Tectonic framework of Iraq. A critical review and discussion

The Iraqi territory forms the northeastern part of the Arabian Plate, which is in collision with the Eurasian Plate. The collision of the plates has formed the Zagros Foreland Basin, which includes the Zagros Fold–Thrust Belt. The belt covers the majority of the northern part of Iraq (Kurdistan Region of Iraq) and parts of the central part of Iraq. South of the belt, the Mesopotamian Foredeep is developed. All these parts of Iraq are considered tectonically unstable. To the west and south of the Mesopotamian Foredeep, the tectonically stable part is developed that has been affected by a lesser amount of deformation as compared to the remaining unstable parts by the exerted forces related to the collision of both plates. All researchers have divided tectonically Iraq into two main tectonic domains; called Stable and Unstable shelves, which are further divided into zones and sub-zones. However, different terms and names were used by different researchers, which has confused readers and workers who have dealt with the tectonics of the Iraqi territory. We have reviewed and discussed all existing divisions by different researchers and have suggested new terminology using the existing maps, reports, scientific published articles, and interpreting satellite images, besides field observations. Moreover, we presented a tectonic map with the suggested new terminology.