CBI INFO & IRAQI DINAR NEWS

Exclusive: Iraqi currency issuance jumps 13.8% in five months under pressure from salaries and expenses

Exclusive: Iraqi currency issuance jumps 13.8% in five months under pressure from salaries and expenses

2026-08-05

Shafaq News – Baghdad
A special survey conducted by Shafaq News Agency showed that the volume of Iraqi currency issuance rose to 113.560 trillion dinars in May 2026, an increase of about 13.761 trillion dinars, or 13.8%, compared to the end of December 2025, amid escalating financial pressures that prompted the government to seek liquidity to ensure the payment of salaries and basic expenses.

According to data monitored by the agency, the issuance of cash rose from 99.799 trillion dinars Read more…

Iraqi central bank’s dollar sales rise to 5.86 billion in June

Iraqi central bank’s dollar sales rise to 5.86 billion in June

2026-08-05

Shafaq News – Baghdad
The Central Bank of Iraq’s sales of foreign currency rose during June 2026 to $5.857 billion, compared to $5.092 billion in May, an increase of $765 million, representing a growth rate of 15%.

According to data seen by Shafaq News Agency, this increase was driven by an increase in the value of banks’ balances outside the foreign currency sale window to $5.538 billion in June, compared to Read more…

The currency issued in Iraq rose to 113.6 trillion dinars by the end of last May.

The currency issued in Iraq rose to 113.6 trillion dinars by the end of last May.

2026-08-04

Shafaq News – Baghdad
The currency issued in Iraq recorded an increase to reach more than 113 trillion dinars by the end of May 2026, coinciding with the continued rise in cash circulating outside banks, according to official data from the Central Bank of Iraq.

Data seen by Shafaq News Agency showed that the currency issued amounted to 113.560 trillion dinars at the end of May, compared to 112.896 trillion dinars Read more…

Iraq’s domestic public debt rises to 103 trillion dinars by the end of May

Iraq’s domestic public debt rises to 103 trillion dinars by the end of May

2026-08-03

Shafaq News – Baghdad
Iraq’s domestic public debt rose to more than 103 trillion dinars by the end of May 2026, marking an increase compared to the previous month, according to data from the Central Bank of Iraq.

Central Bank data seen by Shafaq News Agency showed that domestic public debt reached 103.179 trillion dinars by the end of May 2026, compared to 95.679 trillion dinars at the end of April 2026, and 90.515 trillion dinars at the end of 2025. Read more…

A US report exonerates “dollar shipments” from Iraq’s crises: they have no connection to salaries.

A US report exonerates “dollar shipments” from Iraq’s crises: they have no connection to salaries.

2026-08-01

Shafaq News – Translation
The United States’ decision to suspend cash dollar shipments to Iraq for about three months, before resuming them at the beginning of July, sparked a wave of questions and interpretations that linked the move to restricting Baghdad’s access to its oil revenues, or threatening its ability to pay salaries and finance the economy.

However, a report by the Atlantic Council , prepared by Middle East program researcher Ahmad Tabakhjali and translated by Shafaq News Agency, argues that these perceptions are based on an inaccurate understanding of the nature of Iraqi accounts at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and the mechanism through which oil revenues Read more…

Gold prices hold steady… Iraq’s foreign reserves decline by more than $7 billion in five months

Gold prices hold steady… Iraq’s foreign reserves decline by more than $7 billion in five months

2026-08-01

Shafaq News – Baghdad
Data from the Central Bank of Iraq showed a decline in foreign reserves during the first five months of 2026, while gold reserves remained higher than at the end of 2025, and the bank’s total assets decreased.

According to data reviewed by Shafaq News Agency, foreign reserves decreased from $101.082 billion at the end of January 2026 to $93.673 billion at the end of May, a decline of $7.409 billion, or 7.3%. Their value in local currency also fell from 131.407 trillion dinars to Read more…

Iraqi private banks are facing increasing pressure to meet the requirements of the US Federal Reserve and have sanctions lifted.

Iraqi private banks are facing increasing pressure to meet the requirements of the US Federal Reserve and have sanctions lifted.

2026-07-30

Shafaq News – Baghdad
Banking sources revealed on Thursday new and urgent directives to private banks in Iraq, aimed at completing the requirements that were raised during Prime Minister Ali al-Zubaidi’s visit to Washington, in preparation for completing the procedures to lift the sanctions and restrictions imposed on a number of banks.

The sources told Shafaq News Agency that the requirements that were emphasized include strengthening anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing measures, compliance and governance, tightening control over dollar Read more…

Why have small denominations disappeared from the markets? Al-Zaydi’s advisor reveals the reasons.

Why have small denominations disappeared from the markets? Al-Zaydi’s advisor reveals the reasons.

2026-07-29

Shafaq News – Baghdad
The Prime Minister’s financial advisor, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, revealed on Wednesday the reasons for the scarcity of small denominations of currency in Iraqi markets, stressing that this is mainly related to their paper nature and the high speed of their circulation, which leads to their deterioration within a short period of time.

Saleh told Shafaq News Agency that issuing currency in its various denominations is one of the core tasks of the Central Bank of Iraq, which is responsible for managing the currency and providing the necessary liquidity Read more…

Cancellation and disengagement: Structural changes at the Central Bank of Iraq

Cancellation and disengagement: Structural changes at the Central Bank of Iraq

2026-07-25

Shafaq News – Baghdad
The Central Bank of Iraq has decided to raise the level of the Directorate of Supervision of Non-Bank Financial Institutions to the level of a general department under the name of the Department of Supervision of Non-Bank Financial Institutions.

The bank also decided, according to a document received by Shafaq News Agency, to transfer the Operations and Settlements Department from the Information Technology and Payments Department to the Accounting Department, in addition to transferring Read more…

Parliamentary Finance Committee: The move to legislate the 2026 borrowing and grants law due to the failure to approve the budget.

Parliamentary Finance Committee: The move to legislate the 2026 borrowing and grants law due to the failure to approve the budget.

7-21-2026

The head of the parliamentary finance committee, Uday Awad, confirmed on Monday that the House of Representatives is moving towards legislating the draft law on borrowing and grants for the year 2026, in light of the absence of a general budget law.

Awad told the official news agency that “the parliamentary finance committee and parliament are moving towards legislating the draft law on borrowing and grants Read more…

Experts: Decision to qualify 7 banks is a step towards global financial integration

Experts: Decision to qualify 7 banks is a step towards global financial integration

2026/07/20

Baghdad: Hussein Thaghab and Shukran Al-Fatlawi
Financial and economic experts considered the Central Bank of Iraq’s agreement with the US Treasury Department to qualify seven Iraqi banks to return to foreign correspondent banking channels as an important step in the path of reforming the banking sector and strengthening its integration into the global financial system, indicating that it frees banks from financial isolation, breaks the monopoly of the parallel market, and attracts foreign direct investment.

Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi welcomed the understanding reached between the Central Bank and the US Read more…

The Iraqi Central Bank’s coffers lost 1.3 trillion dinars in four months.

The Iraqi Central Bank’s coffers lost 1.3 trillion dinars in four months.

2026-07-20

Shafaq News – Baghdad
Data from the Central Bank of Iraq, released on Monday, showed a sharp decline in cash liquidity within the bank’s vaults during the first four months of 2026, as it fell from 1.907 trillion dinars at the end of December 2025 to 566 billion dinars at the end of April 2026.

According to data seen by Shafaq News Agency, cash liquidity declined to Read more…

Iraq agrees with the US to reinstate restricted banks to foreign correspondent banking channels.

Iraq agrees with the US to reinstate restricted banks to foreign correspondent banking channels.

7-19-2026

The Prime Minister’s Media Office announced on Saturday that Iraq and the United States have agreed to reinstate restricted banks to foreign correspondent banking channels.

The office said in a statement that “following the official visit of Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi and his meeting with the President of the United States of America, and within the framework of ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries, the Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq held a series of high-level meetings with officials at the US Treasury.” Read more…

An Iraqi-American understanding stipulates the return of restricted banks to non-dollar correspondent banking channels.

An Iraqi-American understanding stipulates the return of restricted banks to non-dollar correspondent banking channels.

2026-07-18

Shafaq News – Baghdad/Washington
The media office of Prime Minister Ali al-Zidi announced on Saturday that the Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq, Nizar Nasser Hussein, held a series of high-level meetings with officials at the US Treasury, which resulted in reaching a common understanding to return restricted Iraqi banks to foreign correspondent banking channels not linked to the US dollar.

A statement issued by Al-Zaydi’s media office explained that the lifting of restrictions on those banks came “after they met the approved standards and requirements in the areas of compliance and governance, and completed Read more…

Al-Zaydi: The understanding with the US Treasury is a strategic step to pave the way for the return of 7 Iraqi banks to dealing in dollars.

Al-Zaydi: The understanding with the US Treasury is a strategic step to pave the way for the return of 7 Iraqi banks to dealing in dollars.

2026-07-18

Shafaq News – Washington
Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi expressed his welcome on Saturday to the understanding reached between the Central Bank of Iraq and the US Treasury Department, describing it as “an important step in the path of reforming the banking sector and strengthening its integration into the global financial system.”

Al-Zaydi said in a post on the “X” platform that “the qualification of seven Iraqi banks to return to foreign Read more…

Iraq activates “targeted financial sanctions” to combat money laundering

Iraq activates “targeted financial sanctions” to combat money laundering

2026-07-17

Shafaq News – Baghdad
The Central Bank of Iraq announced on Friday that its Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Office organized a specialized workshop on implementing targeted financial sanctions, in support of the requirements of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Action Plan.

According to a statement issued by the bank, the workshop was attended by the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, the Director General of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Read more…

The dollar’s dominance over Iraq’s economy: Will the Washington visit open the door to banking independence?

The dollar’s dominance over Iraq’s economy: Will the Washington visit open the door to banking independence?

7-14-2026

Information/Report…
The United States has maintained its dominance over the Iraqi banking sector since 2003, imposing sanctions on a large number of private banks in recent years. Observers see this as an obstacle to building an independent Iraqi banking system free from American influence. The US Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York imposed restrictions on more than 30 Iraqi private banks, representing approximately 43% of the private banking sector, preventing them from dealing in US dollars, citing violations of banking standards and regulations. Read more…

What is the connection of the American company “Oliver Wyman” to the issue of Iraqi banks subject to sanctions?

What is the connection of the American company “Oliver Wyman” to the issue of Iraqi banks subject to sanctions?

7-14-2026

Information / Baghdad –
Economic expert Mustafa Faraj raised questions on Tuesday regarding the role of the American company Oliver Wyman in the case of Iraqi banks subject to sanctions, emphasizing that a large number of them adhere to international banking standards despite the continued restrictions imposed on them.
Faraj told the Information Agency that “the US Federal Reserve controls the banking system in Iraq, while Washington has imposed sanctions on more than 30 private banks under the pretext of violating banking regulations.” Read more…

Iraqi banks are permitted to disburse their customers’ dollar deposits in cash

Iraqi banks are permitted to disburse their customers’ dollar deposits in cash

2026-07-13

Shafaq News – Baghdad
The Central Bank of Iraq has issued a new directive to all banks, allowing the disbursement of deposits and incoming transfers in US dollars in cash, according to a document obtained by Shafaq News Agency.

According to the document, the decision comes in implementation of the objectives of monetary policy, and to enable banks to meet the legitimate needs of their customers in US dollars, and in line with the directives of the government and the Central Bank to enhance confidence in the Iraqi dinar, Read more…

Parliament will open the file on reducing the dollar quota for travelers and will host the Central Bank governor next week.

Parliament will open the file on reducing the dollar quota for travelers and will host the Central Bank governor next week.

7-11-2026

The parliamentary finance committee announced on Friday that it will host the governor of the central bank next week, while noting that there are observations on the mechanism for distributing dollar quotas to travelers.

The head of the committee, Uday Awad, said in a press statement that “the committee will host the governor of the Central Bank next week,” indicating that “the first question that will be directed to him is about the feasibility Read more…