Trump Signs “America First Arms Transfer Strategy” to Prioritize U.S. Weapons Sales 
Netanyahu to Meet Trump in Washington as Iran Nuclear Talks Intensify 
Iran–U.S. Nuclear Talks in Oman Face Major Hurdles Amid Rising Regional Tensions 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Trump Endorses Japan’s Sanae Takaichi Ahead of Crucial Election Amid Market and China Tensions 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
US Pushes Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks Before Summer Amid Escalating Attacks 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Trump Backs Nexstar–Tegna Merger Amid Shifting U.S. Media Landscape 
U.S. to Begin Paying UN Dues as Financial Crisis Spurs Push for Reforms 
TrumpRx.gov Highlights GLP-1 Drug Discounts but Offers Limited Savings for Most Americans 
U.S. Lawmakers to Review Unredacted Jeffrey Epstein DOJ Files Starting Monday 
Trump Says “Very Good Talks” Underway on Russia-Ukraine War as Peace Efforts Continue 
New York Legalizes Medical Aid in Dying for Terminally Ill Patients 
India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out 
Pentagon Ends Military Education Programs With Harvard University 
Jack Lang Resigns as Head of Arab World Institute Amid Epstein Controversy 
This week, protesters, most of whom were made up of supporters of Iraqi Shia leader Muqtada-al-Sadr, stormed the Iraqi parliament. The demonstrators went past the Green Zone in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, protesting against the nomination of a pro-Iran candidate for prime minister.
Hundreds of protesters stormed the Iraqi parliament, breaching the Green Zone to oppose the nomination of a pro-Iran candidate. No lawmakers were present when the protesters entered parliament Wednesday. Law enforcement officials that were in the building appeared to allow the protesters to go in.
The protesters oppose the candidacy of former minister and provincial governor Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. al-Sudani belongs to the Iran-backed Coordination Framework, which nominated him for prime minister.
Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi called on the demonstrators to leave the Green Zone, the high-security area of the capital. al-Kadhimi issued a statement warning the protesters that security forces would ensure the “protection of state institutions and foreign missions, and prevent any harm to security and order.”
This comes as al-Sadr’s bloc won the largest number of seats during the general election in 2021, taking 79 out of 329. However, after the vote, talks to form a new government were put on hold, and al-Sadr stepped down from the process.
Riot police dispersed the protests with water cannons on the demonstrators who were pulling down cement blast walls. Still, the protestors had already breached the gates, moving past the Green Zone.
“They want to convey their message that they are against corruption, against corrupt politicians,” said Mahmoud Abdelwahed of Al Jazeera. “They say the country has suffered many years of corruption and mismanagement…they say they will continue to protest peacefully here.”
Al-Sadr later issued a statement on Twitter, telling the protesters to go home and that their message was received.
On the same day, the Turkish consulate-general in the northern Iraq city of Mosul was reportedly attacked. The Turkish foreign ministry issued a statement condemning the attack, calling for those responsible for being brought to justice. No casualties were reported.
The ministry said the attack came at the same time the United Nations Security Council held a meeting at the request of Iraqi authorities to discuss an attack in northern Iraq that took place last week.
