21 February 2014: The Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) announced that Iraq has joined CITES as its 180th party.

Iraq is home to many CITES-listed species, including Arabian oryx, red deer, fallow deer, common jackal, grey wolf, red fox, Eurasian lynx, leopard, brown bear, Asian wild ass, red-breasted goose, various birds of prey, whale shark, and Euphorbia species. The Convention will enter into force for Iraq on 6 May 2014. [CITES News]