Ali Mahmoud

Articles by this Author
A street scene in Baghdad, Iraq.
Middle East Forum Observer
The Real Metrics to Determine if Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi Upholds His Reform Agenda
His Government Emerged from the Same Forces That Have Run Iraq for Two Decades, Under the Supervision of Iran’s Qods Force
June 25, 2026
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Ali Mahmoud
The national flags of Iraq and Iran.
Middle East Forum Observer
Iraqi Prime Minister Zaidi Promised Washington Distance from Iran. His Cabinet Says Otherwise
A Government That Begins Without Defense and Interior Ministers Cannot Credibly Offer Washington Major Security Commitments
May 18, 2026
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Ali Mahmoud
Baghdad, Iraq, in a March 2025 file photo.
Middle East Forum Observer
Iraq’s Prime Minister-Designate Signals His Loyalty to Iran
Ali Al-Zaidi’s Remarks Suggest That He Will Subordinate Iraqi Sovereignty to Iranian Interests
May 7, 2026
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Ali Mahmoud
Asaib Ahl al-Haq leader Qais al-Khazali in a file photo.
Middle East Forum Observer
Iran’s Network Doubles Down on Iraq’s Premiership
Did Washington Just Hand Iraq to Qais al-Khazali?
May 3, 2026
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Ali Mahmoud
On January 08, 2026, Iraqi merchants and citizens in Basra protest against a 30 percent increase in customs duties and new import taxes that have caused market stagnation and high prices.
Middle East Forum Observer
The Choice About Iraq’s Future Rests with Judge Faiq Zaidan
Since 2018, No Prime Ministerial Candidate Has Moved Forward Without His Consultation, Approval, or Intervention
April 27, 2026
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Ali Mahmoud
Flags representing member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Middle East Forum Observer
Gulf Arab States Must Help Unwind Iranian Influence in Iraq
Iraq’s Continued Subordination to Iran Is a Direct Threat to Gulf Cooperation Council Security and to U.S. Interests
April 23, 2026
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Ali Mahmoud
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani in 2022.
Middle East Forum Observer
Could a New Political System Be on Iraq’s Horizon?
Iraq’s Crisis Is a Problem of Not Only Armed Factions but Also the Political Order That Preserved and Protected Them
April 9, 2026
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Ali Mahmoud
Baghdad, Iraq, in March 2025.
Middle East Forum Observer
U.S. Policy in Iraq Deepens Its Crises Rather than Resolving Them
Washington Asks Baghdad to Control Iranian Proxies but Does Not Fully Acknowledge the Environment It Faces
March 28, 2026
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Ali Mahmoud