Mouayed Saleh said on Thursday that if officials aren't able to finalise the necessary legal framework on the final business day before the Eid feast holiday, there could be a lengthy delay.

He said that the decision by Baghdad had taken longer than usual because the new Iraqi government was still being formed and key ministers had been travelling in the region as the coalition effort against the militants ramps up.

With the Eid feast holiday starting on Friday in Iraq, both countries' officials have been working against the clock to ensure combat missions by RAAF Super Hornets can begin.

"It depends on [how] the paperwork is going and the process today in Iraq. Unfortunately we are coming to a holiday – it's a major holiday in the Muslim world. It's going to be about a week starting tomorrow," Mr Saleh said.

"Also we are faced with the formation of the new government, new ministers. That's why it's taking a little bit longer than usual to take that request and consider it and give our feedback to it."

Asked if it could be another week before a decision was made, Mr Saleh said: "That is possible, but we have another working day today … so we have another day that we could hear back from Baghdad about their feedback about the request of Australia."

He added that it was "very possible" that a decision would be made today, however.

Alternatively there could be an "emergency session" of the cabinet. He later told Fairfax Media that work could still be done during the holiday.

However Eid, the feast at the end of Ramadan, is one of the biggest holidays on the Muslim calendar, a period when government and business activity is limited.

Australia needs a legal framework in place with the Iraqi government to ensure, among other things, that Australian Defence Force personnel have legal protection to carry out missions in the country.

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