Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi Chairs the 18th Regular Session of the Council of Ministers ••••••••• Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi chaired, this evening, Tuesday, the 18th regular session of the Council of Ministers, during which developments in the country were reviewed, the topics and files listed on the agenda were discussed, and the necessary decisions were taken regarding them. The Council of Ministers approved the Ministry of Finance providing the Ministry of Oil with the financial allocations for ministries and official entities that are centrally funded, to enable the Ministry of Oil to provide the required amounts on a monthly basis, according to the allocation for each spending unit. As part of the government’s measures to enhance oil and petroleum product export capacity, the Council of Ministers approved an amendment to Resolution No. 165 of 2026 concerning the mechanism for the sale of crude oil and petroleum products, to ensure its continued implementation until the current crisis ends and maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz returns to normal. As part of regulating contractual obligations, the Council of Ministers approved an amendment to Resolution No. 348 of 2026 to include the signing of agreements between the Ministry of Oil and the U.S. company Chevron, covering advance payment agreements, crude oil supply, and technical consultancy. Regarding the Framework Agreement on Water between Iraq and Türkiye, the Council of Ministers approved an amendment to Resolution No. 388 of 2026, stipulating that the quantities of crude oil exported to the Turkish side shall not exceed 33,000 barrels per day as a first phase, in accordance with the actual financing needs of the agreement mechanism. To develop medical services, the Council of Ministers approved an extension of the relevant import approvals, as specified in the Ministry of Health’s official letter, provided that the extension does not go beyond the end of the current year. As part of expenditure-reduction measures, the Council of Ministers approved the suspension of all official missions abroad for state employees, whether centrally or self-funded, limiting approval for such missions to the competent minister and to cases of utmost necessity. It also approved a 60% reduction in official mission allocations in the general budget and subsidiary budgets, including allocations transferred from other expenditure items, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs exempted. To address the consequences of decisions issued by the former regime, the Council of Ministers approved the Bill to Repeal Dissolved Revolutionary Command Council Resolution No. 110 of February 21, 1989, which was reviewed by the State Council, and referred it to the Council of Representatives. To strengthen Iraq’s compliance with its obligations under international agreements, the Council of Ministers approved the issuance of the Ship Tonnage Regulation, which was reviewed by the State Council, pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution and the Iraqi Supreme Maritime Authority Law No. 18 of 2019. As part of the government’s efforts to strengthen international relations, the Council of Ministers approved granting the Minister of Trade the authority to negotiate and sign the draft Agreement on Economic, Trade, Scientific, Technical, and Cultural Cooperation between Iraq and Serbia. ••••• Media Office of the Prime Minister September 8, 2026