Washington is changing its approach to the Iraqi financial system... and sanctions are on the way.
A comprehensive review of suspicious financial transactions in Iraq, and sanctions are on the way.
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The move announced on Thursday by the US President’s Special Envoy to Iraq, Mark Savaya, means that Washington has moved from merely monitoring and imposing sanctions to threatening to reconsider the entire Iraqi financial system.
The situation in Iraq is delicate, both politically and economically: oil prices are volatile, the dollar is under pressure, public services are slowing, and corruption persists. Therefore, any sanctions on the financial system and its major institutions could affect economic stability and public confidence in banks.
Iraq is also preparing to form a new government, amid increasing pressure from the administration of US President Donald Trump to distance itself from Iran and end the issue of militia weapons, which are accused of exploiting the country's financial system to fund its activities and provide an economic lifeline to its ally Tehran.
“Washington is seeking to cut off the channels that transfer funds through commercial fraud, front companies and complicit financial intermediaries, including routes that may support evading sanctions on Iran and armed groups,” Atlantic Council researcher Yerevan Said told Alhurra.
Saeed points out that the new American plan aims primarily to strengthen the Iraqi financial system and enhance oversight and accountability for banks and payment companies, which may make it more difficult for illegal networks to operate if the Iraqi authorities commit to implementing these measures.
In a tweet on the X platform , Savaya said he discussed with the US Treasury Department and the Office of Foreign Assets Control “key challenges” and “reform opportunities” in Iraqi public and private banks.
He added that an agreement was reached with the Treasury to “conduct a comprehensive review of records of suspicious payments and financial transactions involving institutions, companies and individuals in Iraq, related to smuggling, money laundering and fraudulent financial contracts and projects that fund and enable terrorist activities.”
Savia hinted that the next steps would involve imposing “sanctions targeting malicious entities and networks that undermine financial integrity and state authority.”
Since being appointed special envoy to Iraq, Savaya, who is of Iraqi origin, has consistently attacked armed groups linked to Iran and called for an end to their influence in the country, continuing Trump’s policy of implementing a maximum economic pressure campaign on Tehran.
Over the past years, the United States has imposed sanctions on Iraqi banks and businessmen on charges of violating sanctions imposed on the Iranian regime and providing hard currency (dollars) to Tehran, which is suffering from international isolation due to its nuclear program.
In 2012, the US Treasury Department accused Elaf Islamic Bank of facilitating billions of dinars in transactions for the benefit of the Export Development Bank of Iran, an entity designated by the US for its connection to the Iranian arms program.
This was the first major case in which an Iraqi bank was cut off from the global financial system under the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions Act.
Although sanctions were lifted on the bank in 2013 after it proved it had changed its behavior and frozen the accounts of Iranian entities, the incident revealed a complex “financial engineering” involving several parties to supply Iran with dollars through the currency auction at the Central Bank of Iraq.
This financial engineering has evolved to include political figures. In May 2018, Washington imposed sweeping sanctions on “Al Bilad Islamic Bank” and its chairman, “Aras Habib Karim”.
Investigations revealed that Habib, who served as the Secretary-General of the Iraqi National Congress, acted as a direct financial conduit for transferring funds from the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to the Lebanese Hezbollah, according to a statement issued by the Treasury Department.
Since the end of 2022, the US strategy towards Iraq has changed radically, moving from targeting individual entities to imposing structural controls on dollar flows.
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York, which holds Iraqi oil revenue accounts, began imposing strict standards on international requests for financial transfers, resulting in the rejection of up to 80% of Iraqi banks' requests due to a lack of information about the final destination of the funds.
This shift led to the explosion of the sanctions crisis in July 2023, when the Treasury Department simultaneously banned 14 Iraqi banks from dealing in dollars, and subsequently continued to impose sanctions on other banks.
“Currently, there are approximately 30 banks under sanctions, either by the US Treasury Department or by the Central Bank of Iraq at the direction of the Treasury Department, due to suspicions of corruption, money laundering, and terrorism financing,” economist Abdul Rahman Al-Mashhadani told Al-Hurra.
Al-Mashhadani points out that data from the Ministry of Planning and the General Authority of Customs shows a gap estimated at about $50 billion between the funds transferred for import purposes and the actual value of goods entering the country, suggesting that a large part of these funds may have been used in money laundering operations through companies accused of financing terrorism and smuggling.
“If there are new sanctions, this time they will certainly target individuals, figures, capital owners, traders, or private companies responsible for money laundering operations, given that there is no bank left involved that has not been sanctioned,” Al-Mashhadani adds.
The economic clash reached its peak in October 2025 when the Treasury Department targeted the General Contracting Company of Engineers and its affiliated entities. Washington revealed that the company, overseen by Abu Fadak al-Muhammadawi, was being used as a legal front to facilitate dubious deals and that it owned Baladna Agricultural Investments Company, which served as a cover for importing military technology and weapons from Iran under the guise of "agricultural equipment." This round of sanctions also included three prominent Iraqi bankers.
These classifications prove that the United States has moved to a phase of “dismantling the system” rather than pursuing individuals, considering that the overlap between the Popular Mobilization Forces (as part of the state) and these economic companies represents an existential threat to the Iraqi financial system and its sovereignty, according to Yerevan Saeed.
Saeed believes that Western assessments describe Iraq’s banking and payments system as “a frequent channel for illicit financing, often through commercial fraud schemes and obtaining dollars instead of traditional banking.”
Saeed expects that “the anticipated sanctions will not only target banks, but also a wider range of companies and individuals linked to smuggling, money laundering and fraud, activities that can finance sanctioned entities and terrorist groups.”
However, “these people are adept at evading sanctions,” says Al-Mashhadani. “They rely on what is known as the term ‘burned companies,’ which were responsible for transferring huge sums of money under the pretext of importing, but were actually smuggling money. Consequently, they are dispensed with because they are about to be subject to sanctions, and they begin to establish new companies, and so on.”
An advisor in the Iraqi government, who asked not to be named, confirmed to Al-Hurra website that Baghdad has recently taken new measures to reduce fraud against the financial system and currency smuggling.
“We have started implementing the ASYCUDA World system to regulate trade, which will limit fraud because it includes all transaction data and details of financial transfers, thus preventing smuggling, money laundering, or money reaching unknown parties,” says the advisor to the Iraqi government.
MP: The stagnation of the Iraqi market is a warning bell and a dangerous indicator that calls for government solutions
Al-Sharmani stated in a press release that "the decline witnessed in the local market is a dangerous indicator, and the government bears responsibility for the lack of solutions to address the repercussions of regional tensions." He explained that "Iraq is paying the price for its policy of inaction amidst escalating threats in the region, which has directly impacted market activity due to the absence of a clear economic vision for crisis management."
He further explained that "vital sectors such as real estate and automobiles have witnessed a significant decline in buying and selling activity, with citizens resorting to saving in hard currency." He pointed out that "this behavior reflects a lack of confidence in the ability to protect economic stability, and its continuation could lead to a liquidity crisis, additional pressure on the dinar, and higher inflation rates."
Al-Sharmani added that "public concerns are not limited to neighboring conflicts, but extend to the fear that the country will become an arena for settling conflicts without guarantees to protect livelihoods and security." He stressed that "the current stage requires a clear sovereign stance and urgent economic measures, along with the necessity of transparency with the public to preempt rumors that threaten economic stability."
It is worth noting that, amid escalating US threats against Iran, the Iraqi market is experiencing a state of anxiety and anticipation, clearly reflected in trading activity and economic activity.
Local markets are witnessing a noticeable decline in purchasing power, particularly in the real estate and automotive sectors, while there is a growing demand for savings in hard currency. This reflects increasing fears of unforeseen developments.
This economic turmoil is inextricably linked to the security and political anxieties prevalent among the Iraqi public. Observers believe that any potential military escalation in the region could place Iraq at the heart of the repercussions, given its geographical location and the intertwining of its regional interests.
Citizens express their fear that a potential war against Iran could lead to security instability and severe economic consequences, including a decline in the value of the local currency and a rise in prices.
Sudanese advisor: The government has achieved economic success, and the International Monetary Fund is witnessing it.
Despite talk of a severe financial crisis in Iraq and the decline of the dinar against the dollar, the Prime Minister's financial advisor, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, says that the country recorded a low inflation rate of about 1.5% by the end of 2025. He pointed out that inflation in Iraq is the lowest in the Arab world, noting that the government's monetary policy succeeded in maintaining price and exchange rate stability and protecting the purchasing power of the dinar. Regarding the recent cabinet measures, Salih explained that their aim is to address what is known as "job inflation" as a step to support social stability and improve income levels, as he put it.
Saleh told the official agency, as reported by 964 Network , that “the Iraqi economy is witnessing a remarkable phase of monetary stability, as it recorded a low inflation rate of about 1.5% by the end of 2025, according to estimates by the International Monetary Fund, which is among the lowest rates in the Arab region.” He explained that “this achievement is attributed to the monetary policy that succeeded in maintaining price and exchange rate stability, and protecting the purchasing power of the dinar, which strengthened confidence in the national currency and provided a more favorable environment for investment.”
He added that “the recent Cabinet decisions aim to address what is known as ‘job inflation’ as a step to support social stability and improve income levels,” noting that “these measures achieve positive short-term returns by stimulating domestic demand and enhancing economic confidence, especially if they are financed within the limits of financial sustainability and do not exceed the absorptive capacity of the economy.”
He explained that “the biggest challenge remains in transforming this monetary stability into sustainable productive economic growth, since government employment, if not linked to productivity, may create a gap between public spending and real output, and increase the economy’s vulnerability to fluctuations in oil prices.”
He added that “the solution lies in linking employment to training and qualification programs, empowering the private sector through legislative and financial reforms, as well as diversifying the economic base by focusing on agricultural development, manufacturing, renewable energy, and increasing opportunities in the digital economy.”
He stressed that “Iraq today has a rare dual opportunity represented by low inflation and monetary stability,” adding that “this opportunity can turn into a long-term gain if it is invested in building a solid productive base, which will ensure the continuity of financial and monetary stability in the medium and long term, and move the economy from the cycle of rentier dependency to the path of sustainable growth.”
Government advisor: Tourism investment is a gateway to stimulating the private sector and diversifying national income.
Government advisor: The current economic recession is seasonal and will subside with the revitalization of public spending.
Saleh told Al-Furat News Agency, “At the beginning of each calendar year, markets experience a seasonal recession following the peak of purchases that precedes Christmas, a pattern known in international economic trends.” He explained that “this recession is clearly reflected in our country in consumption indicators, which tend to decline temporarily as a result of the partial depletion of income at the end of the year and the onset of the winter season.”
He added that “individuals and the private sector are anticipating trends in government spending and fiscal policy at the start of the new year, which coincides with a slowdown in the circulation of liquidity within the markets, as households and traders tend to hold onto cash while awaiting clarity on the financial outlook, especially in light of the delay in approving or activating the general budget.”
Saleh explained that "the transition of the executive authority from a caretaker status to exercising its full powers also affects this vision," noting that "the slowdown in liquidity leads to a temporary contraction in aggregate demand, which deepens the seasonal recession."
The financial advisor explained that "this recession often relieves pressure on consumer demand for foreign currency, leading to relative stability in the unofficial exchange rate, as long as external government spending and trade transfers have not yet entered their active phase."
Saleh warned that "this stability is being disrupted by noise in the information market, making it fragile and sensitive to the effects of regional geopolitics, which are exposed to strategic risks and fluctuating expectations in a highly sensitive environment."
He added that "this recession will begin to gradually recede with the revitalization of public spending, the acceleration of budget implementation, and the increase in liquidity turnover, which will re-stimulate consumption and increase commercial demand for foreign currency from its official sources, within limits that monetary policy can manage."
Saleh concluded by saying that "the improvement in consumption, liquidity and exchange market indicators together constitutes an early sign of the end of the seasonal recession and the entry of markets into a phase of gradual recovery."
Al-Azm: We haven't received the name of the framework candidate... and our choices are 90% finalized - Urgent
Amid the intense political activity to resolve constitutional entitlements and form the next government, attention is focused on the path of understandings between the forces of the Coordination Framework on one hand, and the National Political Council, which represents the Sunni forces, on the other, especially with the link between the file of the Prime Minister and the file of the Presidency of the Republic and the balance of power within Parliament.
On Friday (January 16, 2026), Najat Al-Tai, a member of the Al-Azm Alliance, confirmed that the National Political Council has not yet received the official name of the candidate nominated by the Coordination Framework Forces for the position of Prime Minister, while she indicated that the Sunni forces have decided on about 90% of their options regarding participation in the upcoming cabinet.
Al-Ta’i told Baghdad Today that “the National Political Council, which represents the Sunni forces in Iraq, has not received any official confirmation so far regarding the identity of the candidate for the next prime minister,” noting that “the council will deal with this issue according to official data and not based on what is being circulated in the media.”
She added that "so far there is no confirmation that the coordinating framework has decided on a specific name," indicating that "the indicators available to us suggest that the framework may not announce its final candidate before the vote on the position of President of the Republic is decided, which seems clear in the current political scene."
She explained that "deciding on the position of President of the Republic will be the gateway to moving to the stage of determining the identity of the candidate for Prime Minister by the forces of the Coordination Framework."
In the same context, Al-Ta’i confirmed that “the National Political Council, which represents the Sunni forces, has decided on its choices by up to 90% regarding the nature of participation in the cabinet and the determination of candidates,” stressing that “there are no disagreements on this issue, and that understandings are the prevailing position at the present time.”
This stance comes at a time when the political process is witnessing significant activity aimed at first resolving the issue of the presidency, as this is a constitutional prerequisite for the largest bloc within the coordination framework to nominate a candidate for prime minister. The National Political Council is one of the most prominent frameworks coordinating the positions of Sunni forces regarding the distribution of ministerial posts and portfolios, in accordance with the balance of power within parliament. With the name of the coordination framework's candidate for prime minister still not officially announced, Sunni forces are approaching the matter with a strategy of "cautious waiting," largely securing their ministerial share and options within the upcoming cabinet until the identity of the president and subsequently the prime minister is determined.
The US Treasury imposes sanctions on 21 entities and individuals accused of supporting and financing the Houthis.
The US Treasury Department announced on Friday that it had imposed sanctions on 21 entities and individuals for their involvement in providing financial and logistical support to a network linked to the Houthi group.
The ministry said in a statement translated by Shafaq News Agency that the sanctions targeted individuals and companies involved in facilitating financing and smuggling operations that contributed to supporting the Houthi activities, noting that these networks work to transfer resources and funds in a way that serves the group’s capabilities.
The US Treasury confirmed that these measures are part of efforts to disrupt the Houthis' sources of funding and prevent them from accessing the international financial system.
In this regard, Treasury Secretary Scott Bisent said, according to the statement, that the department will use all available tools to expose the networks and individuals who enable "Houthi terrorism," explaining that these measures come under Executive Order 13224 on combating terrorism, as amended.
According to the Treasury, the Houthis continue to generate substantial revenue from illicit oil sales, exceeding $2 billion annually, with support from Iranian or Iran-linked companies, some of which are based in the UAE, and are involved in facilitating shipping, financing, and sanctions evasion.
She added that the sanctions included oil, logistics and exchange companies, as well as individuals involved in arms smuggling, financing military purchases, and transferring missiles and military equipment to Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen.
The US Treasury noted that the Houthis used complex networks of front companies, money exchange houses, and shipping companies to finance their military activities, smuggle weapons from Iran and other regions, as well as attempt to purchase aircraft for use in smuggling and revenue generation.
The ministry concluded that all property and interests belonging to the individuals and entities listed under sanctions, and subject to U.S. jurisdiction, have been blocked, with a warning that any financial or commercial dealings with them could expose individuals and institutions to civil or criminal penalties, including the imposition of secondary sanctions on foreign financial institutions.
Mark Savaya arrives in Erbil
Shafaq News Agency's correspondent reported that Mark Savaya, US President Donald Trump's envoy for Iraq affairs, arrived in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, early Saturday morning, as part of a visit that coincides with broader US diplomatic activity related to the Iraq and Syria files.
Tom Barrack, Trump’s envoy for Syria, is scheduled to arrive in Erbil later on Saturday to meet with Mazloum Abdi, the commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, at a time when the Syrian arena is witnessing a military escalation and international mediation efforts to de-escalate the situation.
Trump had appointed Savaya as special envoy for Iraq affairs on October 19, 2025. He is an American businessman of Iraqi origin.
In his latest remarks, attributed to him ahead of the visit, he said he would deal with the "appropriate decision-makers" in Iraq, and had previously hinted that "big changes are coming" with a focus on "actions, not words."
US Treasury Escalates Sanctions Targeting Houthi Smuggling and Illicit Revenue Networks
The US Treasury imposed new sanctions on individuals, companies, vessels, and facilitators accused of supporting Houthi oil sales, weapons procurement, and financial networks under expanded counterterrorism authorities.
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The US Department of the Treasury has announced a sweeping new sanctions action targeting what it described as extensive smuggling, oil sales, weapons procurement, and financial networks supporting the Iran-backed group Ansarallah, commonly known as the Houthis.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Treasury Department said its Office of Foreign Assets Control designated twenty-one individuals and entities and identified one vessel involved in transferring oil products, procuring weapons and dual-use equipment, and providing financial services to the Houthis.
The action also targets financial conduits linking the Iranian government to the Houthis, as well as front companies and facilitators operating in Yemen, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates.
According to the Treasury, the measures build on earlier actions aimed at restricting the Iranian government’s use of oil revenue to fund regional armed groups. The department said the Houthis continue to generate illicit income that enables them to sustain what it described as destabilizing regional activities and attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
“The Houthis threaten the United States by committing acts of terror and attacking commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. “Treasury is taking action to cut off nearly two dozen individuals and entities involved in transferring oil, procuring weapons, and providing financial services for this Iran-backed terrorist organization. Treasury will use all tools at its disposal to expose the networks and individuals enabling Houthi terrorism.”
The Treasury said that despite international sanctions, the Houthis continue to generate more than two billion dollars annually through illicit oil sales. According to the statement, the Iranian government both sells and provides a free monthly shipment of oil to the Houthis using Iranian-owned or affiliated companies based in Dubai.
The Treasury said Houthi leaders impose high fuel prices on Yemenis, using the proceeds to fund military operations. Zayd ‘Ali Ahmed Al-Sharafi was identified as operating Yemen-based Black Diamond Petroleum Derivatives and Al-Sharafi Oil Companies Services to import and export oil for the Houthi-led government. He was also described as maintaining multiple vessels used to transfer oil to the Houthis and as using Janat Al Anhar to evade sanctions.
The Treasury said the designations reflect continued efforts to disrupt what it described as the Houthis’ extensive financial, logistical, and procurement networks, as Washington intensifies pressure on illicit revenue streams supporting the group’s activities.
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From Washington to Baghdad: An oil decision could open the door to austerity in Iraq... Experts issue warnings via "Iraq Observer"
Iraq today faces a very serious economic, political and social challenge with the increasing talk in the United States about US President Donald Trump’s intention to reduce oil prices to around $50 a barrel, a move that could cause a major shock to rentier economies, especially Iraq.
Trump has set his sights on an ambitious economic goal of reducing oil prices to $50 a barrel, in a direct attempt to ease the energy burden on American households and lower gasoline prices, which recently reached $2.81 a gallon, their lowest level since 2021.
In this regard, economic researcher Saif Al-Halfi warned of serious economic repercussions that Iraq may face if oil prices continue to fall to around $50 a barrel, amid escalating talk within the United States about US President Donald Trump’s intentions to reduce global oil prices.
Al-Halfi told Iraq Observer that “Iraq is facing an unprecedented economic, political and social challenge today,” noting that the continued decline in oil prices could lead to a reduction in oil revenues by at least 25% within one year, which, according to him, constitutes an “economic catastrophe” for a country that still depends on a rentier economy based almost entirely on oil.
He stressed that “Iraq no longer has the luxury of absolute dependence on oil, in light of increasing international pressure on its prices, and rising operating expenses, especially employee salaries, which may reach 7 trillion dinars per month.”
ASYCUDA and the financial gap
Al-Halfi pointed out that “the Iraqi government has actually begun to activate the ASYCUDA system at border crossings to control customs and prevent waste, in an attempt to boost non-oil revenues.”
He pointed out that “financial reports revealed a large gap between foreign remittances issued by Iraqi banks during 2025, which amounted to nearly $80 billion, and the value of imported goods, which amounted to only about $40 billion, which raised questions about organized smuggling and manipulation of invoices.”
He added that “these data prompted the government to implement strict systems for the prior declaration of goods before they enter the country, in addition to the ASYCUDA system, with the aim of reducing smuggling and increasing revenues.”
The citizen pays the price
Al-Halfi pointed out that raising customs tariffs on dozens of imported goods has become an almost inevitable option to compensate for the decline in oil revenues, but the ordinary Iraqi citizen remains the biggest loser through rising prices and declining purchasing power.
He explained that these measures, although they will lead to a tangible increase in non-oil revenues for the first time in years, may push the country towards deflation, where prices rise in conjunction with a decline in purchasing power, which burdens the poor and low-income classes.
Possible austerity measures and tax adjustments
According to Al-Halafi, the government may find itself forced to adopt austerity policies that include reducing unnecessary spending and postponing some secondary projects, while emphasizing that basic salaries will remain a red line.
He pointed out that additional privileges may be reduced or cancelled, in light of recent government decisions, including not counting master's and doctoral degrees in the salary determination equation.
He also predicted that the government would move towards amending or enacting a new tax law that includes imposing fees on some luxury services and goods, and expanding the scope of taxes to include sectors and activities that were not previously subject to them.
A call to protect vulnerable groups
Al-Halafi concluded by warning of growing public anxiety as a result of the accumulation of financial and social burdens, at a time when basic services remain weak, demanding that these decisions be accompanied by real support programs for the poor and low-income employees.
According to him, the most important question remains: “Can the Iraqi government get through this difficult economic phase without the citizen alone paying the price of the crisis?”
With US crude currently trading at $57, most barrels extracted from US soil are now being sold for less than the cost of drilling them, putting the industry on the brink of a “dangerous tipping point” that could lead to a widespread halt in drilling and completion operations during 2026 if prices do not adjust.
Globally, prices are under increasing pressure as markets are flooded with a huge surplus of supply. The US Energy Information Administration expects the average price of Brent crude to fall to $55 during the first quarter of 2026, which will automatically push US crude to levels that could reach $51.50.
This downward trend, supported by analysts at major banks such as Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan, is a result of producers in the Americas and OPEC countries continuing to pump quantities that exceed the actual market need, leaving independent medium-sized companies in the United States with two bitter choices: either to continue bleeding losses or to freeze investments and lay off human talent.
While Trump is pushing for lower prices domestically, he is also seeking to entice giants like ExxonMobil and Chevron to return and invest in Venezuela’s battered oil sector following recent political changes there.
The stark economic paradox here is that the cost of extracting a barrel of heavy oil in Venezuela’s Orinoco Belt exceeds $80, making any US investment in Caracas commercially unviable if the administration succeeds in fixing the global price at $50.
Planning: New outputs for developing the private sector in Iraq
The Ministry of Planning revealed on Friday the most prominent outputs of the private sector development strategy for the coming years, stressing that the formation of the permanent council for private sector development represents the basic pillar for advancing the economic reality .
The official spokesman for the ministry, Abdul Zahra Al-Hindawi, said in a statement to the official agency, which was followed by the “Al-Sa’a” network, that “the strategy for developing the private sector, which was launched in 2016 and extends until 2030, is proceeding according to 3 planned stages, which began with the preparation stage, followed by the empowerment stage, leading up to the third stage, which is the leadership and pioneering of the private sector .”
He added that "the most important practical steps resulting from this strategy are the formation of the (Permanent Council for the Development of the Private Sector), which is the first of its kind in Iraq," noting that "the Council enjoys direct governmental support, as it is headed by the Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, and the Minister of Planning is his first deputy, while the position of second deputy is held by one of the figures from the private economic sector ."
Al-Hindawi explained that "the council includes a general body consisting of more than 200 members representing various economic and development activities, as well as an administrative body comprising about 30 members covering various economic and social activities in the country ."
Regarding the nature of the council's work at the current stage, he confirmed that "the council is currently working on developing and translating the items of the strategy through a series of meetings and joint discussions between government agencies and the private sector ."
He explained that "the goal is to study the reality of all sectors, including tourism, industry, trade and others, and to develop specialized mechanisms to advance them," adding that "the work also includes studying a package of existing legislation and exploring the possibility of amending it or proposing new legislation that contributes to empowering the private sector ."
He pointed out that "this effort will have a tangible impact on developing the structure of the national economy and strengthening the role of the private sector as a key partner in the development process
Al-Sadr to Washington: We are near the White House and we will help the Americans.
"The arrow of the seminary will reach the world."
Saleh Muhammad al-Iraqi, known as "Minister of Sadr," stated on Friday that the Sadr family's guesthouse in Washington carries a number of religious, humanitarian, and political messages. He emphasized that the Sadr family's projects are not limited by place or time, and that political stances do not reflect on the people. He explained that the guesthouse's location near the White House is part of a humanitarian campaign and a moral message, which includes calling for remembrance of the Prophet's family, expressing readiness to stand with all peoples, including the American people, extending the influence of the religious seminaries to various parts of the world, and sending a clear message to those who oppose the presence of the Sadr family's guesthouse in their countries.
The following is the text published by Saleh Mohammed Al-Iraqi, which was received by Network 964 :
In the name of God, the Most High
The host of the Al-Sadr family in Washington had several messages, including:
First: The projects of the Al-Sadr family are not limited by place or time.
Second: Washington’s hostility towards Islam, Muslims and the Middle East is unjustified.
Third: Our political positions are not reflected on the people, as we are not hostile to the people.
Fourth: You are in Iraq and we are near the White House with a humanitarian campaign.
Fifth: We have our morals and they have their morals. Our host is humane, and their war is far removed from that.
Sixth: Mentioning the family of the Prophet, may God’s prayers and peace be upon them all, in their own home.
Seventh: We are ready to stand in humanitarian solidarity with all peoples, including the American people, should they be in danger.
Eighth: A humanitarian message that may dissuade them from war in the Middle East... (Perhaps they will understand).
Ninth: Delivering the share of the religious seminary to all parts of the world as far as possible.
Tenth: A clear message to the extremists who rejected the presence of the esteemed Al-Sadr family in their countries!
Money before the war: Washington targets Iran's financial lifeline in Iraq
Informed Iraqi political sources revealed that the visit of the US envoy to Iraq, Mark Savaya, to Baghdad is not a protocol visit, nor is it exclusively related to the issue of US forces or "calming" the factions. Rather, it comes within what Washington practically calls the "financial phase" of preparing for a possible war on Iran, which means drying up funding channels before opening the fronts .
The website “Eram News”, in a report seen by “Al-Sa’a” network, quoted Iraqi sources as saying that “the main American message that Savaya carries to the Iraqi government and the Central Bank presidency will be that Iraq is facing a double test, either to fortify the financial system and control the paths of the dollar and transfers, or to automatically enter into the repercussions of the Tehran war through the gateway of sanctions and security breakdown together .”
The sources added that "Washington now believes that the first strike on Iran, if it occurs, will not only start from the sky, but from within Iraq, by besieging the networks suspected of financing and covering up money smuggling channels, suspicious contracts, and money laundering linked to armed economic fronts ."
The “Eram News” website indicated that “the most prominent aspect of Savaya’s visit is his push towards launching a joint US-Iraqi review of payment files, transfers, and operations suspected of being irregular, with a focus on institutions, companies, and individuals within Iraq who are believed to be using loopholes in the financial system to support smuggling and financing networks outside of official oversight .”
He pointed out that "Washington is no longer satisfied with gradual tightening measures on specific banks, but is moving towards a broader approach that may affect an entire network of banks and payment companies, as well as trade, import and transfer fronts ."
He explained that "the United States is dealing with Iraq today as the most sensitive financial knot in the pre-war calculations against Iran, not only because of the long borders and the presence of factions, but also because the country has turned during the years of sanctions into an arena where the needs of the Iraqi market intersect with Tehran's ability to benefit from gray financial and commercial outlets ."
The sources add that "the American dilemma is that any large-scale war on Iran will automatically push Tehran to look for alternative routes for liquidity, trade and financial circumvention, and Iraq will be the first candidate unless this route is closed early ."
She explained that "Iraqi concerns are not only about sanctions affecting banks or companies, but about a broader risk, such that the financial sector turns into an arena of political conflict at the heart of an explosive regional phase
Washington approves $110 million military deal for Iraq
The US military affairs website "Defense Post" revealed on Friday that the United States has approved a $110 million deal to expand Iraq's military satellite communications network .
The website stated in a report translated by Al-Sa’a Network that “Washington’s approval includes additional stations of VSAT systems , along with modems, hubs and tactical L-band satellite packages , as well as spare parts and long-term technical support .”
He added that "the deal aims to enhance Iraq's ability to securely transmit information through the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, as the equipment and associated services will develop satellite communications with regard to command and control, a capability closely linked to border security, protecting energy infrastructure, and coordinating between deployed forces ."
He noted that "the prime contractor for this deal is Network Innovations Communications , a Maryland-based company ."
The report explained that "the sale also includes training and engineering support, and roles for US government employees and contractors assigned to Iraq for up to 5 years, where these teams are expected to contribute to quarterly program reviews, oversee equipment development, and conduct training within Iraq ."
The report noted that "the United States' approval to supply Iraq with VSAT equipment is in line with a broader pattern of U.S.-Iraqi defense cooperation over the past two years, with recent deals largely focused on sustainability, training and development, rather than new areas ."
He added that "Washington has approved multiple deals to support Iraq's fleet of F-16 fighter jets , which include maintenance, spare parts and logistical support for contractors to keep the aircraft operational ."
He noted "the continued sales of missiles and ammunition at a measured pace, including precision-guided munitions such as Hellfire missiles used by Iraqi aircraft and helicopters
"Middle East": Major US military movements in preparation for striking Iran
Fox News revealed on Friday that the United States is conducting military movements in the Middle East, describing them as a "force buildup" operation.
Fox News quoted officials as saying that "the US military movements are being described as a force build-up operation."
The sources added that "if US President Donald Trump decides to take military action against Iran, it will be different and more aggressive."
She explained that "American military planners are preparing a range of options that will depend on how the Iranian regime behaves in the coming days."
The sources pointed out that "missile defense systems are expected to be sent to the region to strengthen the defenses of US and Israeli bases, and these systems will include missile defense assets."
Military sources also reported that the United States has moved at least one aircraft carrier to the Middle East as tensions with Iran escalate.
She noted that "it is not yet clear whether the carrier is the USS Abraham Lincoln currently operating in the South China Sea, or one of the two aircraft carriers that left Norfolk and San Diego earlier this week, and the transfer to the region is expected to take at least a week."
According to the network, US military forces are expected to flow into the region by air, land and sea in the coming days and weeks to provide Trump with military options should he decide to launch strikes against Iran.
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