IRAQI DINAR POLITICS & ECONOMY

The dollar continues to rise… An economist reveals the reasons behind the difference between the official and parallel market exchange rates.

The dollar continues to rise… An economist reveals the reasons behind the difference between the official and parallel market exchange rates.

11-8-2026

Information / Baghdad ..
Economic expert, Dirgham Al-Haidari, attributed on Sunday the current rise in dollar exchange rates in local markets to a number of direct and indirect factors.
Al-Haidari told Al-Maalomah News Agency that the tightening of US sanctions on Iran has led to increased demand for dollars to finance trade, coinciding with the decision to reduce the currency exchange allowance for travelers Read more…

MP: Budget delays force parliament to cut short its legislative recess

MP: Budget delays force parliament to cut short its legislative recess

11-8-2026

The Information Agency / Baghdad –
Member of Parliament, Munther al-Shammari, confirmed on Sunday that the government has failed to fulfill its official promise to send the 2027 budget schedules to Parliament last week, warning that continued delays could affect the timing of its discussion and approval.
Al-Shammari told the Information Agency, “The al-Zaidi government promised to send the 2027 annual budget last week for review and to finalize its items Read more…

Al-Hakim and Hamoudi are leading an “urgent mediation” to contain the tension between Al-Zaydi and the brigades.

Al-Hakim and Hamoudi are leading an “urgent mediation” to contain the tension between Al-Zaydi and the brigades.

2026-11-08

Shafaq News – Baghdad
On Sunday, an informed political source revealed that Ammar al-Hakim, leader of the Wisdom Movement, and Humam Hamoudi, head of the Supreme Islamic Council, are leading efforts to conduct urgent mediation between Prime Minister Ali al-Zubaidi and Kataib Hezbollah, with the aim of containing the tension and preventing its escalation in the coming period. Read more…

Al-Zaidi threatens to use “the force of law” against any weapons outside the state.

Al-Zaidi threatens to use “the force of law” against any weapons outside the state.

2026-11-08

Shafaq News – Baghdad
Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi confirmed on Sunday that weapons outside the state will be confronted with “the force of the law”.

Al-Zaydi said in a speech from Anbar province, during the launch of the “Homeland” initiative for distributing land to citizens: We appreciate all the demands and needs conveyed by members of the local government and representatives of the people. Read more…

A delegation from the Kurdistan Regional Government arrives in Baghdad to discuss financial entitlements and the 2027 budget.

A delegation from the Kurdistan Regional Government arrives in Baghdad to discuss financial entitlements and the 2027 budget.

2026-11-08

Shafaq News – Baghdad
A high-level negotiating delegation from the Kurdistan Regional Government arrived in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on Sunday to continue discussions regarding the region’s financial entitlements within the draft federal budget law for 2027. Read more…

Exceeding 5 million barrels per day… Does the oil minister’s statement reflect latent capacity or actual production?

Exceeding 5 million barrels per day… Does the oil minister’s statement reflect latent capacity or actual production?

2026-11-08

Shafaq News – Baghdad
The statement by Iraqi Oil Minister Bassem Mohammed Khudair, regarding the country’s oil production exceeding the 5 million barrel per day mark, has raised questions in oil circles about the accuracy of the announced figure, and whether it reflects actual production or available production capacity, as well as the confusion between the production ceiling set by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and the volume of oil exports. Read more…

Anbar presents its files to al-Zaydi and awaits resolution of stalled projects.

Anbar presents its files to al-Zaydi and awaits resolution of stalled projects.

2026-11-08

Shafaq News – Anbar
The spokesman for the local Anbar government, Muayad al-Dulaimi, confirmed on Sunday that Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s visit to the province carries political, economic and service-related importance, expressing his hope that it will contribute to resolving a number of outstanding issues, most notably financial entitlements and projects that have been stalled for years. Read more…

Iraq ranks third among Arab countries in gold reserves during the month.

Iraq ranks third among Arab countries in gold reserves during the month.

2026-11-08

Shafaq News – Baghdad
Data from the World Gold Council for November 2026 showed that the gold reserves of the ten largest Arab countries amounted to about 1,583 tons, while Iraq came in third with a reserve of 175.6 tons.

According to data seen by Shafaq News Agency, Saudi Arabia topped the list Read more…

Linked to factions… Shafaq News publishes copies of canceled contracts at Mosul Airport

Linked to factions… Shafaq News publishes copies of canceled contracts at Mosul Airport

2026-11-07

Shafaq News – Baghdad
An informed source reported on Saturday that Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi had cancelled contracts at Mosul airport linked to armed factions.

The source told Shafaq News Agency that “Al-Zaydi directed the cancellation of the contract of the (Sky Plus) company to rent the counters of Mosul Airport due to its connection with armed groups and referred it to international companies.” Read more…

Iraq opens rice exports to foreign markets

Iraq opens rice exports to foreign markets

2026-11-07

Shafaq News – Baghdad
The Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture announced on Saturday the opening of export operations for paddy rice (Iraqi rice) to foreign markets, after achieving production levels that “meet the requirements of local consumption and provide quantities for foreign marketing.” Read more…

A delegation from the Kurdistan Region will visit Baghdad tomorrow to discuss the 2027 budget and outstanding issues.

A delegation from the Kurdistan Region will visit Baghdad tomorrow to discuss the 2027 budget and outstanding issues.

11-7-2026

Sipan Akreyi, a member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party’s parliamentary bloc, revealed on Saturday that a high-level government delegation from the Kurdistan Region will visit Baghdad on Sunday to discuss the region’s share of the 2027 federal budget. He also identified the most prominent outstanding financial and oil issues between Baghdad and Erbil. Akreyi told the official news agency that “a government delegation from the Kurdistan Region, including the region’s finance minister, Awat Janab Nouri, will visit Baghdad Read more…

An economist says there will be no new budget without final accounts for previous years.

An economist says there will be no new budget without final accounts for previous years.

11-7-2026

Information/Special…
Economic expert Nadim Issa warned on Saturday against proceeding with the preparation and approval of the 2027 budget in the complete absence of final accounts for previous years. He emphasized that burdening citizens with additional fees and taxes to cover the financial deficit is unjust and makes the people pay the price for waste and corruption.
Issa told the Information Agency, “The fundamental question before delving into the items of the 2027 budget concerns the fate of the completely missing Read more…

By name and position: The Patriotic Union begins procedures to withdraw from the Kurdistan Regional Government

By name and position: The Patriotic Union begins procedures to withdraw from the Kurdistan Regional Government

2026-11-07

Shafaq News – Sulaymaniyah
On Saturday, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), led by Bafel Jalal Talabani, began taking practical steps to implement its decision to withdraw from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), following the election of the KRG’s parliamentary leadership by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). Read more…

Trump to al-Zaidi: We will strike Iraqi factions if they support Iran

Trump to al-Zaidi: We will strike Iraqi factions if they support Iran

2026-11-07

Shafaq News – Baghdad
Informed sources revealed on Saturday details of the telephone call that took place between US President Donald Trump and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi last Thursday, indicating that Washington threatened to launch strong military strikes against armed factions and their leaders. Read more…

Among them are the airport and fuel… Al-Zaydi issues directives concerning Nineveh Governorate

Among them are the airport and fuel… Al-Zaydi issues directives concerning Nineveh Governorate

2026-11-07

Shafaq News – Nineveh
On Saturday, Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi issued directives concerning Nineveh Governorate, including the operation of the airport and increasing its fuel quota.

The media office of Al-Zaydi said in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency that “the Prime Minister received the Governor of Nineveh, Abdul Qadir Ahmed Dakhil, and the President of the Nineveh Court of Appeal, Raed Hamid Hussein, and during Read more…

Fuad Hussein: Washington requested the closure of Iranian ports, and Baghdad informed Tehran that it rejects interference in its affairs.

Fuad Hussein: Washington requested the closure of Iranian ports, and Baghdad informed Tehran that it rejects interference in its affairs.

2026-11-07

Shafaq News – Baghdad
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein revealed on Saturday evening that the United States had officially asked Iraq to close all border crossings with Iran except for two, noting that Baghdad had informed Tehran that it accepts friendship and alliance with it but rejects interference in its affairs. Read more…

The US Treasury imposes new sanctions related to Iran.

The US Treasury imposes new sanctions related to Iran.

2026-11-07

Shafaq News – Translation
The U.S. Treasury Department announced on Friday that it had imposed sanctions on eight Canadian-based financial services and money transfer companies for allegedly facilitating the flow of funds to and from Iran, and assisting the Iranian regime and sanctioned entities in illicit activities to move assets across borders. Read more…

Washington warns its citizens in Iraq of attacks by Iran and militias

Washington warns its citizens in Iraq of attacks by Iran and militias

2026-11-07

Shafaq News – Baghdad
The US Embassy in Baghdad warned on Saturday American citizens in the Middle East region of the escalating risk of armed attacks that could be carried out by the Houthi group, as well as Iranian attempts to target US government officials in the region. Read more…

(Exclusive) After the election of the parliament’s leadership and the withdrawal of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), Washington sends a message to Kurdish forces.

(Exclusive) After the election of the parliament’s leadership and the withdrawal of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), Washington sends a message to Kurdish forces.

2026-11-07

Shafaq News – Washington
Mustafa Hashim
The US State Department affirmed on Saturday Washington’s strong support for the Kurdistan Region, describing it as a key pillar of US-Iraqi relations, while calling on political parties in the region to work constructively to strengthen its institutions, against the backdrop of recent developments in the Kurdistan Parliament and escalating disputes between the two main parties. Read more…

Iraq records more than 25 trillion dinars in electronic payment transactions during 7 months

Iraq records more than 25 trillion dinars in electronic payment transactions during 7 months

2026-11-07

Shafaq News – Baghdad
The Eco Iraq Observatory announced on Saturday that the volume of electronic payment transactions in Iraq exceeded 25 trillion Iraqi dinars from the beginning of this year until the end of last July.

The observatory said in a press statement that “the financial operations indicators for 2025 recorded 32.8 trillion dinars through 14.6 million transactions,” explaining that “20 trillion dinars of it represent collections and invoices.” Read more…