Iraq imports $70 billion annually, raising concerns about a rentier economy.
2026-10-17
Shafaq News – Baghdad
The Iraqi Ministry of Trade affirmed on Saturday that its affiliated entities play a “pivotal role” in implementing the country’s economic policy by regulating commercial activity, maintaining market stability, ensuring fair prices, and guaranteeing the availability of goods to citizens with reliable quality.
The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Trade, Sattar Al-Jabri, told Shafaq News Agency that “the ministry’s responsibility is not limited to protecting the livelihood of citizens, but extends to Read more…
Expert: Iraq undermines the justification for changing the dollar exchange rate by borrowing from the IMF
2026-10-17
Shafaq News – Baghdad
Economic expert Ziad al-Hashemi confirmed on Saturday that Iraq, after submitting a request for loans from the International Monetary Fund, has become the first country in the Middle East and North Africa to take this step, noting that negotiations between the two sides have already begun, amid expectations that the Fund will support Iraq’s access to financing. Read more…
Iraqi Dinar Guru opinions 10-16-2026
10-16-2026 Newshound Guru Jeff This beast is done! Welcome to Iraq having a formed movement meaning Iraq will be eligible to change the rate for all of us starting this weekend on Saturday the 17th if they choose…The government is done. They’re got their constitutional oath when they’re voted in…They voted them all in at one time. It’s one and done… Read more…
Diyala completes the first phase of the 50,000 free residential land plots project
10-16-2026
The local government in Diyala announced on Friday the completion of the first phase of the one million free residential plots project, within the province’s allocated share of approximately 50,000 plots, in accordance with directives issued by the federal government.
Diyala Deputy Governor Hassan al-Jubouri told Al-Maalomah that “the local government has formed a central committee to proceed with the implementation of the one million free residential plots project, under which Read more…
The government is not yet complete… Parliament votes on 11 ministers and 3 deputy prime ministers
2026-10-16
Shafaq News – Baghdad
The Iraqi parliament voted on Thursday evening to approve three deputy prime ministers, including Ali al-Zaidi, and 11 candidates for vacant ministerial posts, including a minister of state.
This came during the 26th session held by Parliament, chaired by Speaker Hebat Al-Halbousi, and attended by 261 members of parliament.
The media office of the House of Representatives said in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency that the members of the council voted on the deputy prime ministers, namely Mohsen Ali Akbar Al-Mandalawi, Read more…
Framework: Completing the formation of the government is a step towards strengthening political stability.
2026-10-16
Shafaq News – Baghdad
The Coordination Framework on Thursday welcomed the completion of the government formation and the obtaining of the confidence of the House of Representatives for the Deputy Prime Ministers and Ministers, wishing them success in assuming their national responsibilities and serving the people of Iraq.
The framework confirmed, in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency, that the completion of the government Read more…
High-level Iraqi presence at the Washington arms exhibition to develop and equip the army’s capabilities
2026-10-16
Shafaq News – Washington / Baghdad
The Commander of the Ground Forces, Lieutenant General Qasim Muhammad Saleh Al-Muhammadi, attended the American Defense Weapons Exhibition in Washington on Friday.
The Iraqi Ministry of Defense stated in a statement that Lieutenant General Al-Muhammadi met on the sidelines of his attendance at the exhibition with a group of leaders of the ground forces of the world’s countries, where he was briefed on the latest technologies, Read more…
Following the completion of the cabinet, the Iraqi Communist Party calls for a popular movement against sectarian power-sharing.
2026-10-16
Shafaq News – Baghdad
On Friday, the Iraqi Communist Party called on national and democratic political forces, popular forces, unions, federations and protest movements to unite and build the broadest peaceful popular movement for change, and to confront the monopoly of power and wealth.
The Political Bureau of the Iraqi Communist Party stated in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency that “after more than five months of disruption and conflict over quotas and Read more…
The Iraqi Development Bank rejects US Treasury accusations: This is a reputation issue.
2026-10-16
Shafaq News – Baghdad
The International Development Bank for Investment and Finance rejected on Friday what it described as “accusations by the US Treasury,” stressing that it is dealing with developments related to this matter with the utmost seriousness, responsibility and transparency.
The administration stated in a statement Read more…
Deputy Prime Ministers and Ministers take the constitutional oath
10-16-2026
On Thursday, the Deputy Prime Ministers and Ministers took the constitutional oath before the House of Representatives.
On Thursday evening, the House of Representatives voted to complete the cabinet. Read more…
The US Treasury imposes sanctions on the International Development Bank
10-16-2026
The US Treasury Department announced on Thursday (October 15, 2026) that it had imposed economic sanctions on the Iraqi International Development Bank, stating that the bank “facilitated access to US dollars for Iran in violation of the economic sanctions imposed on it.”
The official report issued via the Treasury website confirmed that the bank registered in Iraq “contributed to delivering dollars to Iran and misused the dissolved currency auction to finance Read more…
The government’s measures to reduce the number of advisors and streamline spending are an important step towards supporting public financial management.
10-16-2026
As part of efforts to rationalize spending and enhance the efficiency of public finance management, Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi affirmed that “the Deputy Prime Ministers will perform their duties without salaries or financial allowances,” noting that “their appointment will not require new appointments, but rather they will be assigned through nomination from the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers or the ministries, as needed.”
Al-Zaydi also explained that “based on the provisions of Read more…
Iraqi Dinar Guru opinions 10-15-2026
10-15-2026 Newshound Guru Jeff [People] are telling you to ask banks to make sure they have a De La Rue machine. I recommend you don’t do that…These De La Rue machines…are money counting machines. Money counting machines are no different than cars to drive. You can go drive a Ford, Chevy, Honda, take your pick, doesn’t flipping matter. They’re all cars. These currency machines are the same damn thing. They’re a foreign currency accounting machine that do three things – sort, count, authenticate. Here’s the problem. If you go in asking if they have a De La Rue machine, but they say they have a different brand…you just got a door closed on you. You don’t care what brand of money counting machine they have. What you care about is that they have it…Go to the bank saying, ‘Do you have the foreign currency counting machine that can count, sort and authenticate? Yes? So you can count the money and verify it within my presence, correct?’ That is how you should handle it. Read more…
A deputy reveals a political agreement to vote on al-Zidi’s deputies and ministers as a “single package”.
2026-10-15
Shafaq News – Baghdad
On Thursday, Ali Al-Azirjawi, a member of the State of Law bloc, revealed that there is a political agreement to vote on the deputy prime ministers and the vacant and newly created ministries as a “single package”.
Al-Azirjawi explained to Shafaq News Agency that “the session is proceeding today and will be held within the next hour, and there is no disagreement between the political blocs.” Read more…
Ahead of the session, MPs announce their refusal to vote on creating new ministries in the government.
2026-10-15
Shafaq News – Baghdad
A group of members of the House of Representatives announced on Thursday their rejection of creating the positions of deputy prime ministers or creating ministries “based on partisan quotas at a time of responsibility to rationalize spending,” as they put it.
MP Haider Al-Mutairi said during a press conference held at the parliament Read more…
Exclusive: MP expects cabinet meeting to be postponed for several hours
2026-10-15
Shafaq News – Baghdad
Independent MP Abdul Hamza Al-Khafaji predicted on Thursday that the session to complete the government cabinet would be postponed for several hours.
Al-Khafaji told Shafaq News Agency that the number of members of parliament currently present inside the hall has reached 110. Read more…
The Central Bank of Iraq announces a new mechanism for granting dollars to travelers.
2026-10-15
Shafaq News – Baghdad
The Central Bank of Iraq announced on Thursday the implementation of a new regulatory mechanism to grant travelers the amount allocated to them, which is (2000) US dollars every two months, and at a maximum of (6) times per year.
The bank confirmed in a statement Read more…
Al-Zarkoushi reveals disagreements threatening two ministries and keeping the door open for postponement.
10-15-2026
Information/Baghdad…
Member of the Coordination Framework, Abdul Samad al-Zarkoushi, confirmed on Thursday the existence of political disagreements regarding two ministries, which may lead to postponing their resolution in the parliamentary session this evening.
Al-Zarkoushi explained to Al-Maalouma that “the parliamentary session will be held this evening with a legal quorum, given the political consensus Read more…
Al-Dulaimi demands that the Al-Zaidi government reclaim the “Al-Mu’ajiz oil port” seized by Saudi Arabia.
10-15-2026
Al-Maalomah/Baghdad –
Raed Abdullah al-Dulaimi, a member of the Anbar Alliance, called on the government of Ali Faleh al-Zaidi on Thursday to reclaim the Iraqi oil pipeline running through Saudi Arabia and onward to other countries. The pipeline has been under Saudi control for over 40 years, despite the fact that all construction costs were borne by the Iraqi government.
Al-Dulaimi told Al-Maalomah News Agency, “There are parliamentary demands to open an investigation into the theft of the Iraqi oil pipeline Read more…
The “Idrak” bloc told “Al-Maalouma”: We will hold the government to its program and hold it accountable every six months.
10-15-2026
The head of the Idrak parliamentary bloc, Abdul Hamza al-Khafaji, affirmed on Thursday the parliament’s determination to compel the government to officially submit its program and to hold regular sessions every six months to question and host the government before the parliament. He stressed that the current parliamentary sessions will not allow a repeat of past experiences where government programs became mere words on paper without Read more…
