Iraq

Since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, Iraq’s Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani has played a key role in Iraq’s religious and political spheres, particularly as a staunch opponent of vilayet e-faqih.

Europe is desperately seeking alternatives to Russian gas, but the Kurdistan Regional Government has some way to go before it can produce excess gas for exportation.

Iraq’s government formation drama might continue, but public pressure could force rival parties to reach a deal after Ramadan.

Since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, Iraq has become a transit country for drug cartels. And as social conditions in Iraq have deteriorated, drug addiction among Iraqis has increased.

Iraq’s final reparations payment to Kuwait may open the door to increased cooperation, but competing visions and shared security concerns will shape the future.

The Iraqi presidency is effectively reserved for a Kurdish leader, but Salih and Zebari may point the country in very different directions.

The Iraqi government’s failure to invest in human capital and reconstruction has left the country unprepared for the current rate of population growth.

This report is based on the discussions held during a workshop co-hosted with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung on Shia communities in Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.