Ali al-Sistani

Iraq's top Shi'ite cleric said on Feb. 5 he would no longer deliver regular weekly sermons about political affairs, which for years have been a source of guidance for Iraqi politicians and his millions of followers.

The decision of Saudi Arabia to execute Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr on Saturday along with 46 others accused of terrorism and participation in al-Qaida terrorist group escalates the tension in Middle East with Iran, Iraq and Lebanon warning of “divine revenge”.

The top Shiite cleric in Iraq on, al-Sistani, calls for the release of 18 Turkish workers kidnapped in Baghdad last week The top Shiite cleric in Iraq on Sept.

Iraq's top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, warned on Aug. 20 that the country faces dire consequences including possible "partition" if real reform is not carried out.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on August 18 he was cancelling the positions of advisers hired as contractors in ministries and limiting the number of advisers for himself, the president, and the parliamentary speaker to five each. 

It was not immediately clear how many positions would be affected by the decision, which was announced in a post on Facebook. 

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the removal of 11 of 33 cabinet posts on August 16, the first concrete step in a reform drive to curb corruption and streamline the government.

Iraq's parliament voted unanimously on August 11 to approve Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's reform package, Speaker Saleem al-Jabouri said during a session broadcast live on state television. 

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi called on August 9 for the multiple positions of vice president and deputy prime minister to be cancelled, as part of an initiative to improve state finances and reduce corruption. 

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said July 27 that he had presented a report on this month's landmark deal on Iran's nuclear energy program to Iranian-born Shiite leader Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in southern Iraq.

Iraq's most senior Shi'ite cleric called on the government on Oct. 31 to rush to the aid of Sunni tribes battling Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), after the militant group executed at least 220 tribesmen west of Baghdad this week.