IRAQI DINAR POLITICS & ECONOMY

Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi in a special interview on Al-Iraqiya News

Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi in a special interview on Al-Iraqiya News

10-23-2026

The program (Special Meeting) will host Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi, in a dialogue that addresses the most prominent issues of the next stage, and to talk about restricting weapons to the state, the exchange rate and its repercussions on the market, the livelihood of citizens, the housing file, and the course of government reforms. The meeting will be tonight at nine o’clock on the Iraqi Read more…

Unannounced contacts between al-Zaydi and al-Julani ahead of an expected visit to Damascus

Unannounced contacts between al-Zaydi and al-Julani ahead of an expected visit to Damascus

10-23-2026

Information/Anbar
An official source in Anbar province revealed on Friday that Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi had made unannounced contacts with al-Julani, ahead of an expected visit to Syria, amid talk of understandings and agreements whose details have not yet been clarified.

The source told Al-Maalomah News Agency that “Al-Zaydi held intensive talks with Al-Julani to discuss possible positions and understandings,” noting that Read more…

A burdensome budget even before its enactment… Parliamentary criticism of the focus on expenditures, employment, and repetitive clauses

A burdensome budget even before its enactment… Parliamentary criticism of the focus on expenditures, employment, and repetitive clauses

10-23-2026

Information/Report…
The government’s talk and actions regarding the budget, and its move towards raising the dollar exchange rate to secure and increase revenues, have been met with considerable criticism from various popular, political, economic, and especially parliamentary circles. This approach is no different from its predecessors in its focus on securing operational expenses and hiring, which increases the financial burden on the budget and raises costs beyond expectations. There are fears that the government will resort to raising Read more…

A government source confirms the reopening of the Al-Shaib border crossing

A government source confirms the reopening of the Al-Shaib border crossing

10-23-2026

Information/Baghdad…
A government source revealed on Friday the truth about the reopening of the Al-Shaib border crossing with Iran after its closure for more than 72 hours.
The source explained to Al-Maalomah that “the news circulating on some websites and social media platforms about the reopening of the Al-Shaib border crossing between Iraq and Iran is inaccurate, and it remains closed for more than 72 hours.”
He pointed out that “the closure decision came directly from the central Read more…

What will the budget look like if the price of a barrel of oil is calculated at more than $60?

What will the budget look like if the price of a barrel of oil is calculated at more than $60?

10-23-2026

Information/Baghdad…
Economic expert Dr. Safwan Qusay explained what could be achieved in the budget if the price of a barrel of oil were calculated at more than $60.
Qusay told Al-Maalouma, “The minimum price of a barrel of oil in the budget should not fall below $60. With exports exceeding 3 million barrels per day, this would be sufficient to cover public spending on items governed by permanent laws, such as salaries, welfare, pensions, and the food basket.” Read more…

Finance Ministry: Applications for Rafidain Bank loans via “Super Key” will begin tomorrow.

Finance Ministry: Applications for Rafidain Bank loans via “Super Key” will begin tomorrow.

2026-10-23

Shafaq News – Baghdad
The Iraqi Ministry of Finance announced on Friday that Al-Rafidain Bank has completed the technical procedures and electronic linking for the loan service via the “Super Key” application.

The ministry explained in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency that the application link will be activated through the bank’s icon tomorrow, Saturday, for civilian and military employees and retirees whose salaries are deposited with the bank and who hold its cards. Read more…

Between transgression and obstruction: Iraq’s constitution faces amendment.

Between transgression and obstruction: Iraq’s constitution faces amendment.

2026-10-23

Shafaq News – Baghdad
Legal experts, analysts, and politicians agree that the stagnation of the Iraqi constitution issued in 2005 and its complex procedural conditions stand as an obstacle to resolving constitutional amendments and overcoming the recurring political deadlock, amid a heated division over the priority of amending the problematic texts or the commitment of the influential forces to implement the existing and suspended provisions.

The constitutional amendment crisis was renewed following an explicit call made by the head of the Supreme Judicial Council, Judge Faiq Zaidan, last Thursday, in which he demanded a review of constitutional provisions Read more…

Rafidain Bank launches loans for employees and retirees up to 10 million dinars

Rafidain Bank launches loans for employees and retirees up to 10 million dinars

2026-10-23

Shafaq News – Baghdad
An informed source revealed on Friday that Rafidain Bank has launched loans for employees and retirees in amounts of 5 million and 10 million dinars, with an annual interest rate of 6%, to be repaid over five years.

The source explained in an interview with Shafaq News Agency that applications for loans are available electronically through the “Super Key” application, as part of the move towards enhancing digital banking services and simplifying procedures Read more…

40 billion dinars will restore the Kirkuk railway line to the Iraqi railway network.

40 billion dinars will restore the Kirkuk railway line to the Iraqi railway network.

2026-10-23

Shafaq News – Kirkuk
Ali Hamadi, the advisor to the governor of Kirkuk for investment and reconstruction affairs, revealed on Friday that the railway line linking the governorate with Salah al-Din needs about 40 billion Iraqi dinars to rehabilitate it so that it can be used to transport goods and oil derivatives.

Hamadi told Shafaq News Agency that “Kirkuk is one of the important oil-producing governorates on the production and export map, and that restoring the railway line between it and Read more…

Cooperation instead of deterrence: An American website suggests including Iraq and Iran in the “Mecca Alliance”

Cooperation instead of deterrence: An American website suggests including Iraq and Iran in the “Mecca Alliance”

2026-10-23

Shafaq News – Special Translation
The inclusion of Iraq, Iran, and Kuwait in the recently announced “Mecca Alliance” between Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan provides a means to avoid pushing regional states into mutual retaliation for attacks from abroad. This arrangement would better protect approximately 55% of the world’s oil reserves and infrastructure in the region than the idea of ​​military deterrence alone, according to the American website “ Eurasia Review ”. Read more…

Iraq to Saudi Arabia: We will not allow our territory to be used against you.

Iraq to Saudi Arabia: We will not allow our territory to be used against you.

2026-10-22

Shafaq News – Riyadh
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Thursday that its minister, Faisal bin Farhan, received a call from Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, in which he affirmed Iraq’s firm position of not allowing its territory to be used as a launching pad for any attacks that threaten the security of Saudi Arabia and the countries of the region. Read more…

Parliamentary calls to track corruption funds and recover those smuggled abroad

Parliamentary calls to track corruption funds and recover those smuggled abroad

10-22-2026

Information/Baghdad…
MP Ahmed Al-Shammari called for legislation to pursue and track funds recovered from corruption crimes, in addition to other laws to recover and retrieve funds in accordance with the “Where did you get this?” law and bribery crimes.

Al-Shammari told Al-Maalouma, “There are parliamentary demands and calls that emphasize the need to legislate a law to recover the proceeds of corruption, Read more…

Al-Zidi calls on European companies to take advantage of the investment opportunities available in Iraq.

Al-Zidi calls on European companies to take advantage of the investment opportunities available in Iraq.

2026-10-22

Shafaq News – Baghdad
Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi called on European companies on Thursday to take advantage of the investment opportunities available in Iraq, given the facilities provided by the government to investors, as well as the availability of labor and raw materials for many industries, noting that the Development Road project will represent a factor in strengthening economic relations between East and West. Read more…

Basra Oil Company signs memorandum of understanding with US’s ExxonMobil

Basra Oil Company signs memorandum of understanding with US’s ExxonMobil

2026-10-22

Shafaq News – Baghdad
The Ministry of Oil announced on Wednesday evening the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Basra Oil Company and the American company ExxonMobil regarding the second phase of the use and investment of seawater.

Oil Minister Bassem al-Abadi said on the sidelines of the signing of the memorandum, according to a statement received by Shafaq News Agency, that the second phase project to use Read more…

US State Department to Shafaq News: Al-Zaidi must fulfill his promises to Trump

US State Department to Shafaq News: Al-Zaidi must fulfill his promises to Trump

2026-10-22

Shafaq News – Washington
Mustafa Hashim
The US State Department confirmed on Wednesday that Washington expects Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi to fulfill the pledges he made to President Donald Trump during his visit to the United States last July, while accusing Iran of exploiting armed factions to plunder Iraqi resources and threaten their country’s sovereignty. Read more…

Iraq: Investment project with a capacity of 50 million standard cubic feet of raw gas nearing production

Iraq: Investment project with a capacity of 50 million standard cubic feet of raw gas nearing production

2026-10-22

Shafaq News – Baghdad
The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Oil for Gas Affairs, Izzat Saber Ismail, announced today, Thursday, that the completion rate of the accelerated Artawi gas field investment project (AG25) has reached 96%, stressing the importance of investing in associated gas and reducing its flaring to enhance fuel supplies for power generation stations.

The Undersecretary’s statements came on the sidelines of a field tour he conducted with the Director General Read more…

The Iraqi dinar is the second worst-performing global currency against the dollar since the beginning of 2026

The Iraqi dinar is the second worst-performing global currency against the dollar since the beginning of 2026

2026-10-22

Shafaq News – Follow-up
The Iraqi dinar ranked second on the list of currencies that have declined the most against the US dollar since the beginning of 2026, with a decrease of 14.2%, according to data reported by Bloomberg, while the Libyan dinar topped the list with a decline of 15.6%.

Shafaq News Agency reviewed these data, which showed that the Turkish lira Read more…

Representative of the Iraqi Prime Minister at the Governance Forum: Digital transformation is one of the tools for reform

Representative of the Iraqi Prime Minister at the Governance Forum: Digital transformation is one of the tools for reform

2026-10-22

Shafaq News – Baghdad
Youssef Khalaf, representative of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, confirmed on Thursday that digital transformation is one of the government’s reform tools for providing services to citizens.

In a speech during the Governance Forum, which was attended by a correspondent from Shafaq News Agency, Khalaf said that one of the goals of the new government is “the economic empowerment of the country. Read more…

The Minister of Communications reassures regarding Iran’s internet shutdown: We have alternative routes, and the cable cuts increase Iraq’s importance as a transit hub.

The Minister of Communications reassures regarding Iran’s internet shutdown: We have alternative routes, and the cable cuts increase Iraq’s importance as a transit hub.

2026-10-22

Shafaq News – Baghdad
Communications Minister Mustafa Sand reassured the public on Thursday regarding reports and concerns about the potential targeting or cutting of submarine cables and internet lines through Iran or the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that Iraq has alternative international outlets that guarantee service stability and increase the country’s flexibility as a pivotal hub for internet (transit) capacity. Read more…

Iraq anticipates billions of dollars in revenue from the mobile phone market.

Iraq anticipates billions of dollars in revenue from the mobile phone market.

2026-10-22

Shafaq News – Baghdad
The head of Iraq’s Media and Communications Commission predicted on Thursday that annual revenues from the mobile phone and technology market would exceed $2.5 billion by 2027.

Baligh Abu Kalal told Shafaq News Agency that Iraq is expected to generate more than $2 billion annually from the mobile phone and information technology market starting in 2027. Read more…