An analysis of 601 X / Twitter posts trending in Iraq on 2026-07-09 by Miqrab AI reveals a social media landscape dominated by the massive funeral procession for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, which elicited both praise and sharp criticism. A second major narrative focused on the government’s anti-corruption campaign, particularly the high-profile arrests of officials in the oil sector and the discovery of billions of dinars hidden in caches. Concurrently, discussions centered on a significant shift in Iraq’s foreign policy, highlighted by Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaydi’s upcoming visit to the United States to forge a new partnership, alongside strengthening ties with Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Other key topics included tensions with Kuwait following the death of a detained Iraqi fisherman and reports of ongoing military strikes inside Iran.

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

1. Khamenei’s Funeral Procession in Iraq Sparks Praise and Criticism

Discussions around the funeral procession for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Najaf and Karbala dominated Iraqi social media, generating polarized reactions. Pro-Iran accounts and officials celebrated the massive turnout, with the Office of the Prime Minister (Post Impact: 8%) issuing a statement thanking security forces and estimating over 10 million participants attended. Supporters like Emad Al Musafir (Post Impact: 8%) and Dr. Hussein Al-Safy (Post Impact: 7%) viewed the event as a powerful display of the unbreakable bond between the Iraqi and Iranian people. However, critics offered a starkly different perspective. Mulla Aboud al-Karkhi (Post Impact: 13%) alleged the event was a cover for a large-scale dollar smuggling operation, claiming, “I swear to God, the biggest dollar smuggling operation took place during the funeral of the charlatan’s sham coffin.” Similarly, Dr. Hussein Al-Muayyad (Post Impact: 8%) argued the official handling of the funeral was a political act showcasing the Iraqi government’s loyalty to Iran’s political system, rather than a purely religious ceremony.

2. Major Anti-Corruption Arrests and Seizures in Oil Sector

A significant anti-corruption campaign targeting the oil sector gained widespread attention, particularly following the discovery of vast sums of illicit funds. Mashaan al-Jabouri (Post Impact: 12%) reported that an integrity court announced the seizure of another 14 billion dinars hidden in a hole, which followed previous seizures of over 120 billion dinars and $24 million. Accounts like Haydar (Post Impact: 10%) and Ali Farhan ali farhan (Post Impact: 6%) shared videos showing authorities unearthing the cash from a rainwater drainage pit allegedly belonging to detained official Adnan Al-Jumaili. The campaign also involved the arrest of Hussein Talib, Director General of the Oil Products Distribution Company. ahmedmeckya (Post Impact: 9%) and Dr. Qusay Shafiq (Post Impact: 15%) posted details of the immense wealth allegedly accumulated by the accused, including dozens of properties and luxury cars, while calling for accountability for the political figures who protected them.

3. PM Al-Zaydi’s Upcoming US Visit and Foreign Policy Shift

Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaydi’s upcoming official visit to the United States is being framed as a pivotal moment for Iraq’s foreign policy and international relations. Abu Maryam (Post Impact: 21%) and Haydar (Post Impact: 10%) announced that the Prime Minister will lead a large government and business delegation to Washington for a six-day visit starting July 13. The Office of the Prime Minister (Post Impact: 6%) stated that a key goal is to announce an “economic and political partnership” with the U.S. This move is seen as part of a broader strategic reorientation, as highlighted by Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 27%), who identified Iraq’s future direction as focusing on the United States, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. Al-Zaydi himself was quoted as saying a visit to Saudi Arabia would follow the Washington trip to enhance relations, describing the kingdom as a “strategic depth for Iraq.”

4. Calls to Investigate Security Forces Over Baiji Refinery Corruption

Prominent political figure Mashaan al-Jabouri made a public appeal for an investigation into the role of security forces in the Baiji oil refinery corruption case. In a post directed at the head of the National Security Service, Mashaan al-Jabouri (Post Impact: 26%) demanded to know why individuals who exposed the corruption a year ago were arrested by National Security in Tikrit. He questioned why the focus was on the whistleblowers instead of the corrupt officials they were trying to expose. In a related post discussing the recent seizure of 14 billion dinars, Mashaan al-Jabouri (Post Impact: 12%) argued that true justice requires holding accountable not only the direct perpetrators but also “those who provided protection and managed the corruption system,” contrasting the reality of deep-seated corruption with former Prime Minister Al-Sudani’s praise for the refinery’s achievements.

5. Public Questions Government’s Management of State Finances

Amid ongoing revelations of corruption, several social media users directed criticism at the government’s management of the country’s vast oil wealth. Emad Bajalan (Post Impact: 23%) captured this sentiment with a widely shared post, telling Iraqis, “Don’t rejoice over the 14 billion dinars, ask Al-Sudani about the 200 trillion dinars.” This critique was elaborated on by Dr. Qusay Shafiq (Post Impact: 9%), who cited figures suggesting Prime Minister Al-Sudani’s government received $420 billion over 3.5 years from oil sales and other revenues. He questioned where these “trillions” have gone, pointing to the lack of final accounts for “explosive budgets” and the persistent lack of basic services like electricity for the Iraqi people.

6. Outrage Over Death of Iraqi Fisherman Detained by Kuwait

The death of an Iraqi fisherman while in the custody of Kuwaiti authorities has sparked anger and criticism on Iraqi social media. Haydar (Post Impact: 14%) reported that the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the death of one of the fishermen who had been arrested by what the post referred to as “gangs of the so-called ‘Kuwaiti Coast Guard’.” In another widely engaged post, Haydar (Post Impact: 11%) condemned the situation, criticizing Kuwait for prioritizing the prevention of Iraqi fishing while its own territory was reportedly under missile attack. The post also questioned the silence of the international community and the Kuwaiti populace in the face of these events.

7. Iranian Dissident’s Visit to Iraqi Holy Sites Causes Stir

A widely followed Iranian opposition figure’s visit to the holy shrines in Karbala and Najaf became a talking point. Haydar (Post Impact: 15%) shared the story of a well-known atheist dissident with over 1.5 million followers who posted from the shrine of Imam Ali, stating, “I am not religious but may God curse those who are hostile to Ali.” According to the post, after being attacked by fellow Iranian opposition members for his visit, he responded by calling them “traitors” and “devils” and praised the warm reception he received in Karbala. This event reflects a broader theme of distinguishing between the Iranian regime and the Islamic faith, a sentiment also expressed by Mahdi Majeed (Post Impact: 5%), who stated that his criticism is directed at the “criminal” Iranian regime, not Islam or the Arab people.

8. Corruption Allegations Leveled at Al-Hikma Movement

Following the arrest of senior oil official Hussein Talib, multiple posts explicitly linked him and other corruption cases to Ammar al-Hakim’s Al-Hikma (Wisdom) Movement. Salim Al-Jomaili (Post Impact: 10%) shared a video discussing Talib’s connection to Al-Hikma, calling him the “crown jewel of integrity” for the movement. Salam Al-Husseini (Post Impact: 9%) compiled a list of other figures allegedly affiliated with Al-Hikma who have faced corruption charges, including former governors of Basra and Babil. In a similar vein, Basim Khashan (Post Impact: 6%) commented on the high operating costs of Ammar al-Hakim’s activities in Baghdad, implying that the ill-gotten gains of multiple corrupt officials would be needed to sustain them.

9. Accounts Report on Escalating Military Strikes Inside Iran

Several X accounts reported on what they described as a series of ongoing and unidentified military attacks on targets within Iran, contributing to a narrative of regional escalation. Sufian Samarrai (Post Impact: 8%) wrote of “destructive unknown raids” on ports and coastal cities in southern Iran, speculating that a major confrontation involving the US, Israel, and Gulf countries was imminent. Sufian Samarrai (Post Impact: 7%) and Ali Farhan ali farhan (Post Impact: 4%) specifically mentioned attacks in the vicinity of the Bushehr nuclear facility. Raad Hashim (Post Impact: 4%) also reported a strike on a space facility in the Bushehr province, noting it was one of the most heavily targeted areas.

10. Iraq and Turkey Advance Energy and Economic Cooperation

The official visit of Turkey’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources to Baghdad highlighted strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation on key strategic projects. The Office of the Prime Minister (Post Impact: 4%) announced that Prime Minister Al-Zaydi discussed the establishment of an Iraqi-Turkish fund to finance investment projects and invited Turkish companies to invest in Iraq’s agricultural sector. Following the meeting, Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 8%) reported that the Turkish minister affirmed his country’s readiness for broad strategic partnerships with Iraq. Rusly Al-Maliki (Post Impact: 7%) also noted that the two countries reached an agreement regarding the Ceyhan pipeline, with oil flows set to continue for another year.