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Iran has stopped issuing visas to Americans, the countrys foreign minister said, in an expected response to PresidentDonald Trumps 90-day ban on Iranian citizens entering the U.S.

Irans Foreign Ministry on Saturday said it would take reciprocal and proportionate action after Mr. Trump issued an executive order barring entry to the U.S. of nationals from Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, as well as Iran. Tuesdays move came the same day Iraq said it wouldnt take any reciprocal action against Americans in light of the decree.

Iranian Foreign MinisterJavad Zarifconfirmed that Tehran would no longer issue visas to U.S. citizens. He also said exceptions to the ban were possible and specific cases would be reviewed by a foreign ministry committee.

Irans move could affect efforts byBoeingCo.to seal an 80-plane sale to Iran Air that the U.S. company said is still subject to government approvals. Some U.S. lawmakers are trying to block the deal, which was agreed on in December.

Were continuing to assess any impact the executive order might have and are closely monitoring congressional, administration and judicial actions, a Boeing spokesman said.

Despite the ban, USA Wrestling, the sports federation that oversees American Olympic wrestlers, on Monday said it planned to participate in an international tournament in mid-February in Kermanshah, Iran.

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Iran halts visas to Americans as Iraq keeps door open - Fox News

Millions of people throughout Iraq continue to suffer the consequences of armed conflict and the lingering effects of past violence. Tens of thousands of people were killed or injured. Since 2014, over 3,3 million people have been displaced in various parts of the country.

In addition, over 140,000 people have been displaced since October 2016, when the Iraqi military launched a campaign to retake the city of Mosul. Displaced people and communities living near frontlines, in retaken villages or other affected areas have limited, if any, access to essential services and basic supplies, due to widespread violence and the destruction of vital infrastructure.

On the road going east from Mosul, people fleeing the fighting cross through Gogjali, a Kurdish village located on the way to Al Khazer displaced camp. CC BY-NC-ND / ICRC / ICRC / A. Qusay

With its established countrywide presence in Iraq, the ICRC was able to respond quickly to the needs of people effected by fighting, including those living near the frontlines and in areas where there are few or no other humanitarian organizations. In response to the increased needs linked to the Mosul military operation, the ICRC scaled up its activities during the last months of 2016. As a core part of its mandate, it promoted compliance with international humanitarian law and other rules protecting civilians. It assisted internally displaced persons, host communities and returnees in newly retaken areas with food and essential household items; while other conflict-affected communities were provided with cash and livelihood support.

The ICRC also helped improve access to water and health services for millions of people. It visited detainees to monitor their treatment and living conditions, including their access to health care and the respect for judicial guarantees. It facilitated contact between relatives separated owing to current and past conflicts.

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Iraq : Activity report 2016 - ICRC (press release)

Mashable

Veteran speaks out against 'Muslim ban' with incredible Iraq story Mashable There's no doubt we're living in troubling times, but U.S. veteran's story has been warming hearts all over the internet. Dylan Park-Pettiford shared a story on ... and more »

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Veteran speaks out against 'Muslim ban' with incredible Iraq story - Mashable

Oil flows out of Iraq suggest that the Middle East country is complying, at least in part, with OPECs plan to curb production.

Observed shipments in January were 109,000 barrels a day below Octobers level,the month used as a baseline for the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries reductions plan. That indicates that Iraq has implemented around half of the production cut it agreed as part of the accord, assuming flows provide an indication of output.

Shipments from OPECs second-largest producer fell to 3.805 million barrels a day in January from Decembers 4.03 million, tanker-tracking data and port agent reports showed, with the decline mainly reflecting a 6.5 percent drop in flows from the southern port of Basra.

The Iraqis are making the bulk of their cuts at southern fields, said Robin Mills, chief executive officer of Dubai-based consultant Qamar Energy, who advises clients working in the region. Most of the decline is coming in the south because the Iraqis have moved forward some of the maintenance on fields there. The Kurds havent been cutting and I dont expect them to cut at all.

OPEC and 11 other producing countries including Russia agreed late last year to cut a combined 1.8 million barrels a day of output starting from January, with Iraqs share set at 210,000 barrels. Some analysts expressed doubts that Iraq would deliver its share of the cuts, potentially undermining the drive to rebalance the market and drain inventories bloated by two years of unfettered production that helped to crash prices.

During the months of negotiation that led to Novembers OPEC agreement, Iraq had insisted repeatedly that it should be exempted from cuts as it battles the Islamic State insurgency and rehabilitates its oil industry after years of war and sanctions. The country also disputed the data to be used in any discussions, insisting that numbers compiled by OPEC underestimated Iraqi production by about 5 percent. Iraq ultimately relented, agreeing to reduce its output.

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Adherence to the deal is great and OPEC probably wont need to extend the accord when it expires in the middle of the year, Saudi Arabia Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih said on Jan. 22 when countries met in Vienna to discuss monitoring implementation.

Iraq was close to implementing its share of the agreed production cuts and would be in full compliance by the end of the month, Oil Minister Jabbar Al-Luaibi said Jan. 23. The Middle Eastern producer had already reduced output by 180,000 barrels a day and would cut another 30,000 soon, Al-Luaibi said in a Bloomberg television interview.

While 90 percent of the output cuts have come from fields operated by companies run by Iraqs federal government, Baghdad is also coordinating reductions with the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan and international oil companies, he said.

Iraq saw lower shipments from both Basra and from the Ceyhan terminal in Turkey, from where it exports crude originating in the Kurdish region and from Baghdad-controlled fields around Kirkuk, according to the ship-tracking data.

Exports from Basra averaged 3.235 million barrels a day in January, down from a record 3.46 million in December, the data showed. Exports of Kurdish crude, and oil from Iraqs northern fields through Ceyhan, fell to about 569,000 barrels a day from 572,000 barrels in December.

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Iraq Plays Ball With OPEC as Tanker Tracking Shows Flows Are Cut - Bloomberg

In 2004, the government of prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh faced a difficult challenge when three Indian truckers were kidnapped in Iraq. The crisis was unlike any that India had witnessed before. Seven truckers consisting of three Indians, three Kenyans and one Egyptian were driving from Kuwait carrying non-lethal military-grade radio equipment for U.S. forces who had invaded Iraq a year ago.

The truckers reached Fallujah and asked for directions when the anti-U.S. fighters took them hostage on finding out that the trucks belonged to a Kuwaiti company that was supporting US invasion of Iraq.

Dr. Singhs government had taken charge in May, and the crisis began on 1 July. Given the situation in Iraq, especially in Fallujah, there was slim chance for the hostages to survive. Iraq had turned lawless after the 2003 invasion by the U.S.-led forces and Fallujah had emerged as a key centre for insurgents one of whom was the dreaded Abu Musav Al Zarqawi. Dr. Singh summoned E. Ahamed, then minister of state for external affairs to set up a team to rescue the truckers.

In the Prime Ministers office, Ahamed set up a special cell to monitor the situation. He summoned Indias ambassador to Oman, Talmiz Ahmad to Delhi and sent him to Baghdad along with Dr. Zikrur Rahman, diplomat and scholar of Arabic.

This team reached Baghdad on 1 August and began negotiation with a person nominated by the hostage takers. "We found that the kidnappers were not against India at all. They were in fact against Kuwait and the United States. Ahamed said that India should take care of all the hostages and not just the three Indians," said Talmiz Ahmad speaking to The Hindu from Dubai.

Kenya did not have a mission in Baghdad as the war had forced many countries to shut embassies in Iraq. "The hostage takers had demanded $20 million as ransom. But we said that it is not the policy of India to pay ransom as this would set up a wrong precedent," said Talmiz Ahmad recounting that finally the Kuwaitis paid a total of 300,000 USD as ransom to free the drivers.

Throughout the operation, E. Ahamed gave directions to his team in Baghdad and also set up meetings with Iraqi clerics. "Ahamed had local contacts especially among the clerics in Iraq who had a great deal of influence in the country and it was with the help of the clerics that we were able to bring back the truckers after weeks of negotiation," said Dr. Zikrur Rahman, former diplomat and academic.

The task of networking in Iraq was particularly difficult as for years the country was under the rule of Saddam Hussein who did not allow clerics to prosper. "He had an ability to strike a chord with the locals wherever he went and used these contacts to help Indians whenever they faced crisis," Dr. Rahman said.

After a month, the hostages were released and brought to the Indian embassy in Baghdad where they had lunch and were flown out to Kuwait. The three Indians reached home safely. "He truly cared about the under class of India who contribute most of the six million strong workers in the Gulf region," Talmiz Ahmad said.

E. Ahamed became a member of the Lok Sabha in 1991 but his focus always remained the welfare of Indians employed in West Asian and North African (WANA) region. This connection was first highlighted during the premiership of P.V. Narasimha Rao. To deal with a hostage crisis in Libya in the early 1990s, Rao sought Ahameds help in ensuring safety of the Indians in Libya which was at that time ruled by Muammar Gaddafi. Ahamed who had come into the 10th Lok Sabha in 1991 soon became known for his widespread contacts in the Gulf region. "His concern and affection was not just for people from Kerala but for all sections of Indians who work in the Gulf and North Africa," said Talmiz Ahmad.

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Diplomats recall E. Ahamed's role in 2004 rescue operation in Iraq - The Hindu