The President of the Republic affirms to the Governor of the Central Bank the necessity of strengthening the Iraqi dinar.
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President Nizar Amidi emphasized to the Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq, Ali Al-Alaq, on Saturday (April 25, 2026), the necessity of strengthening the Iraqi dinar and continuing reforms.
A statement from the Presidency, received by Baghdad Today, indicated that "President Nizar Amidi received the Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq, Ali Al-Alaq, who offered his congratulations on assuming the presidency."
The President expressed his "gratitude and appreciation for the kind congratulations," stressing "the importance of cooperation between monetary and financial institutions in supporting economic stability and achieving sustainable development."
The President emphasized "the necessity of strengthening the Iraqi dinar and continuing reforms," noting that "the Presidency supports the bank's monetary policies that contribute to improving the standard of living for citizens and stimulating growth in the country."
Warnings about the cost of delaying the 2026 budget
Warnings are increasing about the economic repercussions of the delay in approving the (2026) budget, amid fears of continued losses and worsening uncertainty in the markets.
In response to these warnings, the Finance Committee in the House of Representatives believes that the state has limited options to address the crisis, most notably resorting to borrowing laws or enacting an emergency law similar to the Food Security Law, but activating these options remains contingent on an official request from the government.
The Prime Minister’s financial advisor, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, confirmed that the Iraqi economy, which relies heavily on government spending as a major driver of growth, is directly affected by any delay in approving the budget, explaining that this turns into a recession factor that affects both the public and private sectors and creates a prolonged state of instability.
He pointed out that the most prominent repercussions are the disruption of investment projects, especially new ones, as a result of the lack of financial allocations, which negatively affects the labor market through a decline in employment opportunities and an increase in unemployment rates.
Iran announces the establishment of a barter system for goods and services with Iraq.
Fars News Agency quoted Al-Ishaq as saying that the economic relationship between Iran and Iraq, from a commercial and geopolitical perspective, has a strategic position in regional equations. Iraq is one of the most important non-oil export destinations for Iran, and it exports billions of dollars worth of goods, technical and engineering services, and energy to it annually.
Al-Ishaq added that this level of cooperation, in addition to promoting the economic growth of the two countries, has created job opportunities, developed infrastructure, and deepened economic convergence. The commonalities and extended land borders have provided a suitable platform for expanding cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, and transportation, making this relationship one of the main pillars of economic interactions between the two countries.
Source close to the coordinating framework: The shape of the next Iraqi government depends on the negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
Political researcher Ali Nasser, who is close to the Coordination Framework, revealed the worsening internal disputes among the framework's leaders regarding the selection of a prime ministerial candidate.
It is likely that the lack of consensus and the divergence of positions will lead to the name of Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani being put forward again as a compromise candidate.
Nasser confirmed in a statement to Kurdistan 24 that the form and nature of the next Iraqi government are largely dependent on the outcome of the anticipated negotiations between Tehran and Washington.
The Maliki complex and the power struggle between factions
The political researcher explained that disagreements still dominate the corridors of the coordination framework, attributing this primarily to "the insistence of the leader of the State of Law Coalition, Nouri al-Maliki, on nominating himself for the position of Prime Minister, an endeavor that enjoys the support of about 10 parties within the framework."
Nasser pointed to another front of disputes, namely "the fierce competition between Bassem Al-Badri and Ihsan Al-Awadi to win the same position."
He added that the continuation of this deadlock leaves the door open to "the possibility that the framework forces will have to return to the option of re-nominating Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to take over the formation of the new government."
Resorting to parliamentary weight and exceeding constitutional deadlines
Nasser ruled out the possibility that the current meetings of the framework leaders would produce any decisive outcomes, explaining that "voices are scattered and there is no real consensus, and it is unlikely that they will be able to resolve this thorny issue within the specified constitutional timeframes."
He pointed to an organizational problem that hinders consensus within the Shiite alliance, which is the decision-making mechanism; where “the votes of the forces that make up the coordinating framework are equal regardless of the size of their electoral representation, so we find equality between a bloc that has a large number of parliamentary seats and another that has only one seat.”
Nasser predicted that if this deadlock continues, "the major powers may resort to imposing their (parliamentary weight) to break this equation and resolve the dispute."
External factor: Washington and Tehran
Regarding regional and international influences, the political researcher close to the coordination framework suggested that the political process would exceed its constitutional timeframe, coinciding with the "anticipated negotiations between Iran and the United States of America."
Nasser stressed that "the results of those negotiations will be directly and explicitly reflected in the shape of the next Iraqi government."
He pointed out that "it is not yet clear whether the outcomes of the dialogue will be in the interest of Tehran or Washington, especially since Iraq has shared economic and investment interests with American companies."
Nasser concluded his remarks to Kurdistan 24 by stressing that "in light of this sensitive stage, the decision-maker in Iraq must carefully review his calculations and place the country's supreme national interests at the forefront of priorities."
Restrictions on dollar flow: Imbalance between regulation and economic stability
The restrictions on the flow of dollars into the Iraqi market reveal a deeper problem in the management of fiscal policy, which is the attempt to achieve stability through regulatory measures that may lack balanced economic alternatives.
Warnings are increasing within economic and political circles about the potential repercussions of continuing restrictions on the flow of dollars into the Iraqi market at a time when the local economy relies heavily on imports to secure most of its basic commodity needs, and that any further tightening of the monetary policy related to hard currency could directly affect price stability and increase the living burdens on citizens.
negative repercussions
In this regard, MP Abbas Al-Maliki stressed that “the continued restrictions on the flow of dollars into the Iraqi market may negatively affect price stability and import activity,” warning that “any further tightening of financial procedures will lead to increased pressure on traders and a rise in the cost of basic commodities.”
He added that “the Iraqi market is still heavily dependent on imports, which makes it more sensitive to any change in the availability of hard currency,” indicating that “this could open the door to new waves of inflation if it is not addressed quickly.”
He explained that “the current government measures seek to regulate the market and control the movement of the dollar, but their effectiveness still needs greater enhancement to ensure that the citizen is not directly affected.”
Reassessment of fiscal policies
In this context, MP Shaker Mahmoud stressed that “relying on financial pressure tools such as restricting the dollar is no longer acceptable, especially with its negative repercussions on internal and external trade,” indicating that “the Iraqi economy is bearing the cost of decisions that have nothing to do with it.”
He added that “the continuation of these measures without alternative solutions or clear understandings reflects a flaw in the management of international economic relations, calling on the government to take broader action to protect the financial system from any external disturbances.”
There is an urgent need to reassess dollar -related monetary policies, as market stability cannot be achieved through measures alone, but rather through a carefully considered balance between regulation and currency availability. Furthermore, any delay in addressing the issue could widen the circle of economic pressure on citizens and the market.
Al-Marsoumi told Al-Mirbad: A financial gap threatens May salaries, and the solutions lie between borrowing and printing money.
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Academic and economic expert Nabil Al-Marsoumi confirmed that the salaries of employees in Iraq are secured for the current month, given that the funding for April’s salaries depends on the oil exports of last February.
Al-Marsoumi told Al-Mirbad that the problem the government will face is funding the salaries for next May, given that there was a shortage in oil exports during last March and there will be a financial gap of 5 trillion Iraqi dinars.
Al-Marsoumi added that there are several solutions that can be implemented to resolve the problem, including internal borrowing from government banks or foreign borrowing. He also noted that the government could print more banknotes to overcome the problem, pointing out that the salary problem will remain unresolved as long as the Strait of Hormuz is closed to Iraqi oil exports.
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Experts: Shifting towards modern systems is essential for economic recovery.
A number of officials, economic experts, and bankers stressed that adopting the concepts of governance, risk management, and compliance (GRC) in Iraqi institutions is no longer an organizational option, emphasizing that it is a strategic imperative to ensure the stability, sustainability, and competitiveness of institutions in a rapidly changing business environment.
Those concerned also see that governance represents a fundamental pillar for developing institutional performance and achieving a balance between oversight and efficiency, as well as enhancing public confidence in the financial and banking sectors.
Participants in the Governance, Risk Management and Compliance Forum, which was attended by Al-Sabah, pointed out the need to move from traditional methods to modern systems that rely on strategic planning and advanced technologies, in line with global standards and the requirements of sustainable development, noting that the current stage requires a real institutional reform that keeps pace with the accelerating economic and administrative challenges.
Global standards
The Prime Minister’s advisor, Aqeel al-Khazali, told Al-Sabah: “Iraqi institutions need to develop work mechanisms and keep pace with global standards, indicating that many Iraqi institutions still suffer from relying on traditional methods of work, which limits their ability to keep pace with modern economic and administrative developments, and affects the level of performance in the current stage.”
Al-Khazali explained that this issue represents a real challenge that requires a review of the mechanisms of work within public and private institutions, and a move towards more flexible and modern systems that rely on strategic planning and modern technologies, in line with the requirements of sustainable development. He pointed out that the forum is of great importance at this time, especially in light of the rapidly escalating economic challenges and risks facing the world, which requires strengthening cooperation between public and private financial institutions to ensure stability and achieve growth.
He added that looking to the future should be based on real standards and a clear vision that takes into account the economic and administrative developments taking place in the world.
Risk management
In this context, Hisham Khalid Abbas, Managing Director of Bayt Al-Hikma Company, the organizer of the forum, explained to Al-Sabah newspaper that the Iraqi environment, in light of rapid technological advancements, requires everyone to reconsider traditional work methods and move towards a change in mindset that aligns with the demands of the modern era and economic and administrative transformations. He pointed out that the current stage necessitates a serious examination of the concepts of governance, risk management, and compliance, and working to activate their role within public and private institutions, considering them fundamental pillars for achieving institutional stability and ensuring transparency and efficiency in performance. Abbas stated to Al-Sabah that adopting sound and well-considered policies in this field contributes to building a safer and more organized work environment, enhances the confidence of local and international investors and partners, and supports sustainable development paths. He noted that Iraq possesses significant opportunities for institutional and economic advancement, but this requires a genuine commitment to implementing modern systems and benefiting from successful global experiences to achieve tangible results on the ground.
Institutional advancement
For his part, the Chairman of the Board of Al-Nasik Islamic Bank, Dr. Mahmoud Dagher, pointed out that the lack of trust between banks and the public is one of the most prominent challenges facing the banking sector, noting that achieving success and financial stability cannot be done without building bridges of trust and strengthening the relationship between banking institutions and citizens.
Dagher explained to Al-Sabah that achieving this trust requires adopting the principles of governance and compliance in a real and effective manner, as they are the basis for organizing banking work and ensuring transparency, accountability and commitment to modern professional and administrative standards. He added that boards of directors bear a great responsibility in this process, through setting clear policies, following up on their implementation and developing the banking work environment in a way that achieves efficiency and stability, which directly reflects on restoring public confidence in banks and enhancing their role in supporting the national economy.
He stressed the importance of boards of directors adopting the risk management file with precision and high awareness, in order to identify the right paths and make appropriate decisions, and to give the “green light” to banking operations based on well-thought-out principles that reduce risks and ensure the safety of performance and the sustainability of success.
Governance and compliance
In his speech, the representative of the Ministry of Commerce, Malik Khalaf Al-Duraie, stressed the importance of governance, risk management and compliance, noting that they have become an inevitable necessity to achieve a balance between performance and control within institutions, which contributes to raising work efficiency and enhancing transparency and institutional commitment.
Al-Duraiei explained that the Ministry of Commerce strongly believes in this approach and is constantly working to develop risk management and compliance mechanisms, considering them the cornerstone in establishing the principles of commitment and improving the reality of institutional performance, in line with the requirements of the current stage and the economic and administrative challenges. He indicated that this indicator represents an important element in developing institutional performance, and reflects the extent of the institutions’ ability to deal with changes and make sound decisions based on solid scientific and administrative foundations.
Administrative framework
As for the financial expert, Raed Ibrahim Al-Zuhairi, he believes that financial and banking institutions must be framed by a system of corporate and banking governance, as it is the administrative framework that ensures sound management, effective oversight, and achieving the highest levels of discipline and transparency in work. He explained that governance is not just an administrative system, but rather an integrated system that includes oversight, monitoring, and accountability, and ensures that all administrative and functional levels are subject to continuous review, which contributes to reducing errors and making decisions based on accurate mathematical equations and well-studied financial policies.
Al-Zuhairi pointed out in an interview with Al-Sabah that risk management is a fundamental aspect of protecting institutions from losses, noting that it helps in predicting potential problems and developing proactive solutions before they worsen, which enhances financial stability and maintains the sustainability of the business.
Now... a meeting at the Government Palace to try to break the deadlock over the prime ministerial candidate.
The government palace in Baghdad is currently witnessing - after midnight tonight - a meeting that includes a number of Shiite political leaders, in an attempt to discuss solutions to the crisis of naming the next prime minister, after the forces of the coordination framework failed to agree on a mechanism for deciding the nomination.
A well-informed political source told Shafaq News Agency that the meeting focuses on "smoothing things over" between the framework forces, and searching for a way out that allows the transition from the stage of disagreement over names and the selection mechanism, to a consensus formula that can be passed within the Shiite house.
This comes in conjunction with a new postponement of the Coordination Framework meeting that was scheduled to decide on its candidate for prime minister, amid continued disagreement among its leaders regarding the figure who will be tasked with forming the next government.
According to the source, the dispute is no longer limited to the name of the candidate only, but also includes the nomination mechanism itself, and whether the decision will be made by political consensus or by voting within the framework, as well as the guarantees related to the distribution of ministerial portfolios.
The forces of the Coordination Framework have been experiencing a series of faltering meetings for days, under the pressure of the constitutional deadline to task the candidate of the largest bloc with forming the government, after the election of the President of the Republic, while political sources speak of intensive attempts to avoid the disputes moving into a new stage of political deadlock.
Iraqi citizens criticize, via Rudaw, the framework's delay in naming a candidate for prime minister.
, Sunday, April 26, 2026, marks the constitutional deadline for the coordinating body to select a candidate for the next prime minister.
Rudaw Media Network interviewed several Baghdad residents about the nature of the disagreements among these leaders, which consistently lead to their meetings failing to reach a conclusion and being repeatedly postponed.
Falah Abdullah, a civil activist, told Rudaw Media Network: "There are internal disagreements and interference, but I believe that the veto imposed on the current and former prime ministers was one of the problems that hindered the appointment of a prime minister."
Mohammed Salman, an athlete, told Rudaw: "This isn't the first time, and it's not surprising that the country is delaying the appointment of a prime minister. Everyone knows that regional powers have a significant influence on the selection process."
Huda al-Rubaie, a photographer, stated that "the political blocs don't trust each other, aren't looking for a competent candidate, and there is foreign interference. These are all the reasons."
In the same vein, political analyst Dr. Anwar al-Moussawi stated, "Some believe their candidate is the best and capable of shouldering future responsibilities. Conversely, they argue that there is corruption and a lack of coordination with armed groups, which they consider weaknesses."
Lawyer Hussein al-Moussawi expressed his opinion, saying, "The issue revolves around political interests and conflicts. There is no understanding among them. The Coordination Framework should have resolved the matter and selected the prime minister based on principles that serve the country, ensuring he is a qualified individual for this critical phase Iraq is going through."
Similarly, Hassan al-Obeidi, an employee, remarked, "In my opinion, the current situation is an American-Iranian conflict, and this is what is preventing the formation of a government."
The nomination of the prime minister has been a point of contention for over four months, amidst divisions within the Coordination Framework. Several meetings have been postponed to allow more time for consultations among the parties.
The Coordination Framework holds 164 seats out of the more than 180 seats held by Shia forces in parliament.
Coalition member Khalid Walid told Rudaw Media Network on Saturday (April 25, 2026), following a meeting of the Coordination Framework leaders on Friday night that failed to reach an agreement, that "the previous phase witnessed attempts to push through nominations that lacked national acceptance, including the earlier selection of Maliki with ten votes, which was thwarted by internal reservations within the Framework and rejection from the broader national political sphere."
Walid added that "pursuing compromise candidates proved fruitless, as no candidate was able to secure the required majority for approval, either among members of the Framework or within the Council of Representatives," noting that insisting on disregarding the results did not resolve the crisis.
According to the constitution, the Coordination Framework has 15 days (starting April 11, 2026) to finalize its candidate and submit him to the President of the Republic.
A member of the Reconstruction and Development Coalition explained that “our nomination of Al-Sudani is ongoing and there is no going back on it, as he represents the first winner in these elections, and choosing him is a positive and direct message to the public who cast their vote,” considering that any talk of a “compromise candidate” or hinting at “early elections” would represent a negative message that undermines the voter’s confidence and repeats crises related to the interpretation of the “largest bloc” and electoral entitlements.
Walid concluded his statement by saying, "There is still an opportunity to correct the course within the framework and reach a decision before the deadline expires next Sunday," warning that the deadline passing without an agreement would leave the House of Representatives with open options that could lead to new crises, further complicating the political landscape.
According to the constitution, the candidate tasked with forming the government must present his ministerial program and the names of his cabinet members to parliament within a maximum period of 30 days to obtain a vote of confidence.
Alawi: Iran is angry with some parties and its future policy is based on zero tolerance.
Ali Alawi, a member of the State of Law Coalition, confirmed the existence of Iranian anger towards some Iraqi parties, noting that Iran's new policy is based on not being diplomatic, but rather on clearly stating who stands with it and who works against it.
Alawi told Al-Maalouma, "There is Iranian anger towards some political parties within the coordination framework, especially since these parties have adopted the guise of Shiite resistance. Iran no longer tolerates such parties, particularly under the new leader of the Islamic Revolution, Sayyid Mojtaba Khamenei."
He added, "The recent messages received from Iran indicate the end of the policy of remaining neutral. Therefore, Tehran wants a clear stance: either stand with it or go to the other side, i.e., against it."
He explained that "Iran is now moving to determine who is still with it and who is against it, especially the parties that Tehran worked to support in the past. These parties are present not only within the coordination framework but also within the various political groups."
Al-Jalabi: Linking the nomination of the Prime Minister to the election of the President of the Republic is one of the biggest mistakes of the constitution.
Al-Jalabi said, during his appearance on the “Free Talk” program on Al-Furat satellite channel: “There is a custom that has risen to the level of law and constitution since 2003 until 2021, which stipulates that the presidencies should be a single basket, and this did not come about arbitrarily, but was imposed by circumstances.”
He pointed out that "the coordination framework fell into the trap of 2021 when the obstructing third tried to dismantle the Shiite house," indicating that "it is facing the same situation today by not deciding on a candidate for prime minister before going to elect the president of the republic."
He stressed that "without withdrawing Nouri al-Maliki's nomination by the framework, no other figure can be nominated," calling for "resolving the issue quickly and avoiding confusion."
He explained that "the coordination framework works intelligently and has constants in the file of assigning the prime minister; however, it faces external pressures and the whims of countries, which requires standing firm against these challenges."
Iraq rejoins international express mail network after ten-year absence
BAGHDAD — Iraq has rejoined the Express Mail Service Cooperative of the Universal Postal Union after more than a decade’s absence, the Ministry of Communications announced Saturday.
The ministry said the achievement, realized through the General Company for Post and Savings, marks “an important strategic step reflecting Iraq’s strong return to the international postal services system.” It described the move as a milestone in modernizing the postal sector that would raise performance efficiency, accelerate express mail transfers and strengthen confidence among international partners.
The EMS Cooperative is a UN body grouping more than 170 national postal operators around a shared express delivery network — one that takes priority over standard international mail and spans the majority of the world’s countries. Its parent organization, the Universal Postal Union, sets the rules governing international mail exchange among its 192 member states and has served as the primary intergovernmental forum for postal cooperation since 1874.
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