Based on Miqrab AI’s analysis of 531 X / Twitter posts trending in Iraq on July 5, 2026, the primary digital conversations centered on a significant shift in Iraqi-Iranian relations, alongside major domestic political and judicial reforms. A dominant narrative highlighted the Iraqi government, under Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi, asserting its sovereignty by reportedly banning Iranian Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani from the country and altering plans for the funeral procession of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. This coincided with a widespread anti-corruption campaign that included a major shake-up within the Iraqi judiciary, leading to the replacement of numerous high-ranking judges. While these political developments captured significant attention, the most engaged-with single post was unrelated to politics, instead focusing on harsh criticism of the refereeing in a World Cup match between France and Paraguay.

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

1. Outrage Over World Cup Refereeing

A wave of criticism targeted the referee’s performance in the World Cup match between France and Paraguay, with former referee Pierluigi Collina’s alleged comments being widely circulated. The account Bahaa khaleel Bahaa khaleel (Post Impact: 100%) shared a lengthy statement attributed to Collina, who reportedly called the refereeing “simply not good enough” and stated, “In my life, I have never been more disappointed with a refereeing performance like this.” The comments suggest the referee’s decisions were inconsistent and biased against France, with Collina allegedly calling for the official to be removed from the tournament. In a separate post, the same account highlighted the aggressive play from the Paraguayan team, pointing out a foul that did not even result in a warning and describing their style as “filth” rather than physical strength.

2. Iraq Reportedly Bans Iranian Commander Esmail Qaani

Multiple accounts reported that the Iraqi government has taken a firm stance against Iranian influence by declaring Esmail Qaani, commander of Iran’s Quds Force, a “persona non grata.” Rusly Al-Maliki 🇮🇶 رسلي المالكي (Post Impact: 27%), citing Radio Monte-Carlo International and a source from Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani’s bloc, detailed that Baghdad informed Tehran that Qaani is “unwelcome” and is prohibited from attending the funeral procession for Ali Khamenei in Najaf and Karbala. The post also mentioned a “heated discussion” between Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, leading to the cancellation of the funeral’s entry into Baghdad. Salim Aljomaili (Post Impact: 7%) described the move as an “unprecedented step towards restoring the national decision.” Mustafa Aldulaimi (Post Impact: 5%) also shared the news, encouraging Al-Zaidi to continue asserting Iraq’s sovereignty.

3. Major Changes Announced in Iraqi Judiciary

Significant changes within Iraq’s judiciary were announced by order of the President of the Supreme Judicial Council, Faiq Zidan. The news was shared by accounts like Dr. Qusay Shafiq (Post Impact: 21%) and Haider (Post Impact: 5%), who reported the replacement of the Attorney General, 12 judges in the Supreme Court, and the heads of courts in four governorates. Raad Hashim (Post Impact: 3%) also listed the key changes. Azhar Al-Jumaili (Post Impact: 3%) framed the moves as part of a package of new judicial formations approved by the Supreme Judicial Council to reorganize the judicial structure according to the public interest.

4. Khamenei Funeral Procession in Iraq Sparks Debate

The planned funeral procession for Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Najaf and Karbala has generated significant discussion. While some accounts like Dr.hussein Alsafi (Post Impact: 12%) posted images of Khamenei with captions like “The beloved is coming to Karbala,” encouraging Iraqis to seize the opportunity to participate, others viewed the event through a political lens. Asaad Al-basri (Post Impact: 18%) interpreted the Iraqi government’s decision to cancel the procession in Baghdad as an admission of the issue’s sensitivity, suggesting that a large turnout of three million Iraqis would have been a powerful political statement. Meanwhile, Othman Al-Mukhtar (Post Impact: 11%) questioned whether those mourning Khamenei would feel shame if shown the orphans, widows, and graves he left behind in cities like Mosul and Tikrit.

5. Iranian Dissident Recounts Disparaging Views of Iraq

A video of Jaber Rajabi, a dissident from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, was shared by Salim Aljomaili (Post Impact: 21%), in which he recounted two incidents reflecting a negative Iranian perception of Iraq. In the first, an unnamed Iranian religious authority allegedly accused Iraqi Shiites of betrayal during a meeting with Qais Khazali, prompting Khazali to leave in protest. The second incident involved a question from Ali Khamenei to Qassem Soleimani about his feelings while in Iraq during the American occupation. Soleimani was quoted as saying, “I will make the Iraqis kiss the feet of the Iranians.” Rajabi presented these stories as examples of Iran’s attitude and behavior towards Iraq.

6. Iraq’s Anti-Corruption Campaign Gains Momentum

Discussions surrounding Iraq’s anti-corruption campaign highlighted recent actions against political figures. Dr. Haitham Almayahi (Post Impact: 10%) praised Judge Diaa Jaafar for lifting the immunity of several members of parliament, sharing a list of their names. In a related context, Rusly Al-Maliki 🇮🇶 رسلي المالكي (Post Impact: 12%), citing Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, reported that Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi’s government rejected an Iranian request to exempt certain individuals wanted on corruption charges from judicial prosecution. Abu Maryam (Post Impact: 6%) also commented on the campaign, asserting that it is ongoing and will include all corrupt individuals regardless of their positions, dismissing rumors of American involvement as attempts to discredit the “purely Iraqi” effort.

7. Praise for Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi’s Leadership

Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi received praise across several posts for his perceived piety and decisive actions. Dr.hussein Alsafi (Post Impact: 19%) shared a photo of a leader on a prayer mat with the caption, “A ruler who governs the country while he is on his prayer mat. We should truly be proud of him.” The leader of the Sadrist Movement also warned of a danger that “touches Al-Zaidi’s life” following recent arrests of officials, as noted by Rusly Al-Maliki 🇮🇶 رسلي المالكي (Post Impact: 27%). Other posts highlighted his government’s firm stance against Iran and his direct orders to remove illegal structures inside the Green Zone, reinforcing a narrative of a strong and principled leader.

8. Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Officer Killed in Kirkuk

The Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) announced the death of one of its officers. The official Counter-Terrorism Service account (Post Impact: 12%) mourned the officer, quoting a verse from the Quran. The account Haider (Post Impact: 4%) provided more details, stating that the officer was killed during clashes with ISIS elements in Kirkuk province. Following the incident, the Iraqi Armed Forces announced they were destroying remaining ISIS hideouts in the area with a series of airstrikes.

9. Speculation Surrounding Khamenei’s Son, Mojtaba

Following the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, speculation and conspiracy theories emerged regarding his son and potential successor, Mojtaba Khamenei. Sufian Alsamarrai (Post Impact: 9%) shared a video claiming that Ahmad Vahidi, a key figure, appeared terrified of being assassinated by Mossad. David Yassin (Post Impact: 9%) suggested that the person seen in public is a body double for Mojtaba and not the real person, claiming the funeral has become an intelligence-gathering opportunity to identify new targets. These posts reflect a narrative of distrust and intrigue surrounding the succession process in Iran.

10. The Case of “Mera Saddam Hussein” Stirs Tribal Tensions in Yemen

A detailed post by Haider (Post Impact: 6%) explained the complex case of a Yemeni woman named Sumaya Al-Zubairi, who claims to be “Mera,” a secret daughter of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. According to the post, investigations by Houthi authorities in Sanaa, as well as DNA tests and denials from Saddam’s daughter Raghad, have refuted the claim. The situation has escalated after a tribal sheikh who came to her aid was arrested and subsequently called for tribal mobilization upon his release, demanding her freedom. The account expresses concern that the issue could ignite a wider armed tribal conflict in Yemen, potentially attracting external intervention from parties like Saudi Arabia.