministry on Friday said that Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani had “positive” discussions with the Iranian side regarding the resumption of suspended gas exports.

Judges Mohammad Mogheiseh and Ali Razini have been shot dead in Tehran. Both judges are tied to the mass execution of dissidents in 1988. No groups have come forward for the shooting of the judges. A man has fatally shot two prominent hard-line judges in Iran's capital Saturday, officials said.

Iran's military power and influence has been badly weakened and clashes with Israel and the fall of Bashar Assad in Syria have left it reeling.

The word for 2025 is “sovereignty.” Despite many challenges like reducing oil dependency, ensuring political stability amid sectarian divides and managing environmental crises, the Sudani government must focus on protecting the state.

Baghdad’s push to dismantle armed groups working outside of the state apparatus comes as Iran-backed Hamas and Hezbollah have taken heavy blows, and Bashar al-Assad’s government in Syria has been repl

Iran this month launched its most extensive military exercises in decades, flying thousands of drones, parading rocket launchers and ballistic missiles, and thwarting a simulated assault on a nuclear facility that involved “a multitude of air threats,” according to state television coverage.

"We announce that we will suspend our military operations against [Israel]," the Nujaba Movement's leader said.

Iran's Minister of Energy and Iraq's Minister of Electricity and Energy met to discuss electricity exchange and the export of technical and engineering services in the power sector. According to Iran's Ministry of Energy,

A senior Israeli official says the government is working with allies in a renewed push to win the freedom of an Israeli-Russian researcher who is believed to have been kidnapped in Iraq nearly two years ago.