Iraq signs $500 million in contracts in July, with oil and gas projects leading the way.
2026-08-27
Shafaq News – Baghdad
Iraq recorded contracts worth a total of $500 million in the oil and gas sector during July, according to data reported by the specialized magazine MEED, making it one of the most prominent countries in the region that witnessed the awarding of new projects, at a time when the value of contracts awarded in the Middle East and North Africa region declined to $20.4 billion, compared to $26.2 billion in June. Read more…
SOMO launches tender to sell Iraqi oil outside the Strait of Hormuz
2026-08-27
Shafaq News – Follow-up
Iraq’s State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) issued a tender on Thursday to sell shipments of Basra crude for loading in September from outside the Strait of Hormuz, in the company’s second tender this week, against the backdrop of regional events and the closure of the strait to maritime navigation.
According to a document from SOMO and trade sources who spoke to Reuters, the tender includes shipments that can be loaded via tanker-to-tanker transfers near the Omani coast, with the tender closing on August 28. Read more…
Baghdad: Weapons will be integrated into the legitimate security forces in conjunction with the end of the international coalition’s mission.
2026-08-27
Shafaq News – Baghdad
The spokesman for the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Major General Sabah al-Nu’man, confirmed on Thursday the strict adherence to the timetable set for ending the mission of the international coalition in Iraq by September 30, noting that the withdrawal of forces is proceeding “at an accelerated pace” in parallel with intensive plans to restrict weapons to the state.
Al-Nu’man said in a press conference attended by a correspondent Read more…
The Popular Mobilization Forces call for celebrations to mark the withdrawal of US forces at the end of next month.
2026-08-27
Shafaq News – Baghdad
The media director of the Popular Mobilization Forces, Muhannad al-Aqabi, called on Thursday for celebrations of the withdrawal of US forces at the end of the month, considering it a “great achievement” for the government, while noting the continuation of disengagement procedures, especially with Asaib Ahl al-Haq and Saraya al-Sham.
Al-Aqabi said during a press conference, which was attended by a correspondent from Shafaq News Agency, that “the government has accomplished a great feat in achieving Iraqi Sovereignty Day on September 30,” adding, Read more…
Iraqi security forces announce the recovery of more than 93 billion dinars for the state treasury in six months.
2026-08-27
Shafaq News – Baghdad
The official spokesman for the National Security Service, Arshad al-Hakim, announced on Thursday the return of more than 93 billion dinars to the state treasury, and the seizure of $14 million and 12 billion dinars, which were deposited with the Central Bank of Iraq during the first half of 2026.
The governor stated in a press conference attended by a correspondent from Shafaq News Agency that 40 accused members and leaders of one of the fronts of the banned Baath Party had been Read more…
Baghdad and Erbil agree to tighten the noose on corrupt individuals and facilitate the execution of arrest warrants without geographical restrictions.
2026-08-27
Shafaq News – Baghdad
The Federal Integrity Commission and the Integrity Commission in the Kurdistan Region announced on Thursday an agreement between the two bodies to tighten the noose on corrupt individuals and facilitate the execution of arrest warrants without geographical restrictions.
In a joint statement received by Shafaq News Agency, the two bodies affirmed their determination to “raise the level of cooperation and coordination between them, in accordance with Read more…
Those who expose corruption face more persecution than the corrupt themselves.
2026-08-27 02:51
Dr. Duha Al-Sadkhan
In societies plagued by corruption, the battle is not always between the corrupt and the law; sometimes it becomes a battle between those who expose wrongdoing and those who want to keep it hidden. Even more dangerous is when the voice of accountability becomes the accused, while questioning public funds, stalled projects, and environmental pollution is treated as a crime.
Corruption doesn’t begin with stealing money alone.
Corruption is not just about embezzlement or bribery. It can be Read more…
Bank deposits in Iraq declined by 5.6% during the first half of 2026
2026-08-27
Shafaq News – Baghdad
Economic data issued by the Central Bank of Iraq showed a decline in total deposits in the banking system during the first half of 2026, coinciding with a decrease in cash credit, indicating a continued contraction in banking activity compared to the levels recorded in previous years.
According to data seen by Shafaq News Agency, total deposits at the end of June 2026 amounted to about 104.875 trillion dinars, down from Read more…
The spokesman for the Commander-in-Chief: We have not seen any rejection from the factions regarding the restriction of weapons.
2026-08-27
Shafaq News – Baghdad
The spokesman for the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces confirmed on Thursday that there was no “rejection” by the factions to implement the decision to restrict weapons to the state, noting that the dialogues on this issue had “come a long way”.
Major General Sabah al-Nu’man told Shafaq News Agency that talks regarding restricting weapons to the state are ongoing, stressing that “we have not seen any rejection from the factions” regarding the issue. Read more…
A federal parliamentary committee hosts the Minister of Natural Resources in Kurdistan to discuss the oil file.
2026-08-27
Shafaq News – Baghdad
On Thursday, the Oil, Gas and Natural Resources Committee of the Iraqi Parliament held a meeting during which it hosted the Minister of Natural Resources in the Kurdistan Region to discuss a number of issues related to the oil sector in the region.
Committee member Mohammed Ali Al-Nuaimi told Shafaq News Agency that “the meeting discussed the reality and mechanisms of managing and marketing oil products in the Kurdistan Region, as well as reviewing the most prominent challenges facing this file, and exploring ways to organize it in a way that achieves the public interest.”
He added that “those gathered also discussed the draft oil and gas law, Read more…
With the participation of 450 companies from 20 countries, the Erbil International Building and Construction Exhibition kicks off.
2026-08-27
Shafaq News – Erbil
The Erbil International Building and Construction Exhibition kicked off in Erbil on Thursday, with broad and comprehensive participation including more than 450 specialized companies representing 20 Arab and foreign countries.
The opening ceremony was attended by a large official delegation, including a number of government officials in the Kurdistan Region, along with heads of chambers of commerce and Read more…
Iraqi Dinar Guru opinions 8-26-2026
8-26-2026 Newshound Guru Jeff The troops talked about maybe being out prior to September 30th, maybe around September 15th. Could that speed up the rate change? …No…Here’s why…Banks planned, prepared, drafted the rate change. They schedule everything. If the agreed upon date was September 30th, if the troops get out sooner than that…it’s not going to speed up the rate change. I’m not telling you the rate change is taking place on September 30th. Nobody knows that date, but I’m telling you removing the troops before September 30th will not speed up the timing of the rate change because that’s hard scheduled by bankers. That’s what they do. They schedule everything. Read more…
Among them are the Popular Mobilization Forces and the Development Fund… Al-Zaydi calls for a “revolution” of laws and legislation
2026-08-26
Shafaq News – Baghdad
Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi affirmed on Wednesday that Iraq needs a “revolution” of laws and legislation, including those pertaining to the Popular Mobilization Forces and the Development Fund, while calling for enhanced cooperation between the executive and legislative branches.
The media office of Al-Zaydi stated in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency that the latter received the head of the Parliamentary Legal Committee, Ribwar Hadi Abdul Rahman, and its Read more…
Kurdish MP: No need for a new government, Barzani controls everything
8-26-2026
Information / Special..
Kurdish MP Ghalib Muhammad confirmed on Wednesday that the continued absence of the formation of the new government in the Kurdistan Region is due to the way the two ruling parties, the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union, deal with the parliament, the judicial institutions and all other state institutions, and their control over their joints according to partisan and personal interests. Read more…
Al-Asadi: Corruption is leading vital sectors in Iraq to collapse
8-26-2026
Information/Baghdad…
MP Ahmed al-Asadi, from the Sadiqun parliamentary bloc, confirmed on Wednesday that corruption has exhausted the country and caused the collapse of several vital sectors, explaining that its repercussions have affected industry, investment, and infrastructure.
Al-Asadi told Al-Maalouma that “corruption in Iraq has exhausted the country and caused collapses in a number of sectors, including industry, investment, and other sectors and infrastructure.” Read more…
Abdul Hadi: September will decide the vote on the remaining ministerial portfolios.
8-26-2026
Information/Baghdad…
Member of the Coordination Framework, Uday Abdul-Hadi, confirmed on Wednesday that the vote on the remaining ministerial portfolios in Ali al-Zaidi’s government will take place during September, through political consensus.
Abdul-Hadi explained to Al-Maalouma that “dialogues and meetings regarding efforts to create a comprehensive agreement to finalize the names of candidates for nine ministerial portfolios in Ali al-Zaidi’s government are still ongoing and progressing rapidly,” expecting “a Read more…
Oil for reconstruction: A parliamentary proposal to attract global companies and transfer technology
8-26-2026
The spokesperson for the Badr parliamentary bloc, Hamid al-Moussawi, called on the government Wednesday to adopt an oil-for-reconstruction mechanism as a solution to overcome economic challenges and accelerate the implementation of strategic projects in the country.
Al-Moussawi told the Information Agency that “Iraq possesses significant oil resources, and a portion of these could be invested in reconstruction and infrastructure projects, instead of burdening the budget with additional financial obligations.” Read more…
Revolutionary Guard: We have agreed with Oman on the two parties’ shares of the Strait of Hormuz revenues.
8-26-2026
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps ( IRGC) confirmed on Wednesday that it has reached an agreement with the Sultanate of Oman regarding each party’s share of the revenues from the Strait of Hormuz.
IRGC spokesman Brigadier General Hossein Mohebi stated in a statement carried by the Al-Maalomah news agency: “If the United States does not accept our conditions, the Strait of Hormuz will not be opened under any circumstances.”
He added, “The Strait of Hormuz is under our control, and there are no enemy warships in the Gulf.” Read more…
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Tut: The 2027 budget will be the most complex since 2003… and there are 9 challenges awaiting resolution.
8-26-2026
Information/Special…
MP Yasser Watout confirmed on Wednesday that the 2027 budget will be the most complex since 2003, given the presence of nine major challenges, while emphasizing that the issue of salaries represents a “red line.”
Watout explained to Al-Maalouma that “direct meetings with the Ministry of Finance reflect the work being done to prepare the outlines of the 2027 budget, which we believe will be the most complex since 2003, especially given the nine direct challenges.” Read more…
Statement issued by the Central Bank of Iraq
August 26, 2026
The Central Bank of Iraq has been monitoring media reports and statements regarding the printing of new Iraqi currency with zeros removed, purportedly for circulation. In this regard, we affirm that these reports are not based on any official source, and we deny that the bank has printed any new Iraqi currency with zeros removed.
Furthermore, any future project related to restructuring currency denominations or removing zeros, should an official decision be made, will be Read more…
