A US official: Iraq has agreed to cooperate in combating money laundering and has begun “taking steps”.
A US official: Iraq has agreed to cooperate in combating money laundering and has begun “taking steps”.
2026-06-20
Shafaq News – Baghdad
A U.S. administration official confirmed on Friday that Iraq has agreed to cooperate with a financial group to combat money laundering, corruption and terrorist financing, and has begun taking positive steps in this regard.
The official told Shafaq News Agency that “after a process that lasted nearly two years to review the Iraqi system for combating money laundering and terrorist financing, Iraq agreed to work cooperatively with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to address the most strategic deficiencies in its system for combating money laundering and terrorist financing.”
He added, “Iraq has already begun taking positive steps, demonstrating a political will to comply with the international standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF),” noting that “we encourage Iraq to continue this positive movement and accelerate the implementation of the FATF Action Plan.”
Sources indicated to Shafaq News Agency this evening that the changes being made by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi will affect more than 100 officials, and are closer to redrawing the centers of influence within the Iraqi state than to mere routine administrative procedures.
The evaluation process is not limited to administrative performance only, but also includes the nature of the political and organizational affiliations of some officials, amid talk of a trend to remove figures who are accused of being close to armed factions or who have failed to manage the files entrusted to them during the past years.
According to political sources who spoke to Shafaq News Agency, US envoy Tom Barrack discussed with al-Zaidi during his recent visit to Baghdad issues that go beyond the formation of the government or the distribution of positions, reaching the form of the Iraqi state during the next stage, the mechanisms for managing sovereign institutions, and strengthening the independence of government decision-making from traditional centers of influence.
According to the sources, there are understandings that led to the abolition of the positions of deputy prime ministers, as well as the exclusion of the “Ministry of Federal Security” project, which was proposed to include various security formations, including the Popular Mobilization Forces and armed factions.
Meanwhile, negotiations regarding the allocation of security ministries and some contentious portfolios are still ongoing, amid assurances that al-Zaydi is seeking to select technocratic figures, even if they enjoy the support of certain political forces, sources say.
shafaq.com
