The Central Bank of Iraq has instructed banks to adopt the official exchange rate and announced a reduction in the costs of using electronic payment cards abroad.
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The Central Bank of Iraq announced on Sunday that it has directed banks and electronic payment service providers to adopt an exchange rate of 1,520 dinars per dollar for transactions carried out through electronic payment gateways and point-of-sale (POS) devices outside Iraq.
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The Central Bank stated in a statement followed by “Iraq Observer” that the directive comes within the framework of its efforts to develop the electronic payments system, enhance transparency and protect the rights of beneficiaries, as well as encouraging the use of electronic payment tools in foreign financial and commercial transactions.
He added that the directive includes the need to specify the commissions resulting from these transactions and disclose them clearly and transparently to the beneficiaries, while adopting the minimum commissions in a way that contributes to supporting electronic payment operations.
The bank noted that banks and electronic payment service providers have expressed their full readiness to comply with the directives and cooperate in their implementation, in support of efforts to expand the user base of digital payment methods and enhance confidence in the electronic payments system.
Central Bank of Iraq: The exchange rate for electronic transactions abroad is 1520 dinars per dollar.
The Central Bank of Iraq has obligated banks and electronic payment service providers that issue cards to adopt the exchange rate of the US dollar at 1520 dinars per dollar for transactions carried out outside the country, while applying the minimum commissions, in a step aimed at protecting the rights of beneficiaries and expanding the scope of digital payment.
The Central Bank stated in a statement seen by (Shafaqna Iraq): “The Central Bank of Iraq has confirmed to banks and electronic payment service providers issuing cards to adopt the exchange rate of the US dollar of (1520) Iraqi dinars per US dollar, for transactions carried out through electronic payment gateways and point-of-sale (POS) devices abroad.”
He explained that this should be done “with the necessity of specifying the commissions resulting from these transactions and disclosing them clearly and transparently to the end beneficiary, while adopting the minimum commissions in a way that contributes to supporting electronic payment operations.”
The Central Bank stated that this comes “based on its regulatory and supervisory role in developing the electronic payments system, its keenness to enhance transparency and protect the rights of beneficiaries of financial services, and in support of its efforts aimed at expanding the use of electronic payment tools abroad and encouraging their adoption in various financial and commercial transactions.”
In this context, according to the statement, “Banks and electronic payment service providers have expressed their full readiness to comply with these directives and cooperate in their implementation, in support of the Central Bank of Iraq’s initiatives aimed at enhancing confidence in the electronic payments system, expanding its user base, and encouraging the shift towards digital payment methods.”
Erbil and Baghdad conclude a four-hour meeting on the region's salaries and the 2027 budget.
Erbil (Kurdistan 24) - On Sunday, November 8, 2026, a delegation from the Kurdistan Regional Government and a delegation from the federal government in Baghdad held an intensive meeting that lasted four hours, during which they discussed the issue of salaries, the region’s share in the draft 2027 budget, and oil exports.
According to information from Kurdistan 24's correspondent in Baghdad, the meeting lasted from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM, chaired by the Head of the Kurdistan Regional Government's Council of Ministers' Office, Omid Sabah, representing the regional delegation, and the Deputy Prime Minister of the Federal Government, Mohammed Tamim, representing the federal delegation. The attendees discussed securing the region's rights and financial entitlements in the 2027 budget bill, as the Federal Council of Ministers is scheduled to hold a special session next Tuesday to approve the draft budget.
In the main focus of the meeting, the region's delegation insisted on completely separating the region's employees' salaries from actual expenses, and not combining them with expenses as in previous years, so that no obstacles would arise to the disbursement of employees' salaries. An amount of 11 trillion and 200 billion dinars was allocated for the region's total salaries for the year 2027.
The regional delegation also requested that the region's share of the federal budget be increased from 12.67% to 14.14%. Regarding the oil sector, discussions focused on the cost of producing and exporting the region's oil, currently set at 425,000 barrels per day, and on securing payments owed to oil companies, as these points had not been included in the draft budget by the federal Ministry of Finance.
In another part of the meeting, the issue of non-oil revenues, border crossing revenues, and the implementation of the ASYCUDA system in customs were discussed at length. It was decided that the Kurdistan Region delegation's discussions in Baghdad would continue during the two days between the federal cabinet meeting and the Kurdistan Region's formal inclusion of its demands in the draft 2027 budget law.
According to the same information, the federal government allocated 13 trillion dinars to the Kurdistan Region in the 2027 budget, and this amount does not cover salaries and expenses.
On the other hand, Kurdistan 24 learned that Iraq’s revenues for 2027 were estimated at 174 trillion dinars, while expenditures amounted to 217 trillion dinars, which means a budget deficit of 43 trillion dinars, which the government is scheduled to cover through internal and external borrowing.
"If you can't, leave it to Washington."
Trump told al-Zaidi: Negotiations are not enough... Arrest the factions if they engage in war – Report
Even today, details of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's call with US President Donald Trump are still being revealed. After talk of warnings about the factions returning to the policy of "unity of the battlefields," informed sources told the Baghdad newspaper Al-Mada that al-Zaidi received a clear message during the call stating the need to move from pledges and negotiations with the factions to action and taking practical measures, indicating that al-Zaidi may find no option but to arrest the factions if they engage in war alongside Iran, or to let Washington take on this task itself.
The sources also say that al-Zaydi conveyed this position to his allies during the Coordination Framework meeting, stressing that the factions would be arrested if they participated in the war. This was in response to a proposal by Qais al-Khazali, the leader of Asaib Ahl al-Haq, regarding the possibility of the factions entering the confrontation if the war were to last a long time. Meanwhile, Humam Hamoudi objected, warning that carrying out the arrests could lead to the downfall of the government and the Coordination Framework together.
During the same meeting, Al-Zaydi revealed that he had seen part of the leaked war plan presented to US President Donald Trump, which includes scenarios, most notably the entry of US forces through Iraqi territory towards southern Iran. In parallel, international pressure is mounting on Baghdad to end the weapons issue, as Washington, according to sources, no longer accepts prolonging the negotiations and demands a clear and time-bound handover plan, while the factions insist on refusing to give up their weapons in light of the possibility of war, considering it an internal political guarantee for them.
STATEMENT
Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is left with only two options: arrest the armed factions if they decide to engage in any war alongside Iran, or let Washington handle the matter itself. According to sources close to the government palace, this is the possibility that has resurfaced following the recent phone call between al-Zaidi and Donald Trump, during which the US issued warnings against Iraq being drawn into the war.
In that call, which took place last Thursday, it appeared that Washington was no longer satisfied with Iraqi pledges regarding controlling the militias' weapons. Informed sources say that al-Zaidi received a clear message that he must take action, not merely manage the negotiations.
According to the same sources, he had conveyed this position to his Shiite allies during the last meeting of the coordination framework, when he spoke about arresting the factions if they participated in the war alongside Iran.
This comes as al-Zaydi faces one of his most delicate political tests since assuming the premiership. The likelihood of a US-Iranian confrontation is escalating, and factions that were supposedly close to surrendering their weapons have backtracked on this course of action in the last two weeks.
In Baghdad, officials, including Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, are not treating war as a remote possibility. Political sources say that Washington and Tehran could use Iraqi territory as a launching pad for an attack or retaliation.
“We will hand over the weapons if a truce is reached.”
But the problem facing al-Zaydi is not limited to the possibility of the factions joining the war. The months-long negotiations regarding weapons have yet to produce a clear agreement on what surrender means, or on which parties are prepared to implement it. According to informed sources, the factions are unwilling to relinquish their weapons, and the position of the coordinating framework itself does not appear unified or clear on this issue.
The sources exclude Shibl al-Zaidi, commander of the Imam Ali Brigades, describing him as the only figure who has, according to them, shown a genuine intention to surrender weapons. As for the government's claims that four factions have surrendered their weapons or are close to doing so, the sources say these claims do not reflect the reality on the ground.
Even those parties that participated in the government, according to sources, are still setting conditions that make the handover more of a formal reshuffling than a genuine relinquishment of armed force. The disagreements include severing organizational ties, objecting to the brigade structure, changing battalion commanders, redeploying fighters, and then reconstituting the brigades and battalions. These are details that appear to be not merely administrative; they touch upon the nature of control over these formations and who holds the power to make decisions regarding them.
Another point of contention concerns the fate of the weapons themselves. Weapons ostensibly intended to deter any foreign intervention might be returned to Iran or given to another faction, but those weapons that serve as a political guarantee for the factions remain outside any actual handover. Sources say that the negotiations have also been marred by manipulation of details and procedural formalities that fail to resolve the issue of transferring control to the state.
She adds that two of the most prominent Shiite leaders on the negotiating committee exploited their positions to gain political advantage and impose their vision on the course of the talks. According to this account, after the committee became an arena of competition among its members, the factions moved to bypass it and negotiate individually, either separately or through direct channels with the Prime Minister and the Coordination Framework, including Abu Ala al-Walai and Haider al-Gharawi.
In one of those attempts, Abu Alaa Al-Walai conveyed to Al-Zaydi a position summarizing the factions’ calculations in light of the approaching war: “We are in a state of war and we are waiting. If a truce is reached, we will hand over the weapons to you in boxes, and you can take the weapons as you wish. But if war breaks out, your request is not feasible.”
This was before al-Zaidi contacted Trump. This stance appears to have complicated the negotiations, as the factions offered a settlement postponed until after the war, while Washington wanted concrete steps before the security and political conditions in the region changed.
Framework meeting: Arrest on the table
At the latest meeting of the coordination framework, al-Zaydi not only expressed his concerns about the stalled negotiations but also engaged in a direct confrontation with some coalition leaders. According to sources familiar with the details of the meeting, the prime minister interrupted one of the speakers, stating that the factions would be arrested if they fought alongside Iran.
This came in response to a position put forward by Qais al-Khazali, the leader of Asaib Ahl al-Haq, stating that the factions might get involved in the war if the confrontation with Iran lasts a long time, but they will not intervene if the war is limited, like the 12-day war.
Humam Hamoudi objected to al-Zaydi's remarks, warning that implementing such a course of action could lead to the downfall of both the government and the coordination framework. At the same meeting, Abu Ala al-Walai criticized the government's decision to close border crossings and airports with Iran, arguing that the current measures exceeded those taken by the government of Mohammed Shia al-Sudani during the 40-day war, when no border crossings or airports were closed.
Al-Zaidi stated that Washington had requested the closure of all border crossings with Iran except for two, a claim later confirmed by Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein.
At the same meeting, al-Zaidi spoke of having seen part of a leaked war plan presented to US President Donald Trump, which included three scenarios. One of them, according to what he reported, was the entry of US forces through Iraq to invade southern Iran, in exchange for the possibility that the Islamic Republic would pressure Iraq to invade Kuwait from Iraqi territory.
Agreement on organization, not surrender
During the meeting, al-Zaydi did not hide his dissatisfaction with the performance of the coordination framework and the four-member committee tasked with reaching an understanding with the factions. He stated that the factions had been more honest in their approach than the committee, citing what he had heard from Haider al-Gharawi, the leader of "Ansar Allah al-Awfiya," in a previous meeting, namely that the signed agreement aimed to regulate weapons, not surrender them.
In discussing the negotiation process, al-Zaydi revealed that he had met with Iranian advisors who stated that the four factions had no qualms about publicly declaring their weapons organized and were prepared to store them in warehouses whose keys would remain in the hands of the Prime Minister. However, this proposal did not resolve the dispute over who actually possessed the weapons, nor the difference between storing them and surrendering them to the state.
The Prime Minister stated that international pressure on Baghdad is mounting, and that international parties are no longer satisfied with mere promises and intentions, but are demanding a well-defined action plan, bound by a timetable, that includes concrete steps and clear criteria for monitoring implementation. He added that Washington is expressing considerable displeasure at the slow pace and is pressing for the handover plan to be prepared without delay, placing the final stage of the process at the forefront of its priorities.
But the factions, according to the sources, are dealing with these demands with a different logic, which is no final surrender at a time when war is looming, and no giving up on the weapons that represent an internal political guarantee.
The clash with the brigades is spreading to the institutions.
In parallel with the arms crisis, al-Zaydi entered into an escalating confrontation with the Kataib Hezbollah, after details emerged about the group’s infiltration of government institutions and facilities.
Informed sources say that the Prime Minister is no longer facing objections only to his decisions regarding weapons, but his decisions now affect economic, security and administrative positions of influence that the brigades have accumulated over the past years.
The confrontation began to unfold with the leak of information about the removal of the brigades from the Military Industrialization Authority, which al-Zaydi had visited a few days earlier. This was followed by decisions to terminate the operations of companies linked to the group at Mosul Airport, before further leaks revealed the thwarting of their ambitions to expand within border crossings and certain key positions in the intelligence apparatus.
According to sources, the factions had gained influence in managing the border crossings after they were liberated from ISIS in 2018. Some armed groups also had private lounges in Iraqi airports that were not subject to the usual inspection procedures.
The brigades responded to al-Zaydi's decisions by questioning the source of his wealth, in a second such attack in less than a week. Sources close to the government interpret this escalation as a response to attempts to curb the group's expansion within state institutions, and not merely a passing political dispute.
On Saturday evening, al-Zaydi decided to travel to Sadr City, a stronghold of the Sadr movement, a move sources linked to escalating tensions with the Kataib Hezbollah militia. This visit brings to the forefront previous warnings from Muqtada al-Sadr, the movement's leader, in which he described a group calling themselves "the resistance" as "mercenaries."
This term has resurfaced with recent government decisions against companies linked to the brigades.
Meeting with bank and company managers
To reduce bureaucracy, the Minister of Finance places automation and digital transformation at the top of his priorities.
Finance Minister Faleh Al-Sari met today, Monday (November 9, 2026), with the directors of banks and companies affiliated with the ministry, to follow up on progress in institutional development such as automation and digital transformation. The minister stressed that these represent a priority in the ministry’s work, and emphasized the need to expedite their implementation.
The Ministry of Finance’s media office stated in a statement received by 964 Network that “Minister of Finance Mr. Faleh Sari chaired a meeting today, Monday, which included the directors of banks and companies affiliated with the ministry, to follow up on the progress of work and to assess the levels of progress in implementing reform and institutional development programs.”
He added that “during the meeting, reform projects in the financial and banking sectors were reviewed, and the measures taken to improve performance and enhance the efficiency of the institutions affiliated with the ministry were discussed.”
The minister affirmed, according to the statement, that “automation and digital transformation are a priority in the ministry’s work, and stressed the need to expedite their implementation in the ministry’s institutions according to the specified timelines, in order to contribute to raising performance efficiency, reducing bureaucratic procedures, and enhancing transparency.”
The US President's envoy to Iraq: President al-Zaidi delivered a clear message: there is no place for militias in Iraqi state institutions.
The US President’s envoy to Iraq confirmed that Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi delivered a clear message rejecting the presence and influence of militias within Iraqi state institutions.
The envoy said in a tweet posted on the “X” platform that al-Zaidi’s message confirms that “there is no place for the influence of militias in Iraq’s institutions,” noting that the country’s future belongs to its people, not to armed factions operating outside the framework of the state.
He added that the Prime Minister’s position embodies an affirmation of Iraq’s sovereignty and the confinement of its institutions to the authority of the state.
We support President al-Zaidi in uncovering the attackers. The US President's envoy to Iraq: Targeting the Kormor oil field is an attack on the Iraqi people.
US President Donald Trump’s envoy to Iraq, Tom Barrack, condemned on Monday the attack on the Khor Mor oil field, describing it as an attack on the Iraqi people.
Barak said in a tweet on his official “X” account, which was followed by “Iraq Observer”, that the United States supports Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and the
Kurdistan Regional Government in uncovering those responsible for the attack and holding them accountable.
The US President's envoy to Iraq: President al-Zaidi delivered a clear message: there is no place for militias in Iraqi state institutions.
The US President’s envoy to Iraq confirmed that Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi delivered a clear message rejecting the presence and influence of militias within Iraqi state institutions.
The envoy said in a tweet posted on the “X” platform that al-Zaidi’s message confirms that “there is no place for the influence of militias in Iraq’s institutions,” noting that the country’s future belongs to its people, not to armed factions operating outside the framework of the state.
He added that the Prime Minister’s position embodies an affirmation of Iraq’s sovereignty and the confinement of its institutions to the authority of the state.
The Ministry of Finance settles the debate: No new additions to the general budget after its preparation is complete.
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To reduce waste in public spending
Parliament is following up with the Financial Control Authority on finalizing the accounts and controlling the revenues of the ports.
Speaker of Parliament Hebat al-Halbousi discussed on Sunday (November 8, 2026) with the head of the Financial Control Bureau, Ammar Subhi Khalaf, strengthening oversight of public funds, resolving the issue of the state’s final accounts, in addition to following up on stalled projects and controlling revenues at border crossings.
A statement from the House of Representatives, received by Network 964, said that “the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Hebat Al-Halbousi, received today, Sunday, the head of the Federal Board of Financial Control, Mr. Ammar Subhi Khalaf, to discuss a number of files related to strengthening control over public funds, evaluating the financial and administrative performance of state institutions, and developing accountability mechanisms and following up on violations.
The meeting addressed “the importance of the audit reports issued by the Bureau, and the need to follow up on the observations and violations contained therein.”
The discussion also covered “the file of the state’s final accounts and the level of commitment to preparing, submitting and auditing them, the extent to which actual spending matches financial allocations and approved objectives, as well as the efficiency of public resource management and reducing waste in public spending.”
The meeting witnessed “a discussion of the reality of investment and service projects, especially stalled projects, and the reasons for the delay in their completion. Emphasis was also placed on the importance of strengthening oversight of public revenues, including revenues from border crossings and non-oil revenues, and ensuring their collection in accordance with applicable laws, as well as examining the fairness of the distribution of resources and financial allocations among the governorates, and the extent of its impact on project implementation and improving the level of services.”
Al-Halbousi stressed “the importance of strengthening cooperation and coordination between the Council and the Federal Board of Supreme Audit, and benefiting from oversight reports and data in supporting legislative and oversight work, in a way that contributes to consolidating accountability, raising the efficiency of government performance, and improving the management of state resources.”
Digitalizing money: A banking revolution is coming
Iraq is moving rapidly towards breaking the constraints of paper transactions and traditional routine, as the government and central bank’s move to establish digital banks represents a strategic turning point for building a smart financial system. This step, supported by the opinions of experts and specialists, will not only modernize the banking sector, but also pave the way for an attractive and more transparent investment environment capable of curbing corruption through comprehensive digitization.
Innovative models
Regarding this issue, banking expert Amal Al-Shuwaili considered this trend to be a cornerstone of the transition towards innovation, explaining that digital banks have become a reality in European, Asian and Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Al-Shuwaili stressed, in an interview with Al-Sabah, the importance of drawing inspiration from these international experiences without copying them verbatim, with the aim of formulating a flexible digital model that suits the specificities of the Iraqi market and economic environment, and ends the era of in-person reviews and complex paper transactions.
Al-Shuwaili explained that the digital platforms will provide customers with a comprehensive package of remote services, including opening and managing accounts, making instant financial transfers, as well as submitting applications for credit, loans and banking facilities, all in accordance with strict electronic controls and instructions that ensure efficiency and security.
Attracting capital
In the area of supporting investment, Al-Shuwaili pointed out that the digital banking system raises the level of confidence among foreign and local investors by facilitating the management of financial flows.
Payments with minimal time and effort.
She stressed the need to link these digital banks with reputable international financial institutions, while establishing a strong legislative and governance framework to protect depositors, noting that this experience will create positive competition that will drive traditional government and private banks. To develop its tools.
Combating waste and corruption
For his part, economist Abdul Hassan Al-Shammari considered granting licenses to digital banks a natural response to the global transformation, expressing his hope that digitization would contribute to drying up the sources of corruption by adopting tamper-proof digital data and moving away from paper loopholes.
Al-Shammari, speaking to Al-Sabah newspaper, called for making the digitization of the financial sector part of a broader national project to reform state institutions, ensuring enhanced integrity, improved services and living standards, and easier access for citizens. Regarding any illegal practices.
The World Bank affirms its support for efforts to develop financial management in Iraq.
The World Bank affirmed on Monday its support for the Ministry of Finance’s efforts to develop public financial management, while the two sides discussed completing the requirements for the transition towards a program and performance budget.
The ministry said in a statement received by Iraq Observer that the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance, Abdul Hassan Jamal, discussed during a meeting with the World Bank team, in the presence of the Directors General of the Public Debt and Information Technology Departments and the ministerial team concerned with the project, the basic requirements for implementing the program and performance budget and the mechanisms for completing its implementation phases.
The statement quoted Jamal as stressing the importance of completing the legal and regulatory procedures, studying the costs and determining the spending units, in line with the steps of financial and administrative reform, and contributing to unifying the visions among the concerned parties regarding implementation mechanisms.
For its part, the World Bank team affirmed its support for the Ministry’s efforts in developing public financial management, noting the importance of automating financial processes in enhancing the efficiency of procedures and modernizing the financial work system.
Iraqi-American talks to activate the outcomes of the Washington visit
On Sunday, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Affairs, Mohsen al-Mandalawi, met with the Chargé d'Affaires of the US Mission to Iraq, Steven Fagin, to discuss ways to enhance bilateral cooperation and develop the strategic partnership between Baghdad and Washington, in order to serve common interests and open up broader horizons for cooperation in various fields.
The media office of Al-Mandalawi said in a statement received by Shafaq News Agency that the meeting witnessed a follow-up on the outcomes of the bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding signed between Baghdad and Washington during the official visit of Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi to the United States, with an emphasis on the importance of turning these agreements into concrete action steps that contribute to strengthening economic development and building a partnership based on common interests and mutual respect.
Al-Mandalawi stressed Iraq’s keenness to build strong investment and economic partnerships that contribute to the transfer of modern technology and attract capital to develop oil and gas fields, noting that the government is continuing to provide the necessary contributions and facilities to American companies wishing to invest and work within the country within the general direction of enhancing energy security and achieving self-sufficiency.
For his part, Stephen Fagin expressed the United States’ commitment to supporting Iraq’s economic aspirations and deepening cooperation in the energy sector, stressing the interest of American companies in investing and working on promising Iraqi projects and supporting comprehensive development efforts.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi visited the United States from July 13 to 17, 2026, during which 48 agreements , memoranda of understanding, and partnership declarations were signed between Iraqi and American institutions in the oil, energy, electricity, industry, technology, communications, finance, agriculture, education, and health sectors, with a declared value exceeding $60 billion.
The budget will be on the government's table on Tuesday.
The country’s financial and economic scene is heading towards a crucial juncture, after Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi directed that next Tuesday’s session be dedicated to discussing the draft budget law, in preparation for its approval and referral to the House of Representatives.
The (2027) budget adopts a methodology of linking financial allocations to results, and it highlights strategic priorities that include the “Development Path” and the “Sovereign Generations Fund”.
Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Ministerial Council for the Economy, Mohammed Tamim, confirmed during his chairmanship of a special meeting to discuss the budget items that the salaries for the year (2027) are fully secured and have absolute priority, with guarantees that their disbursement will not be affected by any potential geopolitical challenges or tensions in the region, including scenarios of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
For the first time, the budget includes a structural approach to raising the contribution of non-oil revenues to (19) percent (equivalent to about 33 trillion dinars annually) by maximizing customs and tax revenues, thus moving away from the excessive single-source reliance on oil revenues, which exceeded (95) percent, as confirmed to Al-Sabah by MP Talib Al-Baydani.
Regarding employment and social benefits, the draft budget includes provisions for regularizing the contracts of over 500,000 employees whose contracts have been in place for three years, in addition to creating approximately 120,000 new contract-based positions, as explained by MP Jawad Rahim. Similarly, MP Amer Nasrallah noted the Finance Committee's commitment to addressing the rights of long-term graduates and those employed under census contracts, while MP Ikhlas al-Dulaimi confirmed the inclusion of allocations for the seventh round of social welfare recipients within the budget.
Jamal Kojar, a member of the parliamentary finance committee, confirmed that the political agreement on the basic budget figures has been settled, indicating that the current disagreements are focused exclusively on the mechanisms for distributing allocations and not on revenues or the deficit.
A member of parliament is urging the cabinet to expedite the submission of the 2027 budget.
MP Karim Aliwi Al-Muhammadawi called on the Council of Ministers on Sunday to expedite the submission of the 2027 budget to Parliament.
A statement from his office, received by the Information Agency, indicated that "the delay in submitting the budget has become a source of concern and uncertainty for the Iraqi public, especially given the increasing analyses and statements discussing financial challenges and raising fears about the country's economic stability."
He stressed that "finalizing the budget and sending it to Parliament will end the current controversy, dispel public doubt, and ensure the smooth functioning of financial affairs and the advancement of economic stability."
MP: Budget delays force parliament to cut short its legislative recess
Member of Parliament, Munther al-Shammari, confirmed on Sunday that the government has failed to fulfill its official promise to send the 2027 budget schedules to Parliament last week, warning that continued delays could affect the timing of its discussion and approval.
Al-Shammari told the Information Agency, "The al-Zaidi government promised to send the 2027 annual budget last week for review and to finalize its items in preparation for its approval." He added, "Parliament was surprised by the government's delay without any stated reasons or justifications."
He further stated, "Parliament is about to begin its second legislative recess next week, and if the schedules and items are not received before then, the budget's finalization and approval will certainly be delayed until after next year."
Al-Shammari urged the government to "expedite the submission of the annual budget before Parliament goes into recess," emphasizing that "its arrival will allow for immediate parliamentary action to cut short the recess and fully dedicate itself to studying and discussing the budget items, ultimately leading to its finalization in Parliament."
It is worth noting that the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers and the relevant government agencies had previously made official commitments to adhere to the constitutional deadlines for submitting the federal budget schedules for the fiscal year 2027.
An economist says there will be no new budget without final accounts for previous years.
Economic expert Nadim Issa warned on Saturday against proceeding with the preparation and approval of the 2027 budget in the complete absence of final accounts for previous years. He emphasized that burdening citizens with additional fees and taxes to cover the financial deficit is unjust and makes the people pay the price for waste and corruption.
Issa told the Information Agency, "The fundamental question before delving into the items of the 2027 budget concerns the fate of the completely missing final accounts. It is economically and constitutionally impossible to prepare a new estimated budget without knowing the actual figures for the past year, including any financial surpluses or outstanding debts." He explained that "the constitution obligates the government to submit the final accounts in September for parliamentary approval before sending the budget schedules, especially since the country has been operating under a three-year budget system."
Issa called on the parliament to "refrain from voting on the draft budget unless the final accounts are submitted, in order to protect public funds and prevent a recurrence of the misappropriation of allocations." He stressed that "the Iraqi citizen is not complicit in corruption or financial waste, so he should not be forced to pay the price for the deficit and shortfall. Fees and taxes have reached unreasonable levels and are not matched by any level of basic services."
The political expert questioned "the extent to which the risks of war and regional tensions have been factored into the budget calculations. In the event of war, oil exports will cease entirely, and setting the price per barrel at $58 will be ineffective without export outlets." He pointed out that "alternative pipelines through Saudi Arabia, Syria, or Jordan will take about four years to complete, which means that the government is preparing a budget that is unaware of its actual revenue and is automatically heading towards increasing the burdens on citizens."
Issa strongly criticized the "double tax collection system; many countries rely on taxes to manage their affairs efficiently because they lack natural resources, while the Iraqi government controls all oil wealth and simultaneously imposes exorbitant taxes and fees on water, electricity, passports, identity cards, and license plates without providing any corresponding services or benefits."
Issa concluded his statement by emphasizing that "a balanced budget and a stable Iraqi economy cannot be achieved through arbitrary tax collection, but rather by controlling state revenues and stopping the bleeding caused by two key issues: corruption and financial waste. Without addressing these issues, the crises will persist and be passed down."
The dollar continues to rise... An economist reveals the reasons behind the difference between the official and parallel market exchange rates.
Economic expert, Dirgham Al-Haidari, attributed on Sunday the current rise in dollar exchange rates in local markets to a number of direct and indirect factors.
Al-Haidari told Al-Maalomah News Agency that the tightening of US sanctions on Iran has led to increased demand for dollars to finance trade, coinciding with the decision to reduce the currency exchange allowance for travelers from $3,000 to $2,000. This has forced patients and tourists to resort to the parallel market to meet their financial needs, exacerbating the cash shortage.
He added that the withdrawal of Al-Taif Bank, which served as a vital gateway for dollars entering through the Western Union network, has significantly impacted market activity. He also pointed to the possibility of a deliberate and planned manipulation of the exchange rate to generate substantial profits for banks that have not been sanctioned.
The local financial markets in Iraq are experiencing continuous fluctuations in exchange rates due to the strict restrictions imposed by the US Federal Reserve on foreign transfers. This comes amidst ongoing parliamentary and economic criticism of the electronic platform's mechanisms, which experts believe have failed to curb the parallel market and have widened the gap between the official and local exchange rates.
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani meets with Nouri al-Maliki in Baghdad
During his official visit to the federal capital, Baghdad, the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, Masrour Barzani, arrived at the residence of the head of the State of Law Coalition, Nouri al-Maliki, where joint bilateral talks between the two sides began.
The Iraqi ambassador in Tehran reveals the purpose of al-Zaidi's unannounced visit to Iran
The Iraqi ambassador to Iran, Yasser Abdul Zahra Al-Hajjaj, confirmed on Monday that Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi’s visit to Iran was of a special and unannounced nature, and aimed to discuss ways to reduce tension and defuse the war in the region.
Al-Hajjaj told the official agency, as reported by Al-Sa’a Network, that “Iraq is not on the sidelines of what is happening in the region, but is actively acting in accordance with its supreme national interests, under the leadership of Prime Minister Ali al-Zubaidi, putting its diplomatic efforts at the service of calming tensions, preventing escalation, and enhancing regional stability.”
Carrying Trump's proposal, al-Zaidi makes an "unannounced" visit to Tehran
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi visited the Iranian capital, Tehran, last Friday, in an "unannounced visit" that lasted for hours.
The Iranian news agency Fars reported that al-Zaidi's talks with the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament and the negotiating delegation, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, focused exclusively on Iraqi efforts to end the war between Iran and America.
Fars added that Qalibaf expressed to Al-Zaidi his appreciation for Iraq’s efforts and reviewed the Iranian proposal based on the two-day deadline, stressing the need for the United States to respect Iran’s rights within the framework of the proposed plan, which would allow negotiations to proceed.
The agency noted that al-Zaidi met with Qalibaf during his visit to Tehran, which lasted several hours last Friday, and that he was accompanied by the head of the Popular Mobilization Forces, Faleh al-Fayyad.
For his part, an informed source told Shafaq News Agency that al-Zaidi carried with him an offer from US President Donald Trump to end the war.
In this context, the Iraqi ambassador to Iran, Yasser Abdul Zahra Al-Hajjaj, confirmed on Monday that Al-Zaidi’s visit to Tehran was of a special and unannounced nature, and aimed to discuss ways to reduce tension and defuse the war in the region.
Al-Hajjaj told the official Iraqi News Agency that Iraq is not on the sidelines of what is happening in the region, but is actively acting in accordance with its supreme national interests, under the leadership of Prime Minister Ali al-Zubaidi, putting its diplomatic efforts at the service of calming tensions, preventing escalation, and promoting regional stability.
He added that Iraq is working to support stability in the region and prevent the conflict from escalating, through its diplomatic efforts.
Last Thursday, Al-Zaidi received a phone call from US President Donald Trump, during which they discussed the latest developments in the region, security developments, prospects for the next phase, the importance of coordination and consultation between the two countries regarding current challenges, and prioritizing dialogue and diplomacy in addressing crises, according to Al-Zaidi’s media office
Prime Minister Masrour Barzani arrives in Baghdad
The Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, Masrour Barzani, arrived in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on Monday morning, November 9, for an official visit.
According to a government statement, the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, Masrour Barzani, arrived in Baghdad at the head of a high-level government delegation.
During the visit, the Prime Minister is scheduled to hold a series of meetings and discussions with the Federal Prime Minister, as well as with leaders of various political parties and forces.
The discussions focus on the Kurdistan Region’s share of the federal general budget for 2027, in a way that guarantees the region’s constitutional and financial rights and entitlements.
Kurdistan Regional Government spokesman Peshwa Hawrami told Kurdistan 24 that Prime Minister Masrour Barzani will hold a series of meetings during the visit with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zubaidi, as well as with leaders of Iraqi political parties, alliances and figures.
The government spokesman explained that Masrour Barzani will discuss with the Prime Minister and the leaders of the political forces the issue of the Kurdistan Region’s share of the federal budget, and the ways to resolve the outstanding problems and issues between Erbil and Baghdad.
Horamani added: "Prime Minister Masrour Barzani's meetings with the government and political leaders in Iraq will focus on finding solutions to problems based on the constitution, laws, and political agreements concluded, in a way that ensures reaching a suitable and comprehensive settlement for all contentious issues."
This visit is the second by the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, Masrour Barzani, to Baghdad this year, following his previous visit last May, which focused on strengthening political relations and discussing common issues between the regional government and the federal government.
Al-Zaidi and Barzani discuss oil, salaries, and the 2027 budget, and agree on addressing the disputes between Baghdad and Erbil.
Prime Minister Ali al-Zubaidi discussed on Monday with Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani the outstanding issues between Baghdad and Erbil, foremost among them the management of oil fields, revenues, salaries of the region’s employees and the 2027 budget, while he affirmed the government’s intention to increase oil production to 10 million barrels per day by 2032.
The Prime Minister's Media Office stated in a statement that "Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi received the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region, Masrour Barzani, and his accompanying delegation, to discuss a number of files and issues of common interest."
According to the statement, Al-Zaydi affirmed "the federal government's commitment to achieving justice and guaranteeing the constitutional rights of the citizens and institutions of the Kurdistan Region, and to working to address all outstanding issues in a way that achieves the supreme national interest of all the people of Iraq."
He pointed out that "the government is moving towards increasing oil production during the coming years, to reach 7 million barrels per day in 2030, and 10 million barrels per day in 2032, including the production of the Kurdistan Region fields, which amounts to about one million barrels per day," stressing that "this increase will reflect positively on the reality of development and the economy throughout the country."
The statement added that "the two sides held a joint meeting during which a number of outstanding issues were discussed, and an agreement was reached on putting in place appropriate mechanisms to address the problems between the federal government and the regional government, in accordance with the constitution and applicable laws."
He explained that "the meeting addressed the issue of managing oil fields and the mechanisms for regulating them in accordance with the provisions of the constitution, as well as discussing oil and non-oil revenues and mechanisms for coordinating their management between the Ministries of Finance in the federal government and the Kurdistan Region."
He added that "both sides stressed the importance of ensuring the continued payment of salaries for employees of the Kurdistan Region, just like the rest of the Iraqi state employees, in addition to discussing the region's share in the federal general budget for 2027 and the mechanisms for organizing it in accordance with the provisions of the constitution and achieving the interest of all components."
The statement indicated that "the meeting witnessed an emphasis on the need to expedite the enactment of the oil and gas law, as it is an important step to address the problems related to oil production and export and to regulate the management of oil wealth in the country."
In the security file, Al-Zaidi and Barzani condemned "the attack that targeted the Khor Mor field," stressing "the importance of protecting oil facilities and infrastructure and taking the necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of such attacks."
At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides stressed "the need to continue coordination and joint cooperation, and to adopt dialogue and understanding as the basis for addressing outstanding issues between Baghdad and Erbil, in a way that strengthens the unity of the national position and preserves the interests of all Iraqis."
Bienvenidos, bienvenidos a mis FX buddies, el podcast. Y digo podcast porque hay múltiples medios en los que pueden disfrutar este contenido. Y hoy tenemos contenido. Sí, estoy publicando un poco temprano porque puede que no pueda hacerlo más tarde. Y hay mucho, ya hay mucho. Básicamente corté como hace 2 horas y desde entonces ha salido más noticias. Así que vamos directo al grano. Eh, sí. Creo que no publiqué ayer. Estoy perdiendo la cuenta. Realmente tengo que organizarme.0:44
Pero de todas formas, no usen esa palabra conmigo. Nunca funciona de todos modos. Las resoluciones de Año Nuevo. Sí, me propongo hacer cosas todo el tiempo y simplemente nunca pasa. Muy bien. De todas formas, gracias. Gracias. Solo quiero empezar diciendo gracias también.1:07
Bien. Voy a cambiar este título porque no me gusta. Eh, ¿un rock acaba de establecer una nueva tasa del dólar? Pero se supone que debía decir fuera del país, pero tal vez era demasiado largo y por eso no le gustó. Pero de todas formas, esto está bien. Lo que estoy haciendo ahora. Esto es solo el blog. Realmente no importa. Pero para YouTube y los otros lugares, este no será el título. Será algo diferente. ¿De acuerdo? Pero están en el blog correcto. 9 de noviembre. Muy bien. Así que uno de estos es de ayer, uno es de hoy. Entonces el banco central sí salió y hizo una declaración.1:49
No estoy seguro de por qué. Estoy pensando que tal vez porque cambiaron la tasa el… Espérenme.1:59
Muy bien. Me interrumpieron y no recuerdo lo último que dije.
Oh, la fecha. Porque recuerden que ya ha pasado más de un mes desde que ella… ellos cambiaron la tasa, ¿verdad? El 7 de octubre. Nunca olvidaré ese día. Eh, por más de una razón. Por más de una razón. Pero de todas formas, ese fue el día que cambiaron la tasa. Pero luego recuerden que dieron como un período de gracia para las transferencias y las facturas. Cualquier cosa antes era 1320. Cualquier cosa después era 1520. Así que tal vez por eso todavía estaban dejando que la gente fuera del país en los servicios de pago electrónico usara 1320. Pero a partir del domingo les han ordenado usar 1520.2:59
Y también han reducido algunas comisiones y creo que las comisiones son… así que están haciendo esto para desarrollar los sistemas de pago electrónico, mejorar la transparencia y proteger los derechos de los beneficiarios, además de fomentar el uso de herramientas de pago electrónico en las transacciones financieras y comerciales extranjeras.
Así que estoy pensando que las comisiones son para los comerciantes, ¿verdad? Pero como sea. Entonces publicaron eso. Ahora, ¿por qué estoy hablando de eso? Porque creo que es algo bueno. Porque están tratando de poner a todos en la misma tasa, ¿verdad? Aunque sea la tasa del programa que no nos gusta, al menos están tratando de lograr unidad… una tasa unificada, que si pudieran lograr la tasa unificada, entonces cuando finalmente cambien la tasa, será de una sola vez, no aquí y allá y aquí y allá, ¿verdad? Así que me alegra ver esto.4:09
Y también creo que tiene que ver con estar vigilados por los auditores. Así que tal vez esta fue una directiva de los auditores, ¿verdad? Y creo que eso es bueno. Sí. Muy bien. Ahora estos artículos están desordenados porque estaba tratando de ponerlos en orden, pero estoy tratando de ver las noticias porque están saliendo noticias nuevas y simplemente cosas que no puedo creer. ¿Verdad? Estoy seguro. ¿Ustedes pasan el día y dicen: no puedo creer que escuché eso o no puedo creer que leí eso?4:48
Yo sí. No sé ustedes, pero de todas formas. Entonces, eh, Erbil y Bagdad concluyen una reunión de 4 horas sobre los salarios de la región y el presupuesto de 2027. Eso fue ayer. Así que recuerden que iban a tratar de tener el presupuesto sobre la mesa mañana, pero eso no va a pasar. Pero sí creo que hay movimiento hacia adelante porque…5:13
y pueden leer esto si quieren. Tiene todos los detalles de lo que hablaron. Ven que todavía está ese mismo número 14.14%, 425,000 barriles por día implementando un scatetera en todas partes, ¿verdad? Las mismas cosas. Bien. Entonces, oh, esto también es importante. Tal vez…
Había un artículo del que iba a hablar ayer, y esa es parte de la razón por la que no lo hice porque pensé que se extendería. Filtraron algunos de los escenarios, escenarios de campaña militar, y uno de ellos era tropas, tropas estadounidenses entrando al vecino a través de Irak, que fue por lo que cerraron las fronteras. Pero eso es solo una teoría, un escenario, tal vez. ¿Verdad? Porque no puedo creer que el presidente de Estados Unidos esté en televisión hablando de… ahora esto es de hoy y estoy seguro de que está en las noticias regulares, dio un discurso, pero dice algo como: oh, tal vez no es el momento de tomar acción militar contra, ya saben, el vecino que empieza con I y termina con N. Yo dije: ¿qué? Hicimos todo eso. Oh, entonces durante el fin de semana los golpeamos todas las noches. Viernes por la noche, sábado, domingo por la noche, pero nada mayor. Eliminaron algunos lanzadores. Eliminaron radio, no, sistemas de comunicaciones, por falta de una mejor palabra, y radar. Eliminaron algunas cosas de radar. Así que necesitaban derribar esas cosas para, ya saben, que no puedan rastrear si estamos entrando. Eh, no sé. Y todavía tenemos… hoy es el 9. Así que todavía tenemos dos días. Todavía estamos en esa ventana del 7 al 11. Eh, ¿qué más?
No sé. Pero ha habido algunos desarrollos, ¿verdad?
Supuestamente los qataríes… los qataríes van a reunirse tal vez por video con el presidente de Estados Unidos y quizás tienen algunas noticias de alguien, ¿verdad? Tal vez de la IRGC, no sé, pero de todas formas. Bien, este es un desarrollo aquí. El presidente de Estados Unidos le dijo a Ali Z: “Las negociaciones no son suficientes. Arresten a las facciones si se involucran en una campaña militar.” Y lo hicieron. Entonces, de sábado por la noche a domingo por la mañana, un campo de gas, se llama K H O R M O R. Dos palabras, Cormore. Así es como yo lo digo. Fue golpeado. Está dañado. Proporciona gas que se convierte en electricidad. Así que el Kurdistán tiene menos electricidad, pero es un ataque, ¿verdad? ¿Y adivinen de dónde vino? Desde dentro de Irak. Sí. Así que esas son las facciones y por eso necesitamos atraparlas. Hay que lidiar con ellas. Así que hay una investigación para averiguar quiénes son, quién lo hizo, y queremos que los arresten… que les corten la cabeza, ¿verdad? Bueno, ya no lo hacen de esa manera. Ya no, de todas formas. Pero sí. Y eso está poniendo presión sobre Ali Z. El marco de coordinación dice: no vayan a arrestar a esas facciones. Traerá abajo a todo su gobierno y el… sh… tal vez yo podría hacer eso. Bien. Y ellos son de las tres partes que todas empiezan con S. Eh, la que acabo de hacer ese sonido. Son los más poderosos. Al menos en Irak. No sé de otros lugares. En Irak son el grupo más grande. Diré que son el grupo más grande. Así que, ya saben, pero si quieren ese dinero, aunque sea su dinero, si quieren recibirlo, van a hacer lo que digamos. Entonces, ¿es este también el mismo? Sí. Él dijo: “Si no pueden, déjenlo a nosotros. Si no pueden hacerlo, déjenlo a nosotros.” Así que sí. ¿Adivinen quién está de vuelta? De vuelta otra vez. Déjenme ver. ¿Está aquí?10:43
Ahí está. Bueno, en realidad esta es una foto vieja. Así que este es el hijo Barzani. ¿Cómo se dice eso? No sé cómo se dice. Por eso lo llamo el hijo. Es el hijo Barzani. Y este es Barack aquí. Y hablaron por teléfono. Así que se hizo progreso, vean, con Ali sobre el presupuesto y esperan un acuerdo. Así que en todo el tiempo que he estado haciendo esto, nunca he visto al hijo venir a Bagdad específicamente a discutir el presupuesto. Así que tal vez haya alguna finalización. Sin embargo, ¿por qué no lo van a tener listo mañana entonces? Así que no sé… ¿qué dicen? Un paso adelante, dos pasos atrás.
Muy bien. Volvamos por aquí.
Vean aquí, entregarán sus armas si se alcanza una tregua. Así que si quieren leer eso pueden, pero solo les estoy informando: reunión del marco, arrestos sobre la mesa. Así que se reunirán mañana por la noche. El marco, de hecho, puede que incluso lo hayan pospuesto para el miércoles. Así que se van a reunir para hablar de eso y también para hablar del presupuesto. Así que sí, es confuso pero no del todo. Solo hay que seguir lo que quieren que creamos que está pasando. Y aquí están hablando de… si la gente se lo perdió durante el fin de semana, Ali Z fue a la Ciudad Sadr, según algunas fuentes, para desescalar, ¿verdad? Pero aparentemente eso no funcionó. Bien. Esto es bueno. Ha habido algunas cosas pasando con el Ministro de Finanzas y… bueno, quién… oh, el Banco Mundial. Tenemos otro titular del que antes nos emocionábamos tanto pero ahora es como: oh otra vez eso. Bien.
Pero esta fue una gran reunión. La mostraron en televisión y todo. Y miren, vean que tienen papel, como si estuvieran tomando notas. Así que sí, pero ¿de qué hablaron? El ministro enfatizó que el desarrollo de la automatización y la transformación digital representan una prioridad en el trabajo del ministerio y enfatizó la necesidad de acelerar su implementación porque la aprobación ya está hecha. Ahora necesitan implementarla y luego activarla. Muy bien. Entonces ahora… ahora volvemos a… Tom Barack le presentó a Ali Z un mensaje claro. No hay lugar para las facciones en las instituciones del Estado iraquí. Y esto parece un artículo de otro lugar que están republicando. Y también tuiteó… tuiteó en la plataforma X. Vean, nunca la voy a llamar X. Tuiteó.14:35
Muy bien. Entonces aquí está el trato con esto. Vean este Cormore, incluso aquí lo tienen diferente. Así que él está ahí lidando con eso. Y dice, no solo está dando atención especial a ese campo de gas… no solo atención especial a ese campo de gas, también atención especial al pueblo iraquí. Muy bien. Y tuiteó, y esto es un duplicado. Necesito borrar eso. Muy bien. Aquí. El Ministerio de Finanzas zanja el debate. No habrá nuevas adiciones al presupuesto general después de que su preparación esté completa. Así que él publicó esto. Ahora, ¿por qué estoy contento con esto? Una vez que el Consejo de Ministros establezca todo lo que van a establecer, el parlamento no puede hacer cambios. Así que están haciendo todas estas cosas, todo este hablar y volver a hablar y todo, y van a dejarlo establecido y… una vez que esté listo y lo envíen, no creo que eso vaya a pasar este año. Lo sé. Sé que no quieren oír eso, pero se los digo. Verán por qué.16:12
Bien. Ahora llegamos al punto, casi a la mitad. Si quieren apoyar a mis FX buddies, y algunos de ustedes lo hacen, les encanta apoyarme y se los agradezco mucho. Y las formas gratuitas de hacerlo son… ¿qué? Hacer clic en el me gusta. Sí, el botón de me gusta. Consideren suscribirse. ¿Y cuál es ese? Hagan clic. Ding. Muy bien. Hagan clic en el botón de compartir. Consideren. Bien. Y luego hypearlo. Hypeen el video.16:47
Muy bien. Gracias. Gracias a los que lo hacen. Oh, y quería responder a alguien… alguien hizo una pregunta. Oh, bueno, no voy a recordarla. Porque como dije, hay tantas cosas y mi mente está yendo en como 50 direcciones diferentes. De todas formas. Entonces, si quieren enviar un regalo, consideren un Super Thanks de YouTube. Cuando este blog esté en vivo, el enlace de Buy Me a Coffee estará activo. Cash App siempre está activo. Signo de dólar dishwash… ¿necesito ver si tienen…? Siempre estoy hablando de Cash App. Ustedes ni siquiera saben. Digo: deberían tener un Cash App. Pueden obtener descuentos. Pueden hacer esto. Pueden tener acciones. Pueden tener ahorros, ¿verdad? Siempre estoy hablando de eso, pero bueno. Así que bien, hay este podcast que no escucho, pero se metieron en grandes problemas. Y Cash App era uno de sus patrocinadores. Así que dije: ¿qué? ¿Cash App patrocina a gente? Necesito que me patrocine Cash App. Pero de todas formas, bueno, perdieron ese patrocinio, pero sí. Bien. Y PayPal está ahí, ya saben. Y está el pequeño código QR. Grande o pequeño, se los agradezco a todos. Gracias de antemano por su generosidad.18:20
Muy bien. Y ahí está la canción. Dios todavía tiene las respuestas. Bien. Entonces, ahora aquí está la otra cosa. Oh, esto fue el Parlamento. El Parlamento está hablando de que no podemos hacer el presupuesto actual a menos que finalicemos las cuentas de años anteriores. Ahora, yo sé esto… en todo el tiempo que he estado en esto ha habido gente más inteligente que yo, más bien conectada, y siempre han dicho eso también: que no se puede hacer un nuevo presupuesto sin equilibrar, reconciliar o lo que sea de presupuestos pasados, pero nunca lo vi por escrito. Ahí está. Pero aunque esto es sobre controlar los ingresos de los puertos, todavía tiene sentido. ¿Y se imaginan tratar de reconciliar esos registros de los puertos? Oh, aquí hay otra cosa sobre digitalizar el dinero. Viene una revolución bancaria. Así que sí, esto solo hablaba de cómo quieren alejarse de las transacciones en papel, pero la gente todavía usa efectivo. De hecho, hay un artículo… bueno, vi un titular, pero no pude conseguir el artículo. Hay alguien pidiendo un billete más pequeño porque recuerden que posiblemente… acaban de imprimir más billetes de 50,000 y esta persona… y es solo una persona en la calle porque está en una tienda, ¿verdad? Pero espero que salga donde pueda traducirlo y luego si vale la pena hablar de ello hablaremos, pero los ciudadanos están en eso. Saben lo que quieren y lo quieren ahora. ¿Verdad? Bien. Entonces aquí el Banco Mundial afirma su apoyo a los esfuerzos para desarrollar la gestión financiera en Irak. Y antes nos emocionábamos tanto con eso. Y ahora es como: sí, sí, solo háganlo. Un poco menos de conversación, un poco más de acción. Sí. Me encanta Elvis. Desde que tenía 11 años, me encanta Elvis. Elvis.20:41
Muy bien. Y es tan gracioso. La primera persona, sé que no les importa, pero la primera persona que me presentó a Elvis fue una señora de habla hispana… una señora de habla hispana porque no podías llamarla mexicana. No era mexicana. Era española. Bien. Pero sí. Oh, y se sabía todas las letras, todas las canciones. Y sí, yo me sentaba ahí. De todas formas. Muy bien. Esto es bueno. También, conversaciones iraquí-estadounidenses para activar los resultados de la visita a Washington. Así que hubo varias reuniones realmente sobre esto. Y aquí, Steven Fagan está en esto. Así que sabemos que hay al menos dos memorandos de entendimiento con compañías petroleras estadounidenses que están tratando de pasar de memorando de entendimiento a un contrato real, ¿verdad? Y también… veamos. No, eso no es lo que es. Pero sí, así que están sacando a relucir que se firmaron 48 acuerdos cuando Ali Z fue a Washington en julio, pero creo que cuando Sudani… creo que él hizo como cien y algo. Así que hay un montón de memorandos ahí afuera esperando a convertirse en contratos reales o como se les llame.22:16
Bien. Entonces estos siguientes artículos son todos sobre el presupuesto, pero ¿adivinen qué? Están obsoletos. Ustedes están obsoletos. Eh, pero si quieren leerlos… entonces… ¿dónde está? Quería encontrar… Aquí hay un miembro del parlamento, un miembro actual del parlamento urgiendo al gabinete a acelerar la presentación del presupuesto. Luego este tipo, está diciendo: si no llevan el presupuesto a la mesa el martes, nos vamos de vacaciones porque ya se supone que nos íbamos el 1 de noviembre. Y lo extendimos del 1 de noviembre al 1 de diciembre y no tienen el presupuesto. Así que nos vamos. No. No. Volveremos si lo tienen todo listo. Volveremos a votarlo y ver… especialmente ahora que no pueden hacer ningún cambio. ¿Para qué necesitan quedarse? ¿Verdad? Cuando tengan el presupuesto, solo van a tener que leerlo y aprobarlo. Así que sí, pero por eso dije que probablemente no va a pasar. Especialmente entonces, vean, él dice: el Parlamento está a punto de comenzar su segundo receso legislativo la próxima semana. Y si no se reciben los horarios y los ítems antes de entonces, entonces la finalización y aprobación del presupuesto ciertamente se retrasará hasta después del próximo año. Así que no era solo yo diciendo eso. Eso es una persona en el parlamento. Y aquí hay otro economista y está hablando de todas las cuentas. No hay nuevo presupuesto sin cuentas finales de años anteriores. Así que vean, esa gente era inteligente que sabía eso.24:14
Muy bien. Y pueden leer eso de $58 por el petróleo. Quieren evitar la doble imposición. Todas estas cosas. Bien. Aquí hay otra persona. Creo que casi terminamos. Sí, casi terminamos. El dólar continúa subiendo y un economista revela la razón detrás de la diferencia entre… Oh, quería mostrarles a cuánto cerró. Cerraron a 1694, 1680, 1685, 1687. Así que, y recuerden cómo siento que cuando está tan alto por escrito, están pagando 1,700, ¿verdad? Porque ya saben, el lugar agrega sus pequeñas comisiones, ¿verdad?25:10
Bien. Entonces este tipo lo que está diciendo es que al cerrar ese banco Alai… eso está agregando a la tasa porque en ese banco tenían una red de Western Union y la gente solía enviar y recibir dólares a través de eso y esa es probablemente parte de la razón por la que… bueno, no están cerrados, tienen un interventor, ¿verdad? Y también porque disminuyeron la cantidad de dólares que los viajeros pueden obtener. Estamos en la temporada de viajes. Y así dice que eso significa que van a obligar a estudiantes, pacientes y las otras personas que legítimamente pueden obtener dólares a ir al mercado paralelo, poniendo así presión sobre la tasa del dólar. Así que aquí están hablando del hijo Barzani. ¿Adivinen a quién fue a reunirse? Maliki. Sí, claro que sí. Fue a reunirse con Maliki.26:23
Muy bien, veamos. Aquí está. Entonces Ali Z hizo una visita no anunciada al vecino. Así que supongo que ya está de vuelta. Pero están hablando de ello en voz alta y llevó un mensaje de… ¿adivinen de quién? Llevando la propuesta del presidente de Estados Unidos, Ali Z hace una visita no anunciada a Teherán. Así que si quieren leer sobre eso. Entonces, Kalibaf aquí es este. A veces tienen una Q ahí. A veces tienen una G ahí. ¿Verdad? Expresó su aprecio por los esfuerzos de Irak. Discúlpenme. Todo está bien. Bien. Eh, por tratar de mediar. Así que sí.27:26
Y aquí otra vez, miren, aquí está. No creo que esa sea una foto real, pero podría serlo. Este es un paisaje… no, un hito. Este es un hito en Bagdad. Y ahí está él en su traje de trabajo. ¿Verdad? Así que sí, pasó todo el día. De hecho, puede que todavía esté allí porque no veo nada que diga que regresó a casa. Y aquí también se reunió con Ali Z y discutieron el petróleo, los salarios y el presupuesto de 2027. Así que también, si leen esto, creo que discutieron la ley de petróleo y gas también. Así que vean, es un buen día. Regular la gestión de la riqueza petrolera en el país. Esa es la ley de petróleo y gas.28:26
Muy bien. Eh, había una cosa más que quería mostrarles. No la veo, sin embargo. Tal vez esa fue esa. Oh, aquí solo… déjenme mostrarles. Alise, dio un discurso. Oh, bájale el volumen. Bájale el volumen. Bien. Está en árabe. Por supuesto que está en árabe. Pero miren, ¿no parece que está afuera? Está tan brillante. Parece que está afuera, ¿verdad? Solo muestro. No. O saben qué, tal vez sí lo están. Tal vez están bajo una carpa, ¿verdad? Pero miren ahora. ¿Ven? Entonces miré porque busco cosas así. Todos son hombres de negocios. No veo a ninguna gente tribal. ¿Ven a alguna gente tribal? Tal vez esta persona de aquí, podrían ser kurdos. No sé, pero… y no sé qué está diciendo. Bueno, sí lo sé. Sé que le dijo a parte de la gente… quiero decir, parte de su discurso fue que está cansado de hombres viejos viviendo en carpas. No quiere que los hombres viejos tengan que sacar hipotecas enormes para vivir en una casa. Esa fue una cosa que sé que dijo. Así que voy a tratar de conseguir más… más traducción de lo que dijo en ese discurso porque es importante. Todavía lo están pasando. Es importante para ellos. Todavía están pasando fragmentos en las noticias. Oh, sí. Quería mostrarles. Oh, creo que lo cambiaron.30:28
Esto es… este es el canal 8, pero había algo que quería mostrarles, pero no está aquí. Bueno. De todas formas. Muy bien. Eso va a ser todo. Gracias otra vez. Gracias por pasar un poco más de 30 minutos conmigo. A menos que lo aceleren, entonces es incluso menos de 30 minutos, ¿verdad? Eh, sí. Acumulen. Así que no sé si pueda hacer otro. No sé. Las cosas simplemente están locas, ¿saben? Y es lunes y hay fútbol del lunes por la noche, aunque no estoy seguro de quién está jugando. Muy bien. Así que acumulen mientras esperamos a que la tasa se aprecie. No se salten ninguna comida y paguen todas sus cuentas. Oh, esperen. ¿Mencioné que estaban mostrando al presidente de Estados Unidos decir…? Sí. Sí. Sí, lo hice. Lo hice. Bien. Ya metí todo lo que quería. Bien. Sí. No se salten ninguna cuenta y paguen todas sus cuentas. Disfruten el resto de su mañana, noche, mediodía, cualquier momento en el que estén disfrutando este contenido y hasta la próxima.
