Trump Continues National Emergency on Iraq Stabilization

President Donald Trump signed a notice continuing the national emergency with respect to the stabilization of Iraq, per the Federal Register notice published May 7 2026.

The notice affects U.S. persons and entities subject to sanctions and asset-blocking measures linked to the Iraq emergency. The original declaration blocked property of certain persons undermining stabilization efforts in Iraq and prohibited transactions with those designated.

The continuation maintains the full set of authorities under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act that have been renewed annually since the initial declaration by President George W. Bush on May 22 2003.

The prior state allowed the emergency to terminate after one year unless renewed. The new notice extends the emergency for another year, effective immediately upon publication. No termination date is set beyond the standard one-year renewal cycle.

Downstream the continuation preserves the legal framework for the Treasury Department to maintain sanctions on listed Iraqi and regional actors. It requires the president to report to Congress every six months on the status of the emergency. Federal agencies must continue any implementing regulations and licensing procedures tied to the sanctions program.

Congress retains the option under the National Emergencies Act to terminate the emergency by joint resolution.

This marks the latest in a series of annual renewals of the Iraq stabilization emergency. The original notice was issued after the 2003 invasion and has been continued by every subsequent administration. Congress has separately considered legislation in past sessions that would repeal or modify certain Iraq-related emergency authorities but has not enacted such changes.