IRAQI DINAR POLITICS & ECONOMY

A Syrian official: Oil cooperation with Iraq alleviates the energy crisis and paves the way for a strategic partnership.

A Syrian official: Oil cooperation with Iraq alleviates the energy crisis and paves the way for a strategic partnership.

2026-08-04

Shafaq News – Damascus
The head of the Gas and Energy Committee at the Damascus Chamber of Industry confirmed on Tuesday that strengthening oil cooperation between Iraq and Syria could help alleviate the energy crisis facing Syria and pave the way for a strategic partnership that would positively impact industry, investment, and economic growth.

Mohammed Marwan Orfali told Shafaq News Agency that Iraq’s geographical proximity makes the cost of transporting oil and gas to Syria low, which allows for the provision of energy supplies at lower prices and reduces Read more…

Government advisor: The liquidity crisis does not mean the state is bankrupt and does not threaten salaries.

Government advisor: The liquidity crisis does not mean the state is bankrupt and does not threaten salaries.

2026-08-04

Shafaq News – Baghdad
The financial advisor to the Iraqi government, Mazhar Muhammad Saleh, confirmed on Tuesday that the liquidity crisis facing Iraq does not mean a shortage of funds or the bankruptcy of the state, stressing that the government possesses financial and administrative tools that guarantee the continued funding of salaries and the fulfillment of its basic obligations.

Saleh told Shafaq News Agency that the current pressures are related to the imbalance between the timing of oil revenues entering the treasury and the due dates for monthly expenditures, primarily salaries, as well as Read more…

A thousand Iraqi trucks are stuck in Aqaba; drivers have been waiting to unload their cargo for 18 days.

A thousand Iraqi trucks are stuck in Aqaba; drivers have been waiting to unload their cargo for 18 days.

2026-08-04

Shafaq News – Anbar
The mayor of Rutba district in Anbar, western Iraq, Imad al-Rishawi, confirmed on Tuesday that trade through the Trebil crossing with Jordan and the al-Walid crossing with Syria is witnessing a remarkable increase, driven by security stability that has contributed to the smooth flow of trade between Iraq and neighboring countries.

Al-Rishawi told Shafaq News Agency that about a thousand tankers leave daily through the two crossings, while a similar number of empty tankers enter, reflecting the growing commercial transport activity. Read more…

The oil minister reveals talks with Iran to facilitate the movement of tankers through the Strait of Hormuz

The oil minister reveals talks with Iran to facilitate the movement of tankers through the Strait of Hormuz

8-3-2026

The Minister of Oil, Bassem Mohammed Khudair, confirmed the existence of an ambitious plan to transport a portion of the southern oil fields through northern pipelines, aiming for export rates exceeding 700,000 barrels per day, in accordance with the Iraqi-Turkish agreement. He also revealed ongoing discussions with Iran regarding the smooth flow of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, with hopes of reaching an understanding in the coming days. Khudair told the official news agency, as reported by Al-Maalomah, that “an important agreement was reached Read more…

Exclusive: Al-Zaidi to visit Saudi Arabia next week “after mediation”

Exclusive: Al-Zaidi to visit Saudi Arabia next week “after mediation”

2026-08-03

Shafaq News – Baghdad
An informed source revealed on Monday that Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi will visit Saudi Arabia next week.

The source told Shafaq News Agency that “the past few days have witnessed contacts by international, regional and internal political parties, in order to ease tensions between Baghdad and Riyadh, and those parties have succeeded in doing so.”

He added that “following the mediations, it was decided that Al-Zaidi’s postponed visit to Saudi Arabia will take place Read more…

The Ministry of Finance is considering three options to overcome the employee salary crisis.

The Ministry of Finance is considering three options to overcome the employee salary crisis.

8-3-2026

Information/Special..
Former member of the parliamentary finance committee, Sherwan Mirza, revealed on Monday that the Ministry of Finance has begun studying three scenarios to get out of the liquidity crisis, foremost among them being external borrowing, printing currency, or recovering the cash mass, which amounts to about 90 billion dollars.

Mirza explained to Al-Maalomah News Agency that “the government, represented by the Ministry of Finance, is trying to address the financial problem through several scenarios, foremost Read more…

Exclusive: CENTCOM comments on reports of Patriot missile system withdrawal from Erbil

Exclusive: CENTCOM comments on reports of Patriot missile system withdrawal from Erbil

2026-08-03

Shafaq News – Washington
A US Central Command (CENTCOM) official said on Monday that redeployment and rotation of troops and military assets is continuing in the region, but he neither confirmed nor denied reports that the Patriot air defense system was being withdrawn from Erbil Airport in the Kurdistan Region.

The official, who asked not to be identified, told Shafaq News Agency that “the US Central Command regularly rotates and repositions US forces and military assets to support the missions Read more…

Imminent end to the American presence… The third convoy leaves Al-Harir base amid a rapid withdrawal

Imminent end to the American presence… The third convoy leaves Al-Harir base amid a rapid withdrawal

8-3-2026

Information/Erbil..
Informed sources revealed on Monday that the gates of the Harir base near Erbil were opened for the first time in weeks, as the third convoy of US forces moved to complete the accelerated withdrawal of its units.

The sources explained to Al-Maalomah that “all the main gates of the Harir base near Erbil, where the American forces are stationed, were opened since the early morning hours, amid a deployment to secure the movement of the third convoy, which includes dozens of Read more…

A call to form “tripartite” committees to review financial files and activate the illicit gains law.

A call to form “tripartite” committees to review financial files and activate the illicit gains law.

8-3-2026

Information / Baghdad..
Member of Parliament Mohammed Karim Al-Baldawi called on Monday for the formation of joint oversight and judicial committees to purge state institutions of corruption and review major financial files, demanding the immediate activation of the Illicit Gains Law and a comprehensive evaluation of all executive officials.

Al-Baldawi told Al-Maalouma News Agency that “most state institutions are currently suffering from paralysis and near-total cessation as a result of rampant corruption and weak oversight, as well as clinging to officials who have remained in their positions for many Read more…

Iraq announces electrical interconnection with Türkiye: 600 megawatts have entered the national grid.

Iraq announces electrical interconnection with Türkiye: 600 megawatts have entered the national grid.

8-3-2026

Information/Special…
Former spokesperson for the Ministry of Electricity and energy expert Ahmed Moussa announced on Monday the completion of the electrical interconnection between Iraq and Turkey, adding 600 megawatts to the Iraqi national grid.
Moussa told the Information Agency that “specialized energy teams were able to complete the electrical interconnection with Turkey in the past few hours, adding approximately 600 megawatts to the national grid.” Read more…

Salaries are causing panic among Iraqis; parliamentary action is underway to secure them.

Salaries are causing panic among Iraqis; parliamentary action is underway to secure them.

8-3-2026

Information/Special..
MP Duha Laibi Al-Bahadli revealed today, Monday, a parliamentary move to host the Minister of Finance inside the House of Representatives, to discuss the issue of salaries and to identify the most prominent financial challenges facing the process of securing them.

Al-Bahadli told Al-Maalouma that “the issue of salaries affects the livelihood security and social stability of millions of Iraqis, which necessitates that it be at the forefront of the House of Representatives’ priorities, by hosting the Minister of Finance and the concerned authorities to learn about Read more…

Barzani and the Patriarch of the Chaldean Church affirm the protection of Christian rights and the consolidation of coexistence.

Barzani and the Patriarch of the Chaldean Church affirm the protection of Christian rights and the consolidation of coexistence.

2026-08-03

Shafaq News – Erbil
On Monday, Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani received the Patriarch of the Chaldean Church in Iraq and the world, Mar Paulos III Nona, where the two sides discussed the situation of Christians and Iraqi communities, and stressed the importance of consolidating a culture of coexistence and protecting diversity in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

Barzani’s headquarters stated in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency that Patriarch Mar Paul III Nona expressed during the meeting his thanks and appreciation to Barzani for his continuous efforts in protecting Read more…

SOMO asks buyers to specify their needs for Basra crude amid Hormuz tensions

SOMO asks buyers to specify their needs for Basra crude amid Hormuz tensions

2026-08-03

Shafaq News – Baghdad
Iraq’s State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) has asked term contract buyers to specify the quantities of Basra crude they require to be loaded during August, as tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz continues to decline due to tensions between Iran and the United States.

A document showed that SOMO invited buyers to specify contractual quantities of Basra Medium or Basra Heavy crude, on a delivery-on-board (FOB) basis from the Basra Oil Terminal or from Iraq’s mooring buoys Read more…

Iraq boosts its gas reserves by trialing the Najaf storage facility.

Iraq boosts its gas reserves by trialing the Najaf storage facility.

2026-08-03

Shafaq News – Najaf
The Iraqi Ministry of Oil announced on Monday the start of trial operations at the Najaf gas depot, with a storage capacity of 3,000 cubic meters, in a move aimed at strengthening strategic reserves and developing the system for transporting, storing and distributing liquid gas.

The Undersecretary of the Ministry for Gas Affairs, Izzat Saber Ismail, said during his supervision of the start of the trial operation, according to an official statement Read more…

Soleimani’s legacy opens a new front in Iraq… A long war awaits Trump

Soleimani’s legacy opens a new front in Iraq… A long war awaits Trump

2026-08-03

Shafaq News – Special Translation
More than six years after the assassination of former Iranian Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani, his legacy is haunting US President Donald Trump, but this time through the network of armed factions that he helped build inside Iraq, which appear capable of transferring the war from Iran to Iraqi territory, and opening new fronts that make the confrontation longer, more complex and costly.

According to a report by the British newspaper “The Telegraph,” translated by Shafaq News Agency, the Iraqi factions represent one of the most important cards of power that Tehran possesses to plunge the United States and Read more…

The Minister of Finance requests to appear before Parliament to reveal the truth about the financial crisis in Iraq.

The Minister of Finance requests to appear before Parliament to reveal the truth about the financial crisis in Iraq.

2026-08-03

Shafaq News – Baghdad
On Monday, Iraqi Finance Minister Faleh Sari submitted a formal request to the Speaker of Parliament to host him at the next parliamentary session dedicated to presenting the financial and economic situation the country is going through.

Sari said in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency that the request to host the meeting stems from the ministry’s keenness to present the people’s representatives with an accurate Read more…

Fox Refinery: The gasoline crisis is regional and will end in Sulaymaniyah within two months.

Fox Refinery: The gasoline crisis is regional and will end in Sulaymaniyah within two months.

2026-08-03

Shafaq News – Sulaymaniyah
Sardar Haji Khalid, owner of the Fox refinery for oil derivatives, confirmed on Monday that the current gasoline crisis is not limited to the Kurdistan Region, but extends to most countries in the region, expecting the price hike crisis in Sulaymaniyah Governorate to end within two months.

Khaled said during a press conference attended by Shafaq News Agency that “the current crisis is global in nature and has affected all countries in the region, as they too are suffering from a shortage of gasoline.” Read more…

Encouraging mediators: An Iraqi mission to advance efforts to end war and conflict in the region

Encouraging mediators: An Iraqi mission to advance efforts to end war and conflict in the region

8-2-2026

Information/Special..
The leader in the National Wisdom Movement, Maysar Al-Shammari, confirmed today, Sunday, that Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi is leading a diplomatic move aimed at revitalizing the role of mediators in efforts to bring the views of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America closer together, within the framework of efforts to contain regional tensions and prevent the expansion of the conflict.

Al-Shammari told Al-Maalomah that “Iraq has a pivotal and influential role in this matter, due to its strategic Read more…

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 Read more…

An Israeli newspaper confirms the withdrawal of US forces and Patriot missile systems from Iraqi Kurdistan.

An Israeli newspaper confirms the withdrawal of US forces and Patriot missile systems from Iraqi Kurdistan.

8-2-2026

The Jerusalem Post reported on Sunday that the United States’ withdrawal of Patriot missile systems from Iraqi Kurdistan raises concerns about further attacks on US bases in the region.
The report, translated by Al-Maalomah News Agency, stated that “the autonomous Kurdistan Region in northern Iraq has been subjected to approximately 1,000 missile and drone attacks since February, when the US-Israeli war on Iran began. The region now faces a potential new challenge as US forces may reduce their presence.”
The report added that “the United States is nearing a complete withdrawal from Iraq, and US bases in the Kurdistan Read more…