Iraqi parliament approves Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and partial cabinet

Iraq's new Prime Minister, Ali al-Zaidi, was sworn in today following a parliamentary vote of confidence. The legislature approved 14 of the proposed ministers, though key portfolios such as the Ministries of Interior and Defense remain vacant due to a lack of consensus. During his address, al-Zaidi pledged to consolidate the state's monopoly on weapons, a move aligned with U.S. requests to disarm pro-Iranian militias. Current appointments include Basim Mohammed as Minister of Oil and Fuad Hussein, who retains his position as Minister of Foreign Affairs. The administration faces significant challenges, including widespread corruption and the need to balance relations between Washington and Tehran. The U.S. continues to exert pressure on Baghdad to dismantle armed groups it designates as terrorist organizations. Al-Zaidi's government program officially emphasizes security sector reform and the enhancement of state security capabilities.