Washington leans on Iraqi banks to choke Iran's dollar supply
Iraq is a key hub allowing Iran access to the international financial system, but the US is turning up the pressure on the country's banking system.
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The US is tightening its maximum pressure grip on Iran by focusing on one of the key hubs that allows Tehran access to the international financial system: Iraq.
In the latest wave of tightening financial measures, Washington targeted public and private Iraqi lenders facilitating Iranian access to international financial markets.
US pressure on the Iraqi banking system is hard to overstate, with 34 of the 44 private banks in Iraq under sanctions, leaving ten lenders with full access to the banking system.
Regional analysts estimate that Iraq facilitates and effectively launders $300 million of Iranian capital a day.
A Reuters report in February suggested that more private lenders will follow should the Central Bank fail to rein in capital flows to Iran. The Central Bank of Iraq itself could be subject to US sanctions.
The banking system is central to a broader Iranian nexus of influence in the country. Many of the lenders appear to be handling the payroll, supplies, and financial transactions of Iran-backed paramilitary groups and militias. They also help Iran to do its business far from US sanctions.
As a result, many leaders of political groups across the political spectrum in Iraq are involved in lucrative business with Iran and are not willing to give up these benefits so easily. This puts added pressure on the Iraqi government when implementing reforms that would halt these kinds of interactions.
The scope of this trade has expanded beyond Iran to include cooperation with Turkey, Lebanon, and Syria. According to some sources, the volume of Turkish money laundering in Iraq is at least four times that of Iran.
According to Iraqi banker Abed Rab al-Heidari, Iraqi lenders are not merely involved in money laundering on behalf of Iranian individuals and groups, but also Turkish, Syrian, and Lebanese individuals.
This phenomenon is predicated on political protection, but under pressure from Washington, the government is willing to combat money laundering and implement the necessary reforms. There is political pushback, however, as many parties are tied to this financial system, particularly militias.
"The armed groups are fundamentally unwilling to accept any Iraqi government directive or limit the scope of their activity," al-Heidari told The New Arab.
The banker highlighted the case of an individual detained and sentenced to life imprisonment for money laundering and capital transfers from Syria to Iraq. Following political pushback, his sentence was commuted to 15 years.
The problem with Iraqi lenders
What distinguishes Iraq's trade with Iran is its disregard for the US dollar ban imposed on Iran. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein that Iraq may continue energy imports from Iran, but cannot give the Iranians a single dollar.
Iraqi financial analyst and banking consultant, Mustafa Hantoush, points out that Baghdad's failure to disrupt Iran’s access to dollar markets is a distinctly Iraqi challenge.
A string of countries across the Levant and West Asia have been engaging in financial transactions with Iranian individuals or entities. The UAE facilitates payments in goods, Oman allows remittances, and Turkey allows trade in gold. Iraqi lenders facilitate dollar transactions, making the country irreplaceable for Iranian capital markets.
The Trump Administration is responsive to calls for sanctions articulated by US Treasury officials and is moving to target Iraqi lenders and, significantly, individual managers and shareholders.
Banking sources told the Iraqi news platform Al-Sa'a that "the sanctions will target the individual owners of at least one of the five private lenders accused of being the banking arm of a militia”.
A key campaigner for this course of action is Republican Congressman Joe Wilson, who has targeted Iraq’s biggest lender, the Rafidain Bank, in a string of social media posts.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a member of the ruling ‘Coordination Framework’ parliamentary coalition suggested to TNA that Wilson’s criticism is valid: shadow banking elicits the complicity of all Iraqi political factions, Sunni, Shia, and Kurdish.
Choking Iraqi banking
To date, the Central Bank of Iraq denies an immediate threat of sanctions while confirming consultations with US Treasury Department officials in the United Arab Emirates. In principle, it is committed to monitoring foreign transfers and dollar cash sales to prevent money laundering.
Washington’s pressure is mounting, moving from private to state-owned lenders, including the Rafidain Bank, the Rashid Bank, the Trade Bank of Iraq, and other specialised institutions focused on agriculture and industrial portfolios, which could threaten economic stability in the country.
Between US regulatory pressure and Iranian-backed militia pushback, Iraq is seeking a resolution via the consolidation of the banking sector. Abiding by International Monetary Fund (IMF) instructions, the government is considering the merger and restructuring of state-owned lenders implicated in money laundering and sanctions evasion.
Initially, the Central Bank of Iraq had been leaning on private lenders to contain the escalation of US sanctions. In February, Iraq’s Central Bank barred five private lenders from engaging in US dollar transactions: Al-Mashreq Al-Arabi Islamic Bank, United Bank for Investment, Al Sanam Islamic Bank, Misk Islamic Bank, and Amin Iraq for Islamic Investment and Finance. This adds to a previous list of eight Iraqi banks hit by similar sanctions in 2024.
Iraq’s response is to merge and restructure state lenders, clearing their portfolios.
“The truth is that most of these Iraqi lenders do not have foreign partners, are bankrupt or on the verge of bankruptcy," according to Youssef Mohammed Hassan, a member of the Iraqi Presidential Law Committee, an advisory body that reviews the constitutionality of legislation. These banks include the state-owned Rafidain and Rashid banks.
According to Mohammed Hassan, Iraq has made restructuring, consolidation, and the cleaning up of problematic asset ledgers conditional on IMF and World Bank supervision. The die is cast.
Government advisor: Linking national banks with their American counterparts provides a means for economic stability.
Advisor to the Prime Minister, Mazhar Mohammed Salih, confirmed that linking up with American banks provides financing and credit lines for trade and investment in Iraq.
Saleh said in press statements monitored by Al-Masry that “as long as Iraq is within the dollar zone, like other OPEC countries, it is in our country’s interest to deal equally with the commercial banking system in the United States as a global correspondent power for national banks, especially when dealing with more than one American bank operating globally and possessing major international branches and arms.”
He added, "The Central Bank of Iraq's efforts to link national banks with major banks and financial institutions in the United States, with more than one bank that enjoys international standing, is an important means of providing economic stability and improving the investment, trade, and development climate in our country."
The Iraqi banking sector between support flexibility and the risk of reserve depletion: A reading of the Fitch report and Central Bank figures
Iraq’s banks at ‘High Risk’: Economic pressures weigh on financial stability (S&P)
Iraq’s banking system is classified as “high risk” due to ongoing challenges in the country’s financial stability, according to credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s.
In its latest assessment, S&P assigned Iraq’s banking sector to group 10—reserved for the most vulnerable systems—alongside countries such as Nigeria and Ukraine, emphasizing that institutional fragility, weak credit conditions, and macroeconomic imbalances were key factors behind the rating.
“The institutional and economic credit environment in Iraq remains very high risk,” the report said, highlighting limited competitiveness and structural vulnerabilities in the financial sector.
Financial expert and former Central Bank (CBI) official Mahmoud Dagher told Shafaq News that the classification has remained unchanged for years. “Major risks—such as sanctions on banks, difficulties in transfers, and regional instability—continue to weigh on Iraq’s system,” he said.
Dagher also pointed to fiscal issues, including deficits and growing debt, as additional pressures contributing to the country’s stagnant credit outlook.
Financial and economic expert Haider Al-Sheikh revealed on Thursday (May 1, 2025) the real reasons preventing the government from sending the 2025 budget tables to the House of Representatives.
In a statement to Baghdad Today, Al-Sheikh said, "Talk about discussing the budget schedules within the Council of Ministers is inaccurate," noting that "the Council returned the schedules to the Ministry of Finance as a result of the decline in oil prices, which caused a significant increase in the financial deficit."
He added, "The budget deficit was estimated at 25% when the price of a barrel of oil was between $73 and $75, but after the price fell to $62, the deficit jumped to nearly 40%."
The sheikh stressed that "the government does not appear serious about submitting the budget schedules to Parliament, given the decline in financial revenues and Iraq's continued near-total dependence on oil to finance its budget and cover its operating and investment expenses."
Iraq relies heavily on oil exports to finance its annual budget, with oil revenues accounting for more than 90% of total revenues. With fluctuating oil prices on global markets, financial plans and government spending are directly affected.
The government had approved a three-year budget for 2023, 2024, and 2025. However, global economic changes and rising deficits prompted a revision of the 2025 budget schedule, delaying its submission to Parliament amid concerns about the impact this would have on investment projects, employee salaries, and essential services.
Why did oil prices drop below $60? An expert answers.
Economist Nabil Al-Marsoumi revealed, on Thursday (May 1, 2025), the reasons for the decline in oil prices to less than $60.
Al-Marsoumi said in a post on his Facebook account, followed by Baghdad Today, that "the first reason is that oil prices have been hit hard by growing concerns about slowing demand, especially with data showing an unexpected contraction in the US economy during the first quarter of this year, while uncertainty over President Donald Trump's trade policies kept demand expectations low."
He added, "Prices were affected by signals from OPEC+ and Saudi Arabia regarding potential increases in OPEC+ oil production starting next June, at a level of no less than 411,000 barrels per day, the same level as this May."
Al-Marsoumi also pointed out that among the reasons is the agreement signed by the Trump administration, early Thursday morning, with Ukraine to establish an investment fund for reconstruction. The agreement grants the United States privileges in accessing new investment projects to develop Ukraine's natural resources, including aluminum, graphite, oil, and natural gas, in what is known as the Minerals Agreement. He indicated that this agreement will greatly facilitate the end of the Russian-Ukrainian war, allowing Russia to produce more crude oil in a market already suffering from an oil glut.
Talabani's party: The oil and gas law is off the agenda for the current session, despite the government's promises.
A member of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), Burhan Sheikh Raouf, confirmed on Thursday that the oil and gas law will not be passed anytime soon, as the current parliamentary term is approaching its end, despite the urgent need to regulate this vital issue.
Raouf told Al-Maalouma, “The current session of Parliament is in its final days, and it is unlikely that the oil and gas law will be passed during the remaining period, even though the draft law has been in existence for nearly twenty years.”
He added that "the current government, headed by Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, had promised to pass the law within the first six months of its formation, but this did not happen due to ongoing disagreements and the failure to reach a final political consensus on it."
He pointed out that "failure to pass the law in this session will postpone the resolution of the oil and gas issue again, despite its importance in resolving the outstanding issues between Baghdad and Erbil, regulating the extraction and export process, and ensuring a fair distribution of revenues."
Political interference is "ravaging" Iraq's economy. What does this mean to experts?
Iraq's private sector suffers from significant weakness and stagnation due to its direct reliance on government funds, whether through salaries or project dues. This has rendered it unable to build an independent economic base.
Experts believe that this over-reliance has made the private sector significantly vulnerable to government financial fluctuations and has contributed to strengthening the state's role in economic activity at the expense of individual initiatives and free investment.
Experts warn that the continuation of this situation threatens the future of the national economy and makes Iraq more vulnerable to financial and political crises in the absence of a strong private sector capable of achieving sustainable growth.
Financial expert Ali Daadoush, for his
part, said, "The significant expansion of the government's role in economic activity has contributed to deepening financial-political dominance, negatively impacting the present and future of the national economy."
In a statement to the Iraq Observer, Daadoush explained that “the expansion of the government’s role is due in part to the private sector’s heavy reliance on government financial releases, whether through salaries and wages (current expenditures) or contractor dues (investment expenditures), which has marginalized the role of the independent private sector.”
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Abu Raghif announces the removal of all restrictions and the official enabling of Iraqi developers to publish on Google Play.
Abu Raghif affirmed in a statement received by {Euphrates News} that: “This step is an advanced practical achievement in the path of national digital transformation, and represents a new start for Iraq’s participation in the global digital economy system,” adding that “this development falls within a series of measures implemented by the Authority to support digital transformation and empower national talent, and is in line with government directions to enhance technological innovation and expand the horizons of the digital economy.”
He pointed out that "opening this official path to Iraqi developers not only represents a gateway to the global market, but also a legal and technical guarantee of their digital rights and a source of enhanced confidence in the Iraqi digital environment."
Abu Raghif explained that "this empowerment came as a result of intensive institutional dialogues conducted by the Authority with international partners, which resulted in addressing restrictions that prevented Iraqi developers from opening Google Play developer accounts. This previously forced them to register in other countries using foreign addresses, numbers, and payment cards, exposing them to multiple risks, most notably account suspension or loss of control."
He added, "Thousands of Iraqi programmers are now able to directly and securely engage in the international app market without the need for intermediaries or informal solutions." He concluded his statement by emphasizing that "the Communications and Media Commission is continuing its efforts to enhance Iraq's digital sovereignty and provide the necessary paths for local talent to engage in the global digital economy," emphasizing "the importance of integrating national regulatory frameworks and international technical partnerships to achieve this goal."
Parliamentary Finance: The economic situation will be difficult
Jamal Kocher, a member of the Iraqi Parliament's Finance Committee, confirmed on Thursday that the country could face a difficult situation if oil prices decline, and that the situation will be limited to securing the operating budget only.
"The Iraqi state's operating budget is 90 trillion dinars," Kocher said. "If oil resources decline and the price of a barrel falls below $60, and the required quantities are not replaced, we will enter a difficult economic situation."
He added, "The government will be in a difficult position and will only be able to secure the operating budget due to the low price of a barrel of oil." He explained that "the government is facing difficulty in submitting the 2025 budget schedules to Parliament for many reasons, most notably the decline in oil prices, and there is no time left due to the start of the election campaign."
An Iraqi cabinet source reported yesterday that the government is considering canceling the 2025 budget due to the drop in oil prices, which has increased the country's fiscal deficit.
The source said, "The Cabinet did not formally discuss the budget schedules in its previous sessions, and Finance Minister Taif Sami informed the Cabinet that there is a significant deficit in the budget schedules."
He added, "Under current conditions, there will be no budget this year due to the decline in oil prices, which has directly impacted financial revenues and increased the deficit in the 2025 budget."
The source explained that "if the budget is cancelled, Finance Minister Taif Sami may issue a decision to release bonuses and promotions for state employees that were halted and delayed due to the budget."
On April 16, the Parliamentary Finance Committee warned against adjusting the price of a barrel of oil in the Iraqi federal budget due to the decline in global oil prices.
Committee member Jamal Koujar stated, "The price of a barrel of oil was set in the general budget law at $70 per barrel. At the time, the price of a barrel of oil was more than $70. It is not yet known whether the government has adjusted the price of a barrel of oil in the budget or not."
Kocher pointed out that "the Iraqi state's operating budget is only 90 trillion dinars, and if the price of a barrel of oil falls below $60 and is not addressed, this will plunge the country into a financial crisis, and the government will spend oil revenues on employee salaries only."
Iraq agrees with German company Siemens to maintain power plants.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani sponsored the signing ceremony of the Energy Cooperation Principles Agreement and two maintenance contracts for the Dibs Gas Power Plant and the Musayyib Thermal Power Plant, between the Ministry of Electricity and the German company Siemens Energy, on Thursday. The ceremony was attended by the German Ambassador to Iraq.
The Prime Minister's media office stated in a statement received by Noon News Agency, that "the energy cooperation agreement/third phase aims to add (14) thousand megawatts to the national grid, which contributes to enhancing the capacity of the electrical system and improving energy service in the country. Two maintenance contracts were also signed, the first for the long-term Dibs gas station, with a capacity of two generating units with a capacity of 340 megawatts, and the other for the Musayyib thermal station for a period of five years to maintain units to produce 750 megawatts, and add 150 megawatts to it and ensure safe operation, maintenance and development of work in it."
During his reception of Siemens CEO Christian Bruch, according to the statement, Al-Sudani stressed "the importance of continuing cooperation between Iraq and Germany in the same spirit and seriousness in working with its new government," noting that "Siemens is a key partner for Iraq in the growth of the energy sector, which constitutes a fundamental nerve for all development sectors."
Al-Sudani stressed that "the government attaches utmost importance to this sector and to the international companies operating in it, including Siemens," noting "the need to strengthen its cooperation with the Ministry of Electricity in the areas of maintenance, production, distribution, and transmission."
For his part, Christian Bruch expressed Siemens' interest in expanding its operations in Iraq, providing the necessary support to the Ministry of Electricity through major strategic projects, and cooperating to support the energy sector, especially after completing maintenance on all units in power plants ahead of schedule this year.
Iraq receives two multi-role military helicopters from Airbus
The Iraqi defense ministry on Wednesday received two tactical transport military helicopters from the French aviation giant Airbus. This is part of a deal signed last year, under which Iraq will also purchase an additional 12 helicopters from Airbus.
The Iraqi defense minister, Thabet al-Abbassi, was cited in a ministry statement as saying that the receipt of these aircraft is “part of a contract between the Iraqi Ministry of Defense and the French Ministry of Defense, to supply the Army Aviation Command with this type of aircraft, which will be received successively after completing the manufacturing process.”
He further noted that the two helicopters will enter service in June, coinciding with the anniversary of the establishment of the Army Aviation Command.
In September 2024, Iraq and Airbus signed an agreement under which the French company will provide Iraq with a total of 14 helicopters, including 12 Airbus H225M helicopters, also known as Caracal.
This agreement is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen defense relations between Baghdad and Paris, following a meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani.
Tahseen al-Khafaji, Director of Media at the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, told Rudaw on Wednesday that, according to the agreement, Airbus will deliver all 14 helicopters by the start of next year.
He also mentioned that the two helicopters that arrived in Baghdad on Wednesday will be handed over to the Iraqi Air Force on May 26.
He also stated that between June and October, six more helicopters will arrive in Baghdad.
IMF sounds alarm: Economic pressures mount on Iraq, non-Gulf oil producers
Iraq and other non-Gulf oil-exporting countries are set to face mounting economic pressure due to declining oil production and shrinking public spending, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned on Thursday.
According to the IMF’s May 2025 Regional Economic Outlook, growth prospects in the Middle East and Central Asia have been revised sharply downward, reflecting diverging performance across countries amid a weakening global outlook.
The report cited heightened global trade tensions, tariff levels not seen in a century, and escalating regional conflicts as major drags on growth across the region.
Real GDP growth in the Middle East and Central Asia is projected to slow to 2.6% in 2025, down from 2.9% in 2024, amid oil production slowdowns and heightened global uncertainty.
For oil-exporting countries overall, growth is expected to decline to 2.4%, driven by a slower recovery in output despite the gradual easing of OPEC+ cuts, and a drop in oil prices to around $66 per barrel.
While non-oil sectors remain strong in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries—supported by public investment and ongoing reforms—non-GCC exporters like Iraq, Algeria, and Iran are under twin pressures: constrained oil output due to sanctions or logistical challenges, and reduced fiscal spending. This has led to sharp downward revisions in their growth forecasts.
Oil-importing countries such as Egypt, Jordan, and Tunisia are expected to see only marginal improvements, hampered by weak external demand, declining aid flows, and higher borrowing costs. In Central Asia, growth is being restrained by slowing investment and lower demand from key trade partners.
Despite headwinds, the IMF noted that Saudi Arabia and Qatar are continuing to benefit from economic diversification efforts and increased foreign direct investment.
Strong non-oil activity in the GCC helped offset the impact of voluntary OPEC+ production cuts, maintaining moderate growth of 2.2% in 2024. Sovereign wealth fund investments and business climate reforms also boosted consumption and private investment.
However, the report warned that growth could soften in the near term due to lower oil prices and persistent global uncertainty.
On the other hand, conflict-hit oil importers such as Sudan, Gaza, and Lebanon face deep economic contractions and humanitarian crises. Egypt’s economy, the report noted, has been negatively affected by declining revenues from the Suez Canal and mounting debt burdens, complicating fiscal consolidation efforts.
The IMF concluded that the region's economic challenges are likely to persist amid growing financial pressures and stalled structural reforms. It called for cautious but comprehensive policy responses to ensure long-term stability and sustainable growth.
Clarification of the Cabinet's decision regarding the withdrawal of tax deposits
A responsible source commented on Thursday (May 1, 2025) on what was circulated on social media and some media outlets regarding a government decision to withdraw tax deposits, stressing that the procedure is legal, announced, and aims to cover basic expenses, most notably salaries.
The source told Baghdad Today, "The sums referred to in the decision were not recorded in a final account within the public treasury, but were used to cover expenses, a practice followed by previous governments and implemented in accordance with a decision announced by the Council of Ministers."
He explained that "the decision included reversing the amounts of trusts from the revenues collected during tax accounting," noting that "the Ministry of Finance, as the competent authority, studied the decision before making it."
The source added, "What happened in the previous government regarding tax deposits could have been avoided if the current procedure had been adopted at the time," considering that "the deliberate distortion and fraud by some parties for electoral purposes not only targets the government, but harms all of Iraq."
He concluded by stressing that "the government is proceeding with its reforms despite attempts to disrupt them, in a manner that ensures the best possible service to the Iraqi citizen."
Decision details: Temporary withdrawal and subsequent settlement.
The Cabinet voted last April to authorize the Minister of Finance to withdraw more than 3 trillion dinars from tax deposits less than five years old to cover salary expenses for the coming months. These amounts will be subsequently settled from monthly tax revenues.
According to observers, this measure is a temporary means of financing to overcome delays in transferring oil revenues from the US Federal Reserve into local currency, without the need for borrowing or delayed salaries.
Despite the technical
nature of the decision, the withdrawal of tax deposits sparked widespread political controversy, with some forces viewing it as a reflection of the fragility of the financial situation and the government's weak ability to manage expenditures without compromising temporary and legally allocated funds.
For its part, the Parliamentary Finance Committee believes that addressing this crisis requires a comprehensive review of fiscal policy, reducing reliance on oil, and enhancing non-rent resources, to avoid the repeated resort to exceptional solutions that could be legally considered controversial.
Iran-US talks in Oman postponed
The latest round of indirect nuclear talks between the United States and Iran mediated by Muscat, scheduled for Saturday, has been postponed for “logistical reasons,” Oman’s foreign minister announced.
“For logistical reasons we are rescheduling the US Iran meeting provisionally planned for Saturday May 3rd. New dates will be announced when mutually agreed,” Badr Albusaidi said on X.
Iran’s foreign ministry confirmed the postponement of the talks, which were set to be held in Rome, saying it came at the request of Oman.
“The next possible date will be announced later,” ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told reporters.
Indirect talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US special envoy Steve Witkoff about Iran’s nuclear program and sanctions relief began on April 12 in Oman, mediated by Albusaidi.
Last week, US President Donald Trump said the talks were “doing very well.”
“We could have a very, very good decision and a lot of lives will be saved,” he added.
After the latest indirect talks, Araghchi said that progress was achieved and they “reached a better understanding on several principles and objectives.”
Under a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Tehran agreed to curb its nuclear enrichment program for much-needed relief from crippling sanctions.
But the deal began unraveling in 2018 when Trump, during his first term, unilaterally withdrew and imposed biting sanctions on the Islamic republic, which in turn began rolling back on its nuclear commitments.
Upon returning to office, Trump in early February restored his “maximum pressure” policy against Tehran, arguing that it is “too close” to a nuclear weapon and seeking a new deal with Tehran.
Tehran has always asserted that its nuclear program is peaceful and that nuclear weapons go against the Islamic republic’s doctrine.
Al-Sudani explains the reason for inviting the Syrian president to the Baghdad summit and Iraq's ambition to host the Iran-US talks.
In press statements monitored by Al Furat News Agency, Al-Sudani stressed Iraq's commitment to Syria's security and stability, considering it a part of Iraqi national security. He expressed his hope that Syria would witness a comprehensive political process that guarantees the rights of all citizens.
In the context of regional relations, Al-Sudani explained that Iraq maintains good relations with both Iran and the United States, affirming Baghdad's support and encouragement for the current negotiations between them. He added that the success of these negotiations will have positive repercussions for the region as a whole, including Iraq.
Regarding relations with Washington, Al-Sudani noted Iraq's efforts to shift toward bilateral relations with the United States, a focus of two rounds of dialogue in Washington. He expressed hope that the third round would be held in Baghdad.
Regarding the Palestinian issue, the Prime Minister emphasized that it is "the root of the problem in the Middle East," expressing his belief that US President Donald Trump is capable of leading global efforts to resolve it.
Al-Sudani explained that "Iraq is experiencing its best situation since the founding of the modern state," adding, "Iraq is not what is often viewed as a war zone. Indicators on the ground are different. Residents of the capital are out and about until late at night, and more than $88 billion in investments have entered the country."
He stressed that "the challenge facing my government is to restore citizens' confidence in state institutions, due to the many setbacks that have occurred over the past two decades."
The Prime Minister stated that "corruption is one of the challenges facing my government, and I have initiated practical, not media-based, measures to combat it."
Al-Sudani to Washington: Sharaa will come to Iraq, and the world will hear his plan from Baghdad.
We are not just a host, we have an initiative.
In an interview with American journalist Tim Constantine, the Iraqi Prime Minister almost settled the controversy surrounding Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa's attendance at the Baghdad summit. He spoke about the importance of the Arab deliberations that have made Iraq more than just a host for the larger Arab summit, but also a party to an initiative that will enable the Syrian leadership to discuss its plan for the future of the political process in Damascus. He also highlighted the importance of relations with Washington and Tehran.
Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, in an interview with American journalist Tim Constantine:
Hosting the Arab Summit in Baghdad is important to affirm Iraq's role and balanced relations in the region. We will not merely be a host country, but rather an initiator of solutions to the various crises facing the Middle East.
Our invitation to the Syrian president came within the well-known protocol of the Arab League system. The legitimate president is the one who represents the Syrian state, regardless of the political process there or the nature of the change. His presence is important in order to clarify to the Arab states his vision for the future of the new Syria, which represents a pivotal issue for us and all Arabs in the security and stability file. We are keen on the stability of Syria, its future, and its reconstruction.
We are keen on the security and stability of Syria because it is part of Iraqi national security. We hope for a comprehensive political process based on guaranteeing the rights of all citizens, respecting human rights, and rejecting extremism and terrorism. We also hope for clear positions on how to build state institutions. This will build stability and enable the new administration to confront challenges. Everyone knows that ISIS is clearly active on Syrian territory, especially after the change. We are keen to support Syria to enhance security there and in the region.
We have good relations with both Iran and the United States. Iran is a neighboring country, and we share a strategic friendship with America. Therefore, we are keen to ensure that dialogue prevails between them to address the differences between the two sides. We support and encourage the current negotiations, and their success will reflect on the region as a whole, and on Iraq as well, because we have faced many challenges due to the tension between Washington and Tehran.
Our relations with the United States are governed by the Strategic Framework Agreement, which opens the door to cooperation with Washington in various fields, not just in the security field. We have a successful experience in security partnership with America, and we fought together against ISIS in one of the most successful alliances in the world. However, we opened a dialogue to arrange the relationship with the international coalition because our country is experiencing stable conditions that are different from what they were in 2014. We seek to shift towards bilateral relations, and this is what we focused on through two rounds of dialogue in Washington, and we hope that the third will be in Baghdad.
The Palestinian issue is the root of the problem in the Middle East, and without a solution, we will continue to face many crises. In my opinion, this issue must be resolved radically, and President Trump is capable of leading global efforts to resolve it. The Palestinians must be heard and their legitimate rights to establish their state on Palestinian lands must be heard. This is consistent with Security Council resolutions and the peace conferences in Oslo, Madrid, and Sharm el-Sheikh. The international community must resolve this issue because it has caused a major rift in the international system and significant damage to the principles upon which this system was founded.
Iraq is experiencing its best situation since the founding of the modern state. There is security and stability, and there is also stability in the political system, despite some reservations. There is also a constitution, freedoms, and a peaceful transfer of power, and there is diversity and a democratic process unique in the region.
Iraq is not what it is often portrayed as: a war zone. The indicators on the ground are different. Residents of the capital walk around late into the night. More than $88 billion in investments have entered the country, the latest of which was the contract with British Petroleum in the Kirkuk oil fields. There are tourists from all over the world, and I saw them in Hatra near the Iraqi-Syrian border. Others are in Ur, a Christian pilgrimage site. So there is a life there that is different from the negative portrayal.
The previous regime executed my father and five members of my family during the Iran-Iraq War. Then came the change and we entered the tunnel of terrorism. So the past four decades have been painful for Iraqis, and what we are trying to do now is compensate them for what happened during the previous period.
The challenge facing my government is to restore citizens' confidence in state institutions, following the many setbacks that have occurred over the past two decades. Therefore, we are focusing on the issues of poverty, unemployment, services, and economic reform. We face significant challenges in these areas, but we have the will and a long road ahead.
Corruption is one of the challenges facing my government, and I have initiated practical, not media-based, measures to combat it, starting with the repatriation of some corrupt foreign nationals and the recovery of half a billion dollars in stolen funds smuggled abroad. We have also moved toward governance and automation to simplify procedures and transactions and block the path of corruption.
The infrastructure projects you see in Baghdad are also present in all the provinces. We are focusing on economic reform. It is not possible for Iraq to remain a rentier state dependent on oil revenues. We have significant resources in the trade, agriculture, industry, and tourism sectors. We have a distinguished geographical location, and we are working on a dream project, which is a development path to link Asia with Europe and create economic partnerships with countries in the region. This is what creates stability in this country.
Security is not the only issue that connects us to the United States. We have significant economic relations and major contracts with major American companies in various fields. The value of our American car imports amounts to $4 billion. The new customs tariffs imposed by President Trump are being imposed on us through a third country. Therefore, we have offered American companies the opportunity to open official agencies directly in Iraq.
Planning: Memoranda of Understanding with advanced countries to train employees outside Iraq
The Ministry of Planning affirmed that training government employees is a priority for enhancing institutional performance, while noting the signing of memoranda of understanding with advanced countries to train employees outside Iraq.
Ministry spokesperson Abdul Zahra Al-Hindawi said that the ministry places a direct emphasis on training and developing the capabilities of employees in all state institutions through the National Center for Administrative Development and Information Technology.
He explained that the National Center organizes, as part of its annual program, numerous training courses in various fields, including management, law, protocol, computers, electronic and financial aspects, and others. Some of these courses are held at the request of government institutions based on their needs.
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