(Exclusive) Former US State Department official in charge of the Iraq file: Nechirvan Barzani enjoys rare US-Iranian trust
2026-08-18
Shafaq News – Washington
Thomas Warrick, the former official in charge of political affairs for Iraq at the US State Department, confirmed that the President of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, enjoys a “rare” level of trust with both Washington and Tehran, noting that very few figures in the region can claim to have this status with both sides.
Warwick told Shafaq News Agency in a special statement, commenting on the recent moves to reopen channels of negotiation between the United States and Iran, that other regional mediations have reached a dead end, while Read more…
The weapons file: Al-Maliki announces the imminent work of the “inventory committee,” while Al-Amiri calls for calm and warns against “haste”.
2026-08-18
Shafaq News – Baghdad
Nouri al-Maliki, head of the State of Law Coalition, announced on Tuesday that the committee formed to restrict weapons to the state by the coordinating framework that includes the ruling Shiite political forces in the country will begin its work soon in coordination with the Iraqi government, with the aim of finding appropriate mechanisms to implement this process.
This came during his meeting today at his office with the Chargé d’Affaires of the United States Embassy in Iraq, Read more…
Iraq remains absent… 20 countries hold more than $100 billion in US Treasury bonds
2026-08-18
Shafaq News – Follow-up
Data from the US Treasury Department for June 2026 showed that 20 countries had exceeded the $100 billion mark in holdings of US Treasury bonds, bills, and securities, while Iraq remained absent from the list.
Shafaq News Agency reviewed the data released on Tuesday, which showed Japan topping the list with holdings of $1.1167 trillion, followed by the United Kingdom with Read more…
Qalibaf will head a parliamentary delegation in Baghdad tomorrow.
8-18-2026
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf will head to Iraq on Wednesday, leading a high-level parliamentary delegation. The Iranian news agency Tasnim reported that “Qalibaf’s visit to Iraq aims to discuss regional developments and strengthen strategic cooperation between Tehran and Baghdad, as well as explore joint solutions to contribute to establishing stability and security in the West Asia region.”
She added that “the visit will include meetings with senior officials and a number of prominent figures Read more…
The Prime Minister appoints Alwan as Director of TBI and Al-Hamdani to the Iraqi Development Fund
8-18-2026
Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi appointed Ali Abdul-Ridha Alwan as Chairman of the Trade Bank of Iraq and Bilal Al-Hamdani as Executive Director of the Development Fund on Tuesday. Aqeel Al-Shuwaili, media expert for the Trade Bank of Iraq (TBI), stated to the official news agency that “Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi issued an order that included changes to a number of leadership positions in financial and development institutions, including Read more…
The parliamentary finance committee responds to statements about removing zeros and sets a condition for raising the value of the dinar.
8-18-2026
Member of Parliament’s Finance Committee, Bassem Al-Gharabi, commented on the statements and news circulating regarding the project to change the currency and remove zeros, stressing the need to deal very cautiously with this issue because of its direct repercussions on economic stability and capital.
Al-Gharabi said in a post followed by Baghdad that “changing the currency is not ordinary news that can be released without considering its repercussions. It is a highly sensitive monetary issue Read more…
Iraqi Dinar Guru opinions 8-17-2026
8-17-2026 Newshound Guru Stephen We have had a very interesting and very exciting 24 hours with breaking news coming out of the country of Iraq. An Article broke saying the Communications Minister was on record saying Iraq is planning to change the currency…Iraq is not going to tell you if they’re going to revalue their currency ahead of time. It’s never going to happen. If you’re waiting for Iraq to come out and say, ‘Hey guys we’re going to revalue the currency on September 5th, go buy as much as you can.’ It’s never going to happen…It would be an economic blood bath for them…If [the communications minister] is publicly releasing this information guess what? The CBI is probably moving on a lot of big things…I’m expecting the CBI to make a statement within the next 24 to 72 hours supporting this statement from the communications minister. Read more…
The Integrity Commission opens an investigation into $30 million stolen by Al-Halbousi.
8-17-2026
Al-Maalomah/Anbar –
A source in Anbar province revealed on Monday that the Federal Integrity Commission has launched a comprehensive investigation into the theft of over $30 million by Mohammed al-Halbousi during his tenure as governor of Anbar in 2017. The funds were allocated for the reconstruction of infrastructure damaged by terrorist operations in the province.
The source told Al-Maalomah News Agency, “The Federal Integrity Commission has opened a broad investigation into the embezzlement of $30 million by Mohammed al-Halbousi Read more…
Prime Minister’s Advisor: Digital Dinar a promising project to enhance the efficiency of monetary policy
8-17-2026
The Prime Minister’s advisor, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, confirmed on Monday that the digital dinar is a promising strategic project and not a standalone solution to the liquidity crisis. While noting that paying salaries digitally enhances the speed of payments and reduces cash transactions, he explained that the success of the digital dinar depends on expanding banking services and infrastructure. Salih told the official news agency, “The proposal to launch the Iraqi digital dinar is one of the ideas that deserves to be studied within the framework of Iraq’s move Read more…
Al-Zarkoushi: Discussions to complete Al-Zidi’s government have begun, and this week is important, without setting a final date.
8-17-2026
Information/Baghdad…
Abdul Samad al-Zarkoushi, a member of the Coordination Framework, confirmed on Monday that discussions have begun to finalize the remaining ministerial portfolios in Ali al-Zaidi’s government. He denied reports that the names for the sovereign ministries had been decided.
Al-Zarkoushi explained that “during the past 48 hours, there have been serious discussions and talks among the political forces, particularly the Coordination Framework, to reach a decisive agreement that will ensure a date is set Read more…
MP: Corruption funds are enough to cover employee salaries for years
8-17-2026
Information/Baghdad…
MP Abdul Hamza al-Khafaji affirmed on Monday that the funds wasted or embezzled through corruption cases could have significantly contributed to addressing the financial crisis and securing employee salaries for years.
Al-Khafaji told the Information Agency, “Iraq possesses substantial resources, but corruption and the squandering of public funds have resulted in the loss of enormous sums that could have been used to support the budget and secure citizens’ rights.”
He added, “If the funds stolen by influential entities and parties through corruption cases had been recovered and returned to the state treasury, they would have been sufficient to cover Read more…
“A sick currency” in new clothes… Will removing zeros save the dinar or just beautify the crisis?
8-17-2026
Information / Report…
From time to time, the proposal to remove zeros from the currency and replace them as a solution to end inflation and simplify accounting transactions is raised in Iraqi economic and political circles. With fluctuating exchange rates, the ongoing cash liquidity crisis, and the pressures of public debt, the Iraqi citizen finds himself torn between government promises of stability and the very real fears of inflation. Will changing the local currency and removing its zeros represent a genuine lifeline for the ailing economy, or is it merely a cosmetic measure for a sick currency that will not address the root causes of the structural financial crisis plaguing the country? Read more…
Will removing zeros solve Iraq’s financial crisis?
8-17-2026
The Information/Baghdad –
Iraqi MP Murtadha al-A’ajibi, a member of the Iraqi Foundation Coalition, confirmed on Monday that talk of removing zeros from the Iraqi currency remains merely a proposal under discussion, indicating that there are no current government efforts or plans to implement it.
Al-A’ajibi told Al-Ma’louma, “The talk about removing zeros from the Iraqi currency is simply a proposal being discussed, and there are currently no government efforts or actual plans to implement this step.” He clarified that “the matter has not yet reached the stage of implementation procedures.” Read more…
Honorable results for Iraq in the Egypt International Motorsport Championship
8-17-2026
Information/ Baghdad..
The Iraqi national team succeeded in achieving distinguished and honorable results in the Egypt and Middle East Auto Championship.
The head of the Iraqi Federation for Motorsports, Farouk Al-Rubaie, said in a statement to Al-Maalouma Agency that “the Iraqi national motorsports team achieved a remarkable accomplishment by winning the top three positions in the Egyptian and Middle Eastern Motorsports Championship, as the racer Hassouni Malek won first place, while Abdullah Munjid came in second place, and Ahmed Al-Bayati came in third.” Read more…
Al-Rasheed Bank denies any connection to the ghost employees in the Ministry of Electricity
2026-08-17
Shafaq News – Baghdad
On Monday, Al-Rasheed Bank denied any connection to the case of ghost employees in the Ministry of Electricity, stressing that it receives the lists ready from the ministry and its only task is to disburse salaries.
The bank said in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency that “any connection of the bank to the issue of disbursing salaries of fictitious employees in the Ministry of Electricity is incorrect, and that the procedures for settling salaries are carried out in accordance with the approved official procedures and based on original lists received Read more…
Al-Zaydi to the Ministry of Oil: I don’t want excuses… I want results within a week
2026-08-17
Shafaq News – Baghdad
On Monday, Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi called on the Ministry of Oil to find urgent solutions to the repercussions of the oil export crisis, stressing that he wants to see tangible results within a week, and emphasizing that every barrel of oil that is not sold represents a delay in salaries or public services and a loss to the state treasury.
Al-Zaydi said in a statement during his meeting with the Ministry of Oil today, which was reviewed by Shafaq News Agency, that “there are many excuses, but we cannot keep making excuses. We must find solutions. Solutions must Read more…
Maliki’s coalition proposes separating the date of the American withdrawal from the issue of arms control.
2026-08-17
Shafaq News – Baghdad
A source within the coordination framework revealed on Sunday a proposal submitted by the State of Law Coalition, led by Nouri al-Maliki, to separate the date of the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq from the issue of dismantling weapons, within the framework of a vision that is still “under study”.
The source told Shafaq News Agency that the State of Law Coalition submitted a proposal to “separate the date of the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq from the issue of disarming weapons,” explaining that the main idea revolves around separating the two issues by a period of time, even if it is short, with Read more…
Removing zeros from the Iraqi dinar: monetary reform or cosmetic makeover?
2026-08-17
Shafaq News – Baghdad
Talk has resurfaced about the project to remove zeros from the Iraqi dinar, after years of it remaining under study, amid a liquidity crisis facing the government and pressure on financing expenditures and salaries, and in light of a broader discussion about looted funds and the size of the cash circulating outside the banking system.
Supporters argue that renaming the currency could simplify transactions and help regulate cash, while economists warn against turning it into a cure for a financial crisis that the new figures cannot address. Read more…
Is Iran targeting internet cables?
2026-08-17
Shafaq News – Baghdad
The Wall Street Journal revealed on Monday that Iran is considering options to respond to recent developments, including targeting internet cables and instigating external unrest.
The newspaper reported that Tehran considers the proposed memorandum of understanding to be an American and Israeli attempt to buy time, given the ongoing tensions.
The 60-day deadline stipulated in the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran expired Read more…
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Late-night meeting of the four presidencies to discuss three “serious” issues in Iraq
2026-08-17
Shafaq News – Baghdad
The four presidencies will hold an important meeting this evening, Monday, focusing on the issue of limiting weapons and options for confronting factions that refuse to disarm after the September 30 deadline.
According to an informed source who spoke to Shafaq News Agency, the meeting to be held between Prime Minister Ali al-Zubaidi, Speaker of Parliament Hebat al-Halbousi, President Nizar Amidi, and Head of the Supreme Judicial Council Faiq Zaidan will focus on two issues: first, restricting weapons, and second, continuing the fight against corruption and ensuring Read more…
