(../../../../favicon_aje.ico) Iraq parliament approves al-Zaidi’s cabinet amid growing economic concerns | Government News | Al Jazeera    (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/16/iraq-parliament-approves-al-zaidis-cabinet-amid-growing-economic-concerns)                                               (https://www.aljazeera.com/xml/rss/all.xml)  (https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2026/10/16/iraq-parliament-approves-al-zaidis-cabinet-amid-growing-economic-concerns)  (https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/reuters_6ad148b5-1792100533.jpg?resize=1920%2C1440)  (../../../../wp-content/uploads/2026/10/reuters_6ad148b5-1792100533.jpg@resize=770,513&quality=80)     (https://cdn.cookielaw.org) (https://cdn.cookielaw.org) (https://cdn.cookielaw.org) (https://cdn.cookielaw.org/scripttemplates/otSDKStub.js) (https://www.google-analytics.com) (https://www.google-analytics.com) (https://www.google-analytics.com) (https://static.chartbeat.com/) (https://static.chartbeat.com/) (https://static.chartbeat.com/) (../../../../static/css/vendor~main~d08ff9cb.24bf1742.r2.chunk.css) (../../../../static/css/component~main~748942c6.6cd3b839.r2.chunk.css) (../../../../static/css/component~main~b07b7304.e3bc53a0.r2.chunk.css) (../../../../static/css/component~main~6e6dca10.b9196be1.r2.chunk.css) (../../../../static/css/component~main~d92ce3db.c3cbd92c.r2.chunk.css) (https://www.aljazeera.com/static/media/Roboto-Bold.52bb58c8.woff2) (https://www.aljazeera.com/static/media/Roboto-Regular.c5bf51b6.woff2)  (../../../../static/css/vendor~aje/containers/home-page~components/video-article/videoPageDispatcher~containers/amp-live-blo~5f903362.2e08e417.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/component~aje/containers/home-page~components/video-article/videoPageDispatcher~containers/amp-live-~41c72a2c.6aa6af66.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/component~aje/containers/home-page~components/video-article/videoPageDispatcher~containers/amp-live-~06be7c11.0625e98d.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/common~493df0b3.ec3ab9b5.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/pages/article-page~493df0b3.93e3f65b.r2.chunk.css)  (../../../../static/css/common~493df0b3.ec3ab9b5.r2.chunk.css)   Skip links (iraq-parliament-approves-al-zaidis-cabinet-amid-growing-economic-concerns@traffic_source=rss.html#main-content-area) Skip to Content  (https://www.aljazeera.com/)          (https://www.aljazeera.com/video/live) play    Live    Sign up  Show navigation menu     Navigation menu (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/) News    Show more news sections  (https://www.aljazeera.com/africa/) Africa   (https://www.aljazeera.com/asia/) Asia   (https://www.aljazeera.com/us-canada/) US & Canada   (https://www.aljazeera.com/latin-america/) Latin America   (https://www.aljazeera.com/europe/) Europe   (https://www.aljazeera.com/asia-pacific/) Asia Pacific      (https://www.aljazeera.com/middle-east/) Middle East   (https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/explainer/) Explained   (https://www.aljazeera.com/sports) Sport   (https://www.aljazeera.com/opinion/) Opinion   (https://www.aljazeera.com/videos/) Video   More   Show more sections  (https://www.aljazeera.com/aljazeera-originals) Originals   (https://www.aljazeera.com/features/) Features   (https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/) Economy   (https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/human-rights/) Human Rights   (https://www.aljazeera.com/climate-crisis) Climate Crisis   (https://www.aljazeera.com/investigations/) Investigations   (https://www.aljazeera.com/interactives/) Interactives   (https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/) In Pictures   (https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/science-and-technology/) Science & Technology   (https://www.aljazeera.com/audio/podcasts) Podcasts   (https://www.aljazeera.com/travel) Travel   (https://www.aljazeera.com/sponsored/) Sponsored Content        (https://www.aljazeera.com/video/live) play    Live    Click here to search search     Sign up        (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/) News |(https://www.aljazeera.com/tag/government/) Government   Iraq parliament approves al-Zaidi’s cabinet amid growing economic concerns  Listen   Listen (3 mins)       Save       Share Iraq parliament approves al-Zaidi’s cabinet amid growing economic concerns on social media share-nodes    Share (https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2Fc3yynt) facebook      (https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Iraq%20parliament%20approves%20al-Zaidi%E2%80%99s%20cabinet%20amid%20growing%20economic%20concerns&source=sharethiscom&related=sharethis&via=AJEnglish&url=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2Fc3yynt) x    (whatsapp://send?text=https%3A%2F%2Faje.news%2Fc3yynt) whatsapp-stroke    (https://aje.news/c3yynt)  copylink          google       Add Al Jazeera on Google  info      (Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi attends a parliamentary session to approve the remaining members of his cabinet, in Baghdad, Iraq, October 15, 2026. Iraqi Prime Minister's Media Office/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY)   Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi attends a parliamentary session to approve the remaining members of his cabinet in Baghdad, Iraq, on October 15, 2026 [Handout/Iraqi Prime Minister's Media Office via Reuters]   (https://www.aljazeera.com/author/al_jazeera_staff_150119130629458)     By  (https://www.aljazeera.com/author/al_jazeera_staff_150119130629458) Al Jazeera Staff , APand Reuters   Published On 16 Oct 2026 16 Oct 2026    Iraq’s parliament has completed the formation of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s government after lawmakers approved previously vacant cabinet posts and three deputy prime ministers, including one who is under US sanctions. Lawmakers voted on Thursday, approving 11 portfolios, including Nayef al-Shammari as defence minister, Yasir al-Maliki as interior minister, a planning minister, a culture minister and a minister of higher education and scientific research. Recommended Stories list of 3 items list 1 of 3 (https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2026/10/15/iraq-devalues-dinar-to-ease-cash-crunch-leaving-traders-in-limbo) Iraq devalues dinar to ease cash crunch, leaving traders in limbo  list 2 of 3 (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/14/iraq-pm-tells-saudi-crown-prince-iraqi-territory-wont-be-used-for-attacks) Iraq’s PM tells Saudi crown prince Iraqi territory will not be used for attacks  list 3 of 3 (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/15/us-iran-stalemate-what-are-trumps-next-military-options) US-Iran stalemate: What are Trump’s next military options?   end of list  Lawmakers postponed a vote on the nominee for migration and displacement minister due to disagreement among parties. Lawmakers also approved three deputy prime ministers, including Laith al-Khazali, a senior leader of the Iran-backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq movement and brother of the group’s leader, Qais al-Khazali. The US designated Asaib Ahl al-Haq as a foreign terrorist organisation in 2020 and named both brothers as “specially designated global terrorists”, citing attacks including a 2007 assault that killed five US soldiers. The Treasury Department had sanctioned the brothers in 2019 over the killing of protesters in Iraq. In a statement following the cabinet approval, al-Zaidi thanked parliament and called upon his fellow deputy prime ministers and ministers to “fulfil their responsibilities with the highest levels of commitment, competence and integrity”. He said the government was embarking on a phase of accelerated, diligent work to address exceptional economic and security challenges imposed by the US-Israel war on Iran, which began on February 28. Advertisement    Challenges facing Iraq Iraq is facing severe liquidity shortages stemming from the ongoing conflict. Before the war, Iraq exported roughly 3.5 million barrels of oil per day through the Strait of Hormuz, generating 90 percent of government revenue. Al-Zaidi said the war “has imposed, and continues to impose, extraordinary economic challenges on Iraq.” (A man counts Iraqi dinars at a currency exchange market in Baghdad on October 7, 2026)  A man counts Iraqi dinars at a currency exchange market in Baghdad on October 7, 2026 [Ahmad al-Rubaye/AFP]  To cover essential public spending and government salaries, al-Zaidi, a former banker, (https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2026/10/15/iraq-devalues-dinar-to-ease-cash-crunch-leaving-traders-in-limbo) devalued the dinar by almost 15 percent against the US dollar. He said his government inherited public debt exceeding 208 trillion Iraqi dinars ($139bn at the new exchange rate) when it took office in May, raising questions about former Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s administration. Al-Zaidi added that the state needs about 10 trillion dinars ($6.7bn) monthly to cover salaries and critical spending. Al-Zaidi vowed to fight corruption, disarm non-state armed groups and strengthen sovereignty by completing the withdrawal of US forces from the country.            aj-logo             aj-logo             aj-logo       Advertisement          About About   Show more  (https://www.aljazeera.com/about-us) About Us   (https://www.aljazeera.com/code-of-ethics/) Code of Ethics   (https://www.aljazeera.com/terms-and-conditions/) Terms and Conditions   (https://www.aljazeera.com/eu-eea-regulatory/) EU/EEA Regulatory Notice   (https://privacy.aljazeera.net/) Privacy Policy   (https://privacy.aljazeera.net/cookie/) Cookie Policy   (https://www.aljazeera.com/) Cookie Preferences    (https://trust.aljazeera.net/accessibility/) Accessibility Statement   (https://www.aljazeera.com/sitemap) Sitemap   (https://careers.aljazeera.net/) Work for us      Connect Connect   Show more  (https://network.aljazeera.net/en/contact?tid=6) Contact Us   (https://www.aljazeera.com/user-accounts-help) User Accounts Help   (https://commercial.aljazeera.net/) Advertise with us   (https://www.aljazeera.com/stay-connected) Stay Connected   (https://www.aljazeera.com/newsletters) Newsletters   (https://sat.aljazeera.net/en) Channel Finder   (https://www.aljazeera.com/schedule/) TV Schedule   (https://www.aljazeera.com/podcasts/) Podcasts   (https://webapps.aljazeera.net/aje/tips/) Submit a Tip   (https://www.aljazeera.com/sponsored) Paid Partner Content      Our Channels Our Channels   Show more  (http://aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Arabic   (https://www.aljazeera.com/) Al Jazeera English   (https://www.ajiunit.com/) Al Jazeera Investigative Unit   (https://www.aljazeeramubasher.net/) Al Jazeera Mubasher   (http://doc.aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Documentary   (http://balkans.aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Balkans   (http://ajplus.net/) AJ+      Our Network Our Network   Show more  (http://studies.aljazeera.net/en/) Al Jazeera Centre for Studies   (http://training.aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Media Institute   (http://learning.aljazeera.net/) Learn Arabic   (http://liberties.aljazeera.com/en) Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights   (http://forum.aljazeera.net/) Al Jazeera Forum   (https://hotels.aljazeera.net/en) Al Jazeera Hotel Partners        Follow Al Jazeera English: (https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera) facebook       (https://twitter.com/ajenglish) twitter     (https://www.youtube.com/aljazeeraenglish) youtube     (https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/?hl=en) instagram-colored-outline                          (https://www.aljazeera.com/xml/rss/all.xml) rss     (https://bsky.app/profile/aljazeera.com) bluesky     (https://www.tiktok.com/@aljazeeraenglish) tiktok-colored-outline                  (Al Jazeera Media Network logo)   © 2026 Al Jazeera Media Network