Based on an analysis of (620) X / Twitter posts trending on April 18, 2026, Miqrab AI identified several key narratives circulating in Iraq. The most dominant theme was the perceived foreign interference in Iraq’s government formation process, with numerous posts critically commenting on the concurrent visits of Iranian Quds Force Commander Esmail Qaani and U.S. envoy Tom Barrack to Baghdad. Another major topic of discussion involved Iran’s regional activities, particularly its conflicting statements and actions regarding the Strait of Hormuz, which fueled speculation about internal power struggles within the Iranian regime. Domestically, prominent politicians congratulated Ammar al-Hakim on his re-election as head of the National Wisdom Movement, while other discussions revolved around criticisms of specific political figures and viral international news clips.

Today’s Top 10 X (Twitter) Trends in Iraq:

1. Foreign Envoys in Baghdad to Influence Government Formation

The concurrent arrivals of Iranian Quds Force Commander Esmail Qaani and U.S. envoy Tom Barrack in Baghdad dominated conversations, with many users expressing frustration over foreign influence in Iraqi politics. Accounts such as Dr. Hussein Al-Safi (Post Impact: 18%) and Dr. Zaid Abdulwahab Al-Adhami (Post Impact: 6%) reported on Qaani’s arrival and his meetings with the Coordination Framework to discuss the political impasse. Other users, like Wikileaks Iraq (Post Impact: 17%), viewed the visits as a sign of absent Iraqi sovereignty, stating, “When the outside is present… the decision falls.” This sentiment was echoed more caustically by Abdulrazzaq Al-Hiyali (Post Impact: 50%), who referred to Qaani as the “president of the banana republic” arriving to choose the prime minister for the “Iranian province of Iraq.”

2. Iran’s Actions in Strait of Hormuz Spark Debate

Conflicting statements and aggressive actions by Iran concerning the Strait of Hormuz fueled widespread discussion. Dr. Zaid Abdulwahab Al-Adhami (Post Impact: 12%) and Najeh Abbas Al-Mizan (Post Impact: 41%) highlighted a perceived internal conflict within Iran, noting that while Foreign Minister Araqchi announced the opening of the strait, the Revolutionary Guard later declared its closure. The situation was complicated by reports from Mahdi Majeed (Post Impact: 20%) and Shaho Al-Qaradaghi (Post Impact: 9%) that Iran had fired on two Indian ships, one of which was carrying Iraqi oil, forcing them to turn back. This led Majeed to conclude, “The current Iranian regime cannot be negotiated with, uprooting it is the solution for the stability of the world.”

3. Politicians Congratulate Ammar al-Hakim on Re-election

High-profile Iraqi politicians publicly congratulated Sayyid Ammar al-Hakim on his re-election as the head of the National Wisdom Movement (Tayar al-Hikma). Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani (Post Impact: 16%) sent his congratulations, describing the re-election as an expression of al-Hakim’s role and status “in building the nation and consolidating its political system.” Similarly, Kurdistan Region leader Masoud Barzani (Post Impact: 17%) extended his “sincere congratulations” and wished him success in his duties. Al-Hakim’s own account, Ammar Al-Hakim (Post Impact: 9%), also shared images from the party’s General Authority conference.

4. Albanian and Italian PMs Meeting Goes Viral

A video clip featuring Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni garnered significant attention and became the highest-engaging post of the day. The post by Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 100%) humorously commented on the physical size difference between the two leaders, remarking that the Albanian Prime Minister is “so huge that the Prime Minister of Italy (Giorgia Meloni) looks like a little girl next to him.” The post concluded with a lighthearted observation that “everyone loves Meloni, I don’t know why.”

5. Al Arabiya Anchor Reportedly Fired Over Question to Gulf States

A video circulating on X claimed that an anchor for the Al Arabiya channel was dismissed from her position after asking a question directed at Gulf countries. The post, shared by Wasan Al-Shaikhli (Post Impact: 73%), shared the clip of the anchor’s question and subsequent report of her firing, urging followers to “Listen, see, and judge” for themselves. The specific content of the question that allegedly led to the dismissal was the focus of the video.

6. Sarcastic Commentary on Iran’s Regional Defeats

Several accounts posted commentary highlighting Iran’s perceived military and political failures across the region, framing them in a sarcastic tone. Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 19%) published a detailed list of Iran’s supposed “victories” since October 7, which were in fact major losses, including the assassination of top commanders, the destruction of military assets, and the loss of influence in Syria and Lebanon. In a similar vein, Mahdi Majeed (Post Impact: 20%) asserted that the belief that the war was over was mistaken, stating, “the war will return and the back of the Tehran mullahs will be broken forever,” and claiming Iran’s attempts to “maneuver and buy time” would fail.

7. Politician Qusay Mahbouba Accused of Occupying State Property

Politician and spokesperson Qusay Mahbouba faced accusations of illegally occupying state-owned properties in Baghdad. Dr. Qusay Shafiq (Post Impact: 11%) directly addressed Mahbouba, urging him to immediately vacate properties in the Jadriyah area, including the former home of Barzan al-Tikriti, stating, “State properties are the people’s properties.” This was echoed by Adam (Post Impact: 6%), who noted the irony that Mahbouba occupies the house of General Maher Abdul Rashid, the commander who led the liberation of Faw from Iran, an event being commemorated on the same day.

8. Anniversary of the Liberation of Faw Commemorated

Several accounts marked the anniversary of the liberation of the Faw Peninsula during the Iran-Iraq War by recalling the event and its significance. Aayad Al Twfan (Post Impact: 14%) paid tribute to former Minister of Defense Adnan Khairallah Talfah, calling him the “hero of Faw and Qadisiyyah.” Another account, Kashf Al-Abatil (Post Impact: 6%), shared a video featuring historical quotes from Iranian leaders expressing their shock at the defeat, including a statement attributed to Hashemi Rafsanjani claiming that Iraq could only retake Faw “with a nuclear weapon.”

9. Criticism Directed at Kuwait’s Ruling Family and Government

Accounts on X shared critical views of the Kuwaiti government and its ruling Al-Sabah family. A video posted by Abu Darndesh Al-Askari (Post Impact: 22%) directly challenged the legitimacy of their rule, stating, “What is built on falsehood is false,” and suggesting the family’s citizenship should be withdrawn. In a separate post, Haidar (Post Impact: 9%) circulated a purported statement from Kata’ib Hezbollah in Iraq. The statement contained a warning to the “ruling system in the land of Kuwait” over actions against a certain group, cautioning them to “beware the wrath of the patient.”

10. Praise for Prominent Shiite Figures Ali ibn Abi Talib and Khomeini

Users expressed reverence for key historical and modern figures in Shiite Islam. Wasan Al-Shaikhli (Post Impact: 31%) posted a declaration of faith, stating that “Belonging to Ali ibn Abi Talib is the highest affiliation a person can boast of.” In a post praising a more recent figure, Abu Mustafa Al-Khafaji (Post Impact: 17%) attributed Iran’s current progress to the founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini. The post included a quote from Khomeini: “Defeat is for those whose ultimate hope is this world, but one who is connected to God is never defeated.“