This is John Batchel, a conversation with Bridget Toomey of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies about the new Iraq government.

Not filled all the posts yet, but the oil minister, the finance minister, the defense minister, all the critical posts in front of us have questions to answer about Iraq depending too much on the Straits of Hormuz, needing to diversify

its exits because of the possibility of Hormuz being choked again. It's also the question

of leaving OPEC, a rumor when UAE announced it was leaving OPEC. Nothing yet.

Here's Bridget Toomey to tell us what we know so far about the brand new Iraqi government.

More tonight.

I haven't seen – so this new minister, I haven't seen any comments from him specifically on OPEC.

I think they're more focused now on

really how do they what is their their plan forward post-war. And that includes returning production,

which is, you know, difficult to do when you've shut in production. They're going to have to

repair facilities. They're looking at expanding

export options because 94% of their oil goes through the Strait of Hormuz, which they've, I think

they've gotten two ships out. It may be up to three or four since I've last checked, but no more

than that since March. And they're normally exporting multiple a week.

So I think from what he said so far,

they're looking at how to handle really immediate concerns.

They're going to face a budget crunch any day now.