Iraq has fallen out of the economic equation... Huge reserves with no trace, and the dinar faces ongoing challenges 💥- Urgent
Economic expert Duraid Al-Anzi confirmed on Wednesday (April 8, 2026) that Iraq’s gold reserves do not play a direct role in improving the performance of the local economy, noting that they are effectively isolated within the management of the Central Bank and are used primarily to enhance its international standing.
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Al-Anzi explained in a statement to “Baghdad Today” that Iraq possesses one of the most prominent gold reserves in the Arab world, and occupies advanced positions compared to a number of countries, but this has not been reflected in its credit rating, which is still within the (B) category, reflecting a clear gap between the size of the reserve and the overall economic performance.
He explained that owning gold gives the Central Bank of Iraq financial strength, and may indirectly support the dinar within the local market, but it has not succeeded in strengthening the position of the Iraqi currency globally, as the dinar is still among the weakest currencies, and the effect of the reserve is limited to achieving limited internal stability.
He pointed out that the relationship between the government and the central bank is governed by a strict legal framework that prevents the use of reserves, whether gold or cash, to finance the deficit or support the budget, except in exceptional cases that require special legislation, such as severe crises related to the cessation of oil revenues.
He added that the dollar reserve, which exceeds $100 billion and is deposited with international financial institutions, is subject to strict restrictions and controls, and cannot be used freely to address internal crises, which reduces the government's ability to rely on it as a direct solution.
He stressed that addressing the financial crises in Iraq cannot rely on cash or gold reserves, but requires activating internal revenues such as taxes, customs and fees, in addition to combating corruption and reducing financial waste, noting that there are internal files that can contribute to solving the crisis within a short period if they are managed seriously.
Al-Anzi cited the experiences of countries such as Lebanon, Turkey and Iran, which have large gold reserves, but at the same time suffer from severe monetary crises, which confirms that gold does not represent a direct solution to economic crises.
He added that the impact of Iraq’s gold reserves remains symbolic and indirect, and cannot be relied upon as a tool to address financial or monetary crises, considering that employing it in this way is not in line with sound economic principles.
The economies of countries, including Iraq, rely on a mix of financial and monetary tools to achieve stability. Gold reserves are one element of financial strength, but they are often used as currency cover or to boost international confidence, rather than as a direct tool for addressing crises.
Given the Iraqi economy's heavy reliance on oil revenues, challenges remain in diversifying income sources and strengthening non-oil sectors, meaning any decline in oil prices or revenues will directly impact financial stability.
Industry: 234 partnership agreements to support the private sector in Iraq
The Ministry of Industry and Minerals announced on Wednesday a plan to rehabilitate and operate stalled factories, confirming the existence of 234 partnership contracts to support the industrial sector in Iraq.
The ministry's spokesperson, Duha al-Jubouri, told the official news agency that "the ministry intends to take concrete steps to support national industry in the coming period, including operating the closed factories."
Al-Jubouri explained that "the public companies affiliated with the ministry number 31 companies, including 28 production and service companies, in addition to three public bodies, namely the Industrial Research and Development Authority, the Geological Survey Authority, and the Million Industrial Authority."
She continued: “The number of factories affiliated with the ministry is 312, of which 225 are operational, while 87 are out of operation,” stressing that “work is underway by the administrations of the out of operation factories, under the guidance and supervision of the Minister of Industry, to rehabilitate and operate the factories.”
She added that "the number of partnership contracts with the private sector is 144 contracts that are still being implemented, while 90 new contracts are being evaluated, bringing the total number of partnership contracts with the private sector to 234 contracts."
She noted that "the ministry has partnership contracts related to strategic industries such as sulfur and phosphate, which may take time to be completed," expecting that "citizens will see the real results of some of these projects during this year."
Iraq needs deeper economic reforms; unemployment is expected to rise to over 15% by 2025.
The company stated in its report that the unemployment rate in Iraq rose in 2025 to 15.49%, compared to 15.28% in 2024, reflecting continued pressures in the labor market despite limited improvement.
According to the data, the country's unemployment rate rose by 6.85 percentage points during the period from 1991 to 2025, but this rise was not constant, but rather characterized by clear fluctuations up and down over the years.
She noted that 2016 saw the highest levels of unemployment, with the rate reaching 16.17%, amid economic and security challenges that directly affected job opportunities and economic activity.
She added that these figures show that the labor market in Iraq still faces structural challenges, requiring deeper economic reforms to boost employment and create sustainable job opportunities.
Kurdistan Finance Ministry transfers more than 43 billion dinars of non-oil revenues to the federal treasury
The Ministry of Finance and Economy of the Kurdistan Regional Government announced on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, that it had transferred the non-oil revenue amounts for the month of March to the federal government in Baghdad.
The ministry stated in an official statement that it had deposited an amount of (43,094,141,000) forty-three billion, ninety-four million, one hundred and forty-one thousand Iraqi dinars into the bank account of the Federal Ministry of Finance.
The statement explained that these sums, which represent the region’s share of non-oil revenues, were delivered “in cash” through the Central Bank of Iraq branch in Erbil.
This step comes as a continuation of the implementation of the provisions of the joint agreements and legal obligations between Erbil and Baghdad, related to the mechanism for delivering local revenues and financial entitlements to strengthen the state’s general treasury.
Kurdistan is catching its breath... Markets are recovering and the Kormor oil field is back in production.
Signs of normalcy are gradually returning to the cities of the Kurdistan Region following the implementation of the ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran. This includes the resumption of gas production at the Khor Mor field, the restoration of electricity, and a decrease in food prices in the markets.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani welcomed the agreement, describing it as a fundamental development in supporting regional security. In a statement, he said, "I welcome the ceasefire agreement between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran. This development represents an important step towards de-escalation, protecting civilians, and restoring constructive dialogue." He added, "We appreciate the efforts of all parties that contributed to facilitating this agreement."
On the ground, the UAE-based Dana Gas announced the resumption of operations at the Khor Mor gas field and the restoration of the main electricity supply to pre-war levels. The company explained in a statement that gas production rates are gradually increasing, raising the share of national energy available to citizens and restoring cooking gas production to its usual levels. It confirmed that the crisis will end within days.
Saleh Faqi, a leader in the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), told Al-Mada that the temporary truce between Washington and Tehran is "an important step towards lasting peace in the region." He pointed out that "the war has significantly impacted the region in all political, security, and economic aspects. The region was targeted by hundreds of missiles and drones, and the end of the war is an important step towards restoring normalcy." He added, "Iran is an important country for the region economically, and we value our relationship with it. The continuation of the war would have led to a greater catastrophe for the region in general, and the region would have faced further crises."
For his part, writer and journalist Aram Omar confirmed to Al-Mada that life in the Kurdistan Region was disrupted by the war, affecting every aspect of life. He said that "the truce between America and Iran is an important step that will restore security and stability, allowing life to return to normal, including the resumption of classes at schools and universities, the reopening of government offices, and the reopening of airports and border crossings." He added, "As soon as the ceasefire was announced, food prices began to return to normal, and cooking gas will be available in large quantities as before. Furthermore, airports have reopened, the closure of which caused significant financial losses."
The American organization CPT revealed that the Kurdistan Region was subjected to more than 550 attacks, resulting in 16 deaths and 93 injuries, within a month of the outbreak of the war between the US and Israel on one side, and Iran on the other. According to a report by the organization's Kurdistan Team, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard carried out 179 attacks, in addition to 295 attacks perpetrated by armed groups inside Iraq.
In the early days of the war, the region's electricity grid suffered a complete blackout after Dana Gas ceased operations for fear of being targeted. This prompted the regional government to issue a decision to reinstate the use of privately owned generators.
The cessation of gas production at the Kor Mor field led to a surge in the price of a cooking gas cylinder to 40,000 dinars, further burdening Kurdish citizens already suffering from a severe financial crisis due to delayed salary payments.The regional government also announced the cancellation of in-person classes in schools and universities and the shift to e-learning, due to fears of war and the exposure of the region's cities to drone attacks.
On the commercial front, Saman Abdullah, a member of the Sulaimaniyah Chamber of Commerce, confirmed to Al-Mada that ending the war would restore stability to the city's markets and those of the region as a whole.
He said, "Commercial trucks have begun entering from Iran normally, and the import of all goods has resumed. This has given a morale boost to the market, and the high prices have begun to gradually decrease and return to normal."
He emphasized that "Sulaimaniyah relies on imports from Iran for 70% of its goods, especially food, vegetables, construction materials, and consumer goods. The continuation of the war has increased prices due to the high demand from citizens to stockpile goods, but with the end of the war, everything will return to normal as it was before."
Swiss Ambassador: We will follow up on the frozen Iraqi funds in preparation for their return.
The Commission’s media office stated in a statement received by Al-Furat News that “the head of the Federal Integrity Commission, Muhammad Ali Al-Lami, during his meeting with the Swiss Ambassador, Daniel Hon, at the Commission’s headquarters, stressed the importance of expanding bilateral partnerships and concluding memoranda of understanding that contribute to overcoming the challenges that hinder the recovery of smuggled funds and accused individuals, and enhance international cooperation in this field.”
The statement added that "during the meeting, discussions were held on concluding a memorandum of understanding between the two sides, particularly in the areas of information exchange, tracking corruption crimes and reducing their spread, as well as developing technical cooperation and updating policies and strategies related to combating it, and addressing obstacles to recovering funds, especially those that were seized during the era of the previous regime."
Al-Lami pointed to the "file of Iraqi assets dating back to the time of the previous regime, explaining that their loss is due to several reasons, including the international sanctions imposed in 1990 and the Oil-for-Food Program, which requires effective international cooperation to recover them."
For his part, the Swiss ambassador expressed his pleasure at strengthening bilateral relations, especially in the field of preventing and combating corruption, stressing his endeavor to coordinate with the competent authorities in his country to study the file of frozen Iraqi funds, in preparation for taking the necessary measures to return them in a way that contributes to supporting reconstruction and development projects in Iraq.
The House of Representatives votes on the members of the Finance Committee
The Iraqi Parliament voted today, Wednesday, on the members of the Finance Committee.
Republic of Iraq – Council of Representatives
First Legislative Term
**Agenda for Session No. (16) – May 2024**
* Recitation of verses from the Holy Quran.
**Department of Legislative Affairs**
**First:** Completion of the vote on the members of the Permanent Parliamentary Committees.
**Second:** First Reading of the Proposed Law on the Fifth Amendment to the Civil Aviation Law No. (198) of 1974 (Submitted by the Committee on Transport, Communications, and Governance) – (58 Articles).
**Third:** First Reading of the Proposed Law on Governorates Not Incorporated into a Region (Submitted by the Committee on Regions and Governorates Not Incorporated into a Region, Planning, Government Program, and Endowments) – (71 Articles).
**[Administrative Note]**
The session shall commence at 11:00 AM.
The House of Representatives votes on members of seven committees
The Iraqi Parliament voted today, Wednesday, on the members of seven committees.
The Parliament's Media Office stated in a press release received by Al-Ghad Press that "during its session held today, the Parliament voted on the members of the Finance Committee, the Integrity Committee, and the Culture, Tourism, Antiquities, and Media Committee." The statement
added that "the Parliament also voted on the members of the Security and Defense Committee, the Oil, Gas, and Natural Resources Committee, the Human Rights Committee, and the Migration, Displacement, and Community Reconciliation Committee."
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Pakistan to host talks between Washington and Tehran on Friday
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Wednesday that Islamabad will host delegations from the United States and Iran on Friday to negotiate “a final agreement to resolve all disputes.”
Sharif wrote in a post on X, "I extend my sincere thanks to the leadership of both countries and invite their delegations to Islamabad on Friday, April 10, 2026, to negotiate more carefully on a final agreement to resolve all disputes."
Pakistan, which has good relations with the administration of US President Donald Trump and with its neighbor Iran, has played a mediating role between Washington and Tehran in recent weeks.
Sharif said, "We hope that the Islamabad talks will succeed in achieving lasting peace, and we hope to share more good news in the coming days."
Both Tehran and Washington announced a two-week ceasefire about an hour before the deadline set by Trump for Iran before it would be "destroyed".
The war began when Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran that killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on February 28, prompting Tehran to launch retaliatory strikes on Gulf states and Israel.
The war spilled over into Lebanon on March 2nd after the Iranian-backed Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel. Israel responded with large-scale airstrikes on Lebanon and a ground invasion of the south.
Sharif noted in his post on X "an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including Lebanon and elsewhere, with immediate effect."
However, Israel later announced that it would not halt its operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Türkiye and Egypt also contributed to the mediation efforts. The US president said Wednesday in an interview with AFP that China had brought Iran to the negotiating table.
In another post, Sharif revealed that China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar all offered "support to reach a ceasefire and give peaceful diplomatic efforts a chance."
The Pakistani Prime Minister thanked the Gulf Arab states for "their commitment to peace and stability in the region."
Pakistani Prime Minister: US and Iranian delegations will arrive in Islamabad on Friday
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed today that the US and Iranian delegations will arrive in Islamabad on Friday, expressing his high appreciation for the role played by Arab and regional countries in facilitating the ceasefire agreement.
Sharif said in statements followed by the Iraqi News Agency (INA): “We are moving forward with the Islamabad talks, and I extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to the brotherly countries, foremost among them the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the State of Qatar, the Republic of Turkey, and the People’s Republic of China, for their full and valuable support in facilitating the ceasefire.”
Sharif added that "the peaceful diplomatic efforts made by these countries aim to enhance the chances of reaching a comprehensive and final solution to the conflict," while praising "the continued support provided by the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and their firm commitment to regional security and stability, which represents a fundamental pillar of our efforts."
The Pakistani Prime Minister noted that "the leaders of brotherly countries and the United States have shown exceptional wisdom, patience and strategic foresight, which has helped to create a favorable climate for peace," pointing to "the importance of international partners recognizing Pakistan's sincere efforts in promoting global peace."
Sharif concluded his statement by calling for "concerted international efforts and joint action to achieve lasting and comprehensive peace in the region and beyond," stressing that cooperation between regional and international powers is the only way to end crises and achieve the aspirations of peoples for security and prosperity.
The past 24 hours have witnessed a radical shift in the course of the war that broke out on February 28. After 39 days of direct military confrontations, US President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire, in a move described as a "last-minute retreat" from a full-scale escalation that would have targeted vital infrastructure in Iran.
The ceasefire was the result of intensive mediation led by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir. The mediation involved conveying a 10-point proposal from Tehran to Washington, which included provisions for lifting sanctions and providing security guarantees in exchange for the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Hours after the ceasefire, Iran announces the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian media reported that authorities halted the passage of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz following the Israeli attack on Lebanon.
She indicated that this morning, after Trump agreed to Iran’s conditions and the ceasefire was announced, two oil tankers were able to pass safely through the Strait of Hormuz with Iran’s permission.
Earlier on Wednesday, Ibrahim Rezaei, spokesman for the National Security Committee in the Iranian parliament, called for the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in response to the violent Israeli raids on Lebanon, while an Iranian military source revealed that Tehran was considering targeting military installations inside Israel in response to its violation of the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon.
Rezaei said: "In response to the aggression against Lebanon, the movement of ships in the Strait of Hormuz must be stopped immediately," noting that "either there is a ceasefire on all fronts or there is no ceasefire on any front."
The Israeli occupation army carried out its most violent raids on Lebanon on Wednesday, targeting all its cities, including the capital Beirut, by carrying out 100 strikes in 10 minutes.
The Israeli occupation army claimed that the attack was based on accurate intelligence and a plan prepared weeks in advance, and that they targeted Hezbollah's elite units, missile systems, and drones.
The White House: Iran presented an unacceptable 10-point plan that was abandoned.
White House spokeswoman Carolyn Leavitt said on Wednesday that Iran had put forward a 10-point plan that was unacceptable to US President Donald Trump, and indicated that the plan had been "abandoned".
Levitt stated during a press conference at the White House that "the original Iranian plan was unacceptable, as it presented a 10-point plan that was ignored," emphasizing that Trump's red lines "have not changed."
She added that "Iran has requested a ceasefire and can no longer gamble," noting that "Iran has agreed to open the Strait of Hormuz."
The spokeswoman asserted that "the US military has destroyed Iran's naval and air capabilities," adding that "Iran can no longer distribute weapons to its proxies in the region."
Levitt noted that "negotiations with Iran will begin next Saturday in Pakistan," adding that "Lebanon is not part of the ceasefire agreement with Iran."
Lebanon is witnessing a military escalation by the Israeli army, which has prompted Iranian statements threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz and withdraw from the ceasefire agreement with Washington. This led US President Donald Trump to say that Lebanon was not part of the agreement, while Pakistan, which is mediating between the two sides, called for calm and warned against undermining the agreement that was reached at dawn on Wednesday.
Earlier today, the White House said that the ceasefire agreement plan published by Iran is not the one being discussed with Washington.
This comes after Iran’s Supreme National Security Council announced that Tehran had drafted a ten-point plan to present to the United States via Pakistan to end the war.
The council confirmed in a statement that the plan includes key points, including: organizing passage through the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with the Iranian armed forces, the need to end the war against all of Iran’s proxies, and the withdrawal of US combat forces from all bases and deployment points in the region, according to the Iranian news agency Tasnim.
The plan also includes the establishment of a safe passage protocol in the Strait of Hormuz that guarantees Iranian control according to the agreed protocol, the payment of full compensation to Iran based on the estimates, the lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions, and the release of all Iranian funds and assets frozen abroad.
The statement stressed the need for all these provisions to be adopted in a binding Security Council resolution, which would transform the agreements into binding international law.
In the same context, the Associated Press reported that Iran included the phrase "acceptance of enrichment" in the Persian version of its ceasefire plan, which is not present in the English versions distributed to journalists by Iranian diplomats.
Earlier today, US President Donald Trump explained in a post on the Truth Social platform that his country confirms that there is no uranium enrichment in Iran, indicating that the United States will cooperate with Iran to extract and remove the "nuclear dust" buried deep, which was hit by B-2 bombers.
Trump indicated that negotiations with Iran are ongoing and will include discussions on easing tariffs and sanctions, noting that agreement has already been reached on many points out of the 15 items on the table.
On Tuesday night, US President Donald Trump announced his agreement to suspend bombing and attacks on Iran for two weeks, based on talks he held with Pakistan, revealing that he had received a 10-point Iranian proposal, which he considered to be a practical basis for negotiation.
The White House is holding top-level talks with Beijing, while Netanyahu threatens escalation.
Reuters: Washington continues deploying thousands of Marines to the Middle East
Araghchi: Within two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible through coordination with the Iranian armed forces.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi confirmed in a statement that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz is possible through coordination with the Iranian armed forces.
He added, “On behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran, I express my gratitude and appreciation to my dear brothers, Prime Minister Sharif of Pakistan and Field Marshal Munir, for their tireless efforts to end the war in the region.”
In response to the fraternal request made by Prime Minister Sharif in his tweet, and taking into consideration the United States' request to conduct negotiations based on its fifteen-point proposal, as well as the United States President's announcement of accepting the general framework of Iran's ten-point proposal as a basis for negotiation, I hereby announce, on behalf of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, the following:
If the attacks against Iran cease, our powerful armed forces will cease their defensive operations.
For two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible through coordination with the Iranian armed forces, subject to technical constraints.
Iran announces it is close to achieving its war goals and confirms the start of negotiations with Washington in Islamabad.
link hmmmmmm sounds familiar
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council announced that the country had achieved “almost all of the war’s objectives,” asserting that military operations had continued for forty days, while the “enemy” was unable to impose its conditions or carry out its threats.
The council explained in an official statement that Iran has repeatedly rejected the deadlines set by the United States, and stressed that it does not pay any attention to what it described as “external pressures or warnings,” adhering to the option of continuing to fight until strategic goals are achieved, including weakening adversaries and eliminating long-term threats.
The statement indicated that a decision was made, based on the Supreme Leader’s directives and the Council’s approval, to hold negotiations in Islamabad to finalize arrangements for the next phase, with these negotiations to continue for two weeks, extendable, starting from April 11.
According to the statement, Tehran presented a ten-point plan to Washington through Pakistani mediation, which includes key provisions such as regulating traffic in the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with Iranian forces, ending military operations against parties of the resistance axis, and the withdrawal of US forces from their bases in the region.
The plan also includes, according to the statement, lifting international sanctions, releasing frozen Iranian assets, paying compensation, in addition to seeking a binding resolution from the UN Security Council to ratify the agreement and transform it into an international legal framework.
The council noted that the acceptance of these principles by the American side “represents a basis for negotiations,” while stressing that this does not mean the end of the war, which will continue until the details of the agreement are completed and its provisions are guaranteed to be implemented.
The statement called for maintaining internal unity during the negotiation period, stressing that the ongoing political process is an extension of what it described as “field achievements,” while emphasizing the readiness to respond “forcefully” to any potential escalation.
Iran completely closes the Strait of Hormuz
Iran decided on Wednesday (April 8, 2026) to prevent oil tankers from passing through the Strait of Hormuz, just hours after allowing them to pass, due to Israel's violation of the ceasefire.
Meanwhile, a high-ranking Iranian official confirmed to the Iranian Fars News Agency that his country will punish Israel in response to the crime it committed by bombing Lebanon.
The Israeli army launched about 100 raids today inside Lebanese territory on targets it said were military targets and infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah.
The attack resulted in the martyrdom of more than 80 people and the injury of about 900 others, according to a preliminary count by the Lebanese Ministry of Health.
Trump: Direct talks with Iran will take place very soon.
US President Donald Trump confirmed on Wednesday that direct talks with Iran will take place very soon .
The New York Post quoted Trump as saying: "Direct talks with Iran will take place very soon ."
Trump added that his deputy, JD Vance, might not attend the Pakistan talks in person due to security concerns .
Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that the American and Iranian delegations would arrive in Islamabad on Friday to hold negotiations
Iran Urges Iraq and Kurdistan Region to Expel Kurdish Opposition Parties After Washington–Tehran Ceasefire
Iran has called on Iraqi authorities and the Kurdistan Region to expel Iranian Kurdish opposition parties, accusing them of cooperating with the United States and Israel, just hours after a two-week ceasefire was announced between Tehran and its adversaries.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the Iranian Consulate General in Erbil alleged that "Kurdish opposition groups had been working with U.S. and Israeli military and intelligence agencies against Iran". The statement cited recent remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump as evidence of what it described as "secret cooperation" between these groups and foreign powers.
Tehran urged both Baghdad and Erbil to take immediate action, saying it was "the appropriate time" to prosecute and remove the groups, which it accused of espionage.
The demand comes despite a prior security agreement reached between Iran, Iraq, and the Kurdistan Region following the 2022 anti-government protests in Iran. Under that deal, Kurdish opposition factions were to be disarmed, relocated away from border areas, and restricted in their activities.
Before the recent conflict escalated on February 28, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had already carried out repeated drone and missile strikes against Kurdish opposition bases in the Kurdistan Region. Those attacks intensified during the broader confrontation involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.
According to data compiled by Peregraf Media, more than 650 drones and missiles have struck locations across the Kurdistan Region since the conflict began. At least 16 people — including Iranian Kurdish opposition fighters, Kurdistan Region Peshmerga, and security personnel — have been killed, while around 70 others have been wounded.
One of the deadliest incidents occurred on March 24, when Iranian ballistic missiles hit KRG military positions in two waves. Targets included headquarters of the 7th Infantry Division and a unit of the 5th Infantry Division. At least seven Peshmerga fighters were killed and around 30 wounded in that attack alone.
Despite expectations early in the conflict that Kurdish opposition groups might open a new front against Tehran, those plans were reportedly halted following U.S. intervention. The groups were instructed to stand down, and Kurdish leadership in the Kurdistan Region was consulted to secure their cooperation.
Kurdish officials on Wednesday welcomed the ceasefire, expressing hope that it would also bring an end to repeated drone and missile attacks on the region.
However, Iran’s latest statement signals a more assertive posture following the ceasefire. Tehran is widely expected to intensify pressure on opposition groups both inside Iran and across its borders. Since the start of the conflict, thousands of people have reportedly been detained inside Iran as part of a broader crackdown on dissent.
Iranian Kurdish opposition parties have denied any ties to foreign governments, emphasizing that their activities are aimed at securing rights for Kurds in Iran and advancing self-determination. Ahead of the conflict, several factions announced a new political alliance to unify their efforts.
Nevertheless, Iran and allied armed groups in Iraq have continued targeting these factions, launching hundreds of drone and missile attacks on their positions in the Kurdistan Region.
The ceasefire, announced on April 8 — the 40th day of a conflict that has spanned multiple countries — has paused large-scale hostilities between Iran, the United States, and Israel. But tensions remain high, with Tehran signaling that it may escalate actions against those it considers internal and external enemies.
He moved to approve an emergency budget of $40 billion.
In light of the economic and financial challenges and the significant decline in oil revenues as a result of the war and regional conflicts, the Prime Minister’s financial advisor, Dr. Mazhar Muhammad Salih, announced that the government is adopting a series of measures to ensure the continuity of the work of state institutions and the provision of basic services in the event of a delay in approving the general budget.
In an interview with Al-Sabah, Saleh confirmed that one of the most prominent of these measures is the application of the temporary spending rule (1/12) of the previous year's budget, based on the amended Federal Financial Management Law No. (6 of 2019). He explained that this procedure allows for the coverage of essential expenditures such as salaries, wages, pensions, and social welfare allocations, which amount to approximately (8) trillion dinars monthly, while funding continues for basic operational costs. New investment projects are suspended or postponed, and only urgent projects are implemented.
Saleh indicated that the government is working on rearranging spending priorities, focusing on vital sectors, and making limited financial transfers between spending categories within the available legal frameworks. In some cases, it may resort to short-term domestic borrowing to cover the temporary deficit and ensure liquidity stability.
In Parliament, MP Ali Salman al-Moussawi revealed a plan to allocate approximately $40 billion as an emergency budget to expedite and complete projects. He explained to Al-Sabah newspaper that some parties within the coordination framework had requested a budget ranging between $30 and $40 billion to achieve this objective.
For his part, Professor of Financial Economics Dr. Ahmed Al-Hathal affirmed Iraq’s ability to secure operational expenses, but pointed out the need to take exceptional measures to cover investment expenses and strategic projects, in light of the sharp decline in oil revenues, disruption of global supplies and increased geopolitical risks.
Al-Hathal explained to Al-Sabah that the move towards an emergency budget aims to stimulate the economic cycle and prevent the cessation of vital projects related to energy, water, food and infrastructure, explaining that any delay in making the decision will lead to an expansion of the recession, an increase in unemployment and a rise in the bill for stalled projects, which will negatively affect citizens and the local market
