Mina al-Oraibi is a journalist and editor-in-chief of the Abu Dhabi-based daily The National. Previously, she worked as a senior fellow at the Institute for State Effectiveness, focusing on Iraq and Syria.
Munqith Dagher is a board member and director for the Middle East and North Africa at Gallup International. He conducted Iraq’s first public opinion poll in 2003. Dr. Dagher is a contributor to Fikra Forum.
Ambassador is the Philip Solondz Distinguished Fellow at The Washington Institute. He is a former U.S. special representative for Syria engagement and former U.S. ambassador to Turkey and Iraq.
Brief Analysis
Join us for an expert panel previewing Iraq's upcoming parliamentary elections. Watch live starting at 12:00 noon EST (1700 GMT) on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.
On November 11, Iraq will go to the polls for an election that will ultimately determine the composition of the next government. Such votes are now routine in Iraq, but this year’s will be particularly consequential. At stake is not just the future of U.S. relations and the disposition of American forces, but also the trajectory of Baghdad’s relations with Iran and the political viability of Tehran’s Hashd militia partners. What are the likely returns for incumbent prime minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and other key candidates? Will Iran play a role in the contest? And how might the outcome affect Iraq’s current trajectory on economics, energy, defense, and other crucial sectors?
To discuss these questions, The Washington Institute is pleased to announce a virtual Policy Forum with three top experts in Iraqi affairs, moderated by David Schenker, the Institute’s Taube Senior Fellow and former U.S. assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs.
Mina al-Oraibi is a journalist and editor-in-chief of the Abu Dhabi-based daily The National. Previously, she worked as a senior fellow at the Institute for State Effectiveness, focusing on Iraq and Syria.
Munqith Dagher is a board member and director for the Middle East and North Africa at Gallup International. He conducted Iraq’s first public opinion poll in 2003.
James Jeffrey is the Philip Solondz Distinguished Fellow at The Washington Institute. Previously, his career as a senior American diplomat included service as special representative for Syria, special envoy to the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, and U.S. ambassador to Iraq and Turkey.
The Policy Forum series is made possible through the generosity of the Florence and Robert Kaufman Family.
