Al-Zaidi and the United Nations discuss rural development and the private sector
2026-08-18
Shafaq News – Baghdad
On Tuesday, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi affirmed his commitment to developing rural areas and supporting the agricultural sector, as well as supporting and developing the private sector, in order to contribute to achieving sustainable development and diversifying the economy. This came during his meeting with the acting UN Resident Coordinator in Iraq, Peter Hawkins.
According to a statement from Al-Zaidi’s office received by Shafaq News Agency, the meeting discussed cooperation Read more…
Economist: Removing zeros will reduce inflation and withdraw money from corrupt officials.
8-18-2026
Information/Baghdad…
Economic researcher Haitham al-Khazali believes that removing zeros from the currency will reduce inflation in the financial markets and markets. He added that it will also draw cash held by citizens, merchants, and investors into banks, and compel corrupt individuals to surrender their illicit funds.
Al-Khazali told Al-Maalouma, “The government’s move to remove zeros from the currency would be a step in the right direction if it proceeds with such a transformation, as it would restore the Iraqi currency’s strength and reduce the inflation rate.” Read more…
Al-Haidari: There is no veto on any figure proven to be involved in corruption.
8-18-2026
Information/Baghdad…
Former MP Razzaq al-Haidari denied the existence of any veto against any figure proven to be involved in corruption cases, warning against favoritism in the fight against corruption.
Al-Haidari told Al-Maalouma, “The anti-corruption campaign will not exclude any figure, whether high-ranking or low-ranking, as the success of the agencies concerned with this file depends on not showing favoritism to any figure or Read more…
Al-Jalabi: Prominent political figures are secretly lobbying to halt the anti-corruption campaign.
8-18-2026
Information/Baghdad…
Zuhair al-Jalabi, a member of the Coordination Framework, revealed on Tuesday that prominent political figures linked to corruption cases are exerting pressure to halt the anti-corruption campaign. He explained that some of these figures publicly support Prime Minister Ali al-Zubaidi’s measures while secretly working to obstruct the campaign.
Al-Jalabi told the Information Agency, “There are a large number of high-ranking figures connected to Adnan al-Jumaili’s cases who publicly issue statements Read more…
Sovereignty before weapons: The resistance presents Washington and Ankara with the equation of withdrawal.
8-18-2026
Information/Report…
The political and security debate continues in Iraq regarding the issue of restricting weapons to the state, amidst escalating stances from resistance factions and political forces rejecting any move towards surrendering weapons while the American and Turkish military presence remains on Iraqi soil. They maintain that addressing this issue must begin with ending the foreign presence and achieving full sovereignty, not with disarming the factions.
This debate coincides with official and political calls Read more…
Finance Ministry: Revenues approach 36 trillion dinars, while expenditures exceed them by 18.7 trillion.
8-18-2026
The Ministry of Finance revealed on Tuesday that Iraq’s total revenues reached 35.946 trillion dinars, while oil revenues declined in their dominance of state resources, constituting approximately 80% of total revenues. A ministry statement received by Al
-Maalomah News Agency indicated that “oil revenues amounted to 28.433 trillion dinars, compared to approximately 7.513 trillion dinars in non-oil revenues, equivalent to about 20% of total revenues.” The statement further
explained that “total expenditures reached 54.673 trillion dinars, of which 50.592 trillion dinars were current Read more…
Exclusive: Iraq nears agreement with German company to transport its oil through the Strait of Hormuz with Iranian approval
2026-08-18
Shafaq News – Baghdad
An Iraqi government source revealed on Monday that the State Oil Marketing Company (SOMO) is conducting intensive negotiations with American and German oil transport companies in an attempt to secure the passage of Iraqi crude through the Strait of Hormuz, taking advantage of Iranian approval for the passage of tankers flying the Iraqi flag amid the disruptions to shipping in the waterway.
The source told Shafaq News Agency that “Iraq is seeking to capitalize on Iran’s approval for Iraqi-flagged oil tankers Read more…
Syrian court sentences Wassim al-Assad to death
2026-08-18
Shafaq News – Damascus
On Tuesday, the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus issued a death sentence by hanging against Wassim al-Assad (a cousin of former Syrian regime leader Bashar al-Assad), after convicting him of murder, torture, and crimes that the court described as crimes against humanity and war crimes.
The court stated, in a session followed by Shafaq News Agency, that investigations proved Wassim al-Assad’s involvement in forming irregular armed groups, on the orders of Brigadier General Ghiath Dalla, which targeted civilian areas in Eastern Ghouta and committed massacres against civilians, Read more…
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(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…
