Exclusive: America stipulates the dismantling of factions in exchange for releasing $30 billion of “Saddam’s money”.
Exclusive: America stipulates the dismantling of factions in exchange for releasing $30 billion of “Saddam’s money”.
2026-08-02
Shafaq News – Baghdad
An informed source revealed on Sunday that the Iraqi government has begun its move towards Washington to release the financial guarantee that has been suspended since the previous regime, but the latter stipulated that the funds be released in exchange for dismantling the factions.
The source told Shafaq News Agency, “Washington had previously promised to release this financial guarantee, and action was supposed to be taken on it during Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s visit to Washington. However, the US administration did not instruct Congress to approve the disbursement of the suspended financial guarantee, which is estimated at $30 billion.”
He added that “the current government movement coincided with the financial crisis that is sweeping the country,” indicating that “Washington made the disbursement of funds contingent upon the completion of the file of restricting weapons to the state and the entry of American investment companies into the country.”
Iraq has various financial assets and guarantees, some of which have been frozen and others held since the era of the previous regime, and the government is seeking to release the frozen funds in order to strengthen the country’s strategic financial reserves.
Iraq is currently experiencing a significant financial deficit, which has led to delays in the payment of salaries and pensions. Finance Minister Faleh al-Sari acknowledged the existence of a real financial deficit that is hindering the completion of salary payments for employees, retirees, and social welfare beneficiaries, noting that the total monthly obligations for salaries amount to approximately 7 trillion and 800 billion dinars.
Iraqi government spokesman Haider al-Aboudi had previously confirmed that Iraq is facing “severe” financial challenges, noting that the government needs about 10.8 trillion dinars per month to cover employee salaries and public expenditures, while the country’s oil revenues do not exceed 2.5 trillion dinars.
Al-Aboudi acknowledged in a televised statement that this financial crisis directly affected the salary distribution schedule, leading to delays and irregularities in their disbursement as was the practice.
shafaq.com
