Legal expert: The “Strategic Framework” agreement obligates Washington to provide economic assistance to Iraq.
Iraqi legal expert and political analyst, Ali Al-Tamimi, believes that the Strategic Framework Agreement between Iraq and America obligates Washington to provide economic and social assistance to Iraq.
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Al-Tamimi told the Jordanian newspaper Al- Dustour that “there is an agreement between Iraq and America, the Strategic Framework Agreement of 2008, Articles 27 and 28, which obligates America to help Iraq economically and socially. It is not possible for America to impose sanctions on Iraq , because the agreement is binding on one party and is deposited with the United Nations under Article 102 of the United Nations Charter.”
Prime Minister's Office
He pointed out that “the constitutional and legal procedures and the decisions of the Supreme Federal Court are clear, and that assigning the candidate of the largest parliamentary bloc to the President of the Republic after his election will assign the candidate of this bloc to form the cabinet and the ministerial approach.”
The coordinating framework in Iraq affirmed its support for Nouri al-Maliki as a candidate for the position of Prime Minister, stressing that the process of choosing the head of government is a “sovereign matter” and rejects foreign interference.
Al-Tamimi added that after that, the parliament votes for the candidate of the largest bloc, which, according to the decisions of the Federal Court, is from the winning bloc, which has the highest number of votes, or which allied with others and formed the largest bloc.
He added that if he does not get the vote of Parliament, the President of the Republic will, within 15 days, assign another candidate, and the candidate will have 30 days to form the cabinet and the ministerial program. The matter of insistence is up to them, and whether this is a party or a bloc, they are the ones who control this issue.
Sanctions on Baghdad
Al-Tamimi explained, “Regarding the issue of sanctions that may arise, the United States of America, as it has said, will not object or interfere in Iraq’s sovereignty and choice, but after the election and after the work is done, we may witness sanctions because Iraqi oil money comes through the US Federal Reserve in Manhattan.”
He added that “when Iraqi oil is sold, it goes to a fund in the United States and is transferred to Iraq in accordance with previous resolutions of the UN Security Council. Therefore, the matter is left to future Iraqi policy, and it can maneuver on this issue and deal with it with high diplomacy.”
48 hours to decide on the presidential candidate
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The Coordination Framework gave the two main Kurdish parties (the Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union) a period of (48) hours to resolve their dispute over the position of President of the Republic, according to the official spokesman for the Victory Coalition, Aqeel Al-Rudaini.
Al-Rudaini said in a special statement to Al-Sabah: The Coordination Framework delegation played an important role in bringing the views of the two Kurdish parties closer regarding the issue of electing the President of the Republic.
He added that "the meetings held by the delegation produced positive indicators from the Kurdish side towards not maintaining the political deadlock, and moving forward to complete the constitutional entitlements within their legal frameworks."
Al-Rudaini explained that "the coordination framework gave the Kurdish parties a two-day deadline to end this deadlock and reach an agreement on the selection of the president of the republic in preparation for completing the rest of the constitutional requirements."
The Coordination Framework delegation returned to Baghdad yesterday evening after a series of important meetings with the leaders of the two Kurdish parties, in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah respectively.
The delegation included the head of the Reconstruction and Development Coalition, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, the Secretary-General of the Badr Organization, Hadi al-Amiri, the head of the Foundation Coalition, Mohsen al-Mandalawi, in addition to the Secretary-General of the Coordination Framework, Abbas Radhi.
Informed sources told Al-Sabah that the meetings yielded positive results, with an agreement reached on establishing a framework for consensus between the two parties regarding the mechanism for selecting the president. This framework aims to prevent any escalation in the political process and ensure adherence to deadlines.
Constitutional.
The delegation began its talks in Erbil with the President of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Masoud Barzani, who stressed the need to define a clear mechanism for electing the President of the Republic, in order to ensure the stability of the political scene and avoid any disruption to national entitlements.
In Sulaymaniyah, the delegation met with the President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Bafel Talabani. During the meeting, they reviewed national and regional developments and stressed the importance of unifying national positions and resolving the issue of the presidency in a way that contributes to the formation of a government that reflects the aspirations of all Iraqis and strengthens the path of reform, reconstruction, and development.
Sudani arrives in Kurdistan Region at the head of a high-level political delegation
A visit that includes Erbil and Sulaymaniyah
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani arrived in the Kurdistan Region on Monday, leading a high-level political delegation, on an official visit that includes the governorates of Erbil and Sulaymaniyah.
The media office of Al-Sudani stated in a statement received by 964 Network that “Prime Minister Mr. Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani arrives in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq accompanied by a high-level political delegation on a visit that includes the governorates of Erbil and Sulaymaniyah.”
The Coordination Framework delegation concludes its visit to the Kurdistan Region and returns to Baghdad.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani returned to Baghdad on Monday evening, accompanied by a delegation from the Coordination Framework, after concluding his visit to the Kurdistan Region.
The Prime Minister’s Media Office noted in a statement received by “Iraq Observer” that “Al-Sudani returned to the capital, Baghdad, accompanied by a delegation from the Coordination Framework, which included the Secretary-General of the Badr Organization, the head of the Al-Asas Coalition, and the Secretary-General of the Framework, after concluding his visit to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, which included the governorates of Erbil and Sulaymaniyah.”
Muthanna Amin: Iraq is suffering from security and economic problems, and political decisions are contingent on reaching an agreement with Washington.
Muthanna Amin pointed out that the United States has a great influence on Iraq and the formation of the government, considering that if America is not persuaded, it will create problems for Iraq.
Muthanna Amin, a candidate for the presidency, told Kurdistan 24 on Sunday, February 1, 2026: “The United States has a major influence on Iraq and the formation of the government, and I believe that the coordination framework will change its candidate, Nouri al-Maliki.”
He added: "The only solution is for the coordination framework to engage in dialogue with the United States and convince it; otherwise, the US president will create obstacles for Iraq."
Muthanna Amin explained that Iraq is the worst country in terms of both security and the economy, stressing that "if it weren't for oil, Iraq would not have anything to eat."
The Iraqi parliament was scheduled to hold a session on Sunday to elect the president, but it was postponed for the second time.
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Baghdad merchants demonstrate, demanding a freeze on the customs tariff decision.
A number of Baghdad merchants demonstrated today, Monday, in front of the Baghdad Chamber of Commerce in the center of the capital, demanding that the implementation of Cabinet Resolution No. (957) of 2025 be frozen for a period of six months.
The protesters told Al-Mada that the decision in its current form has caused clear disruption to import and trade, calling for a delay in its implementation until it is reviewed and its effects on the local market are addressed.
They also demanded the immediate release of the containers being held at border crossings, warning that their continued detention would lead to shortages of goods and higher prices.
The traders also called for amending the customs tariff to be 5% on all goods, stressing that continuing to implement the decision without review may have negative economic repercussions.
It is worth noting that Cabinet Resolution No. (957) of 2025 regulates customs tariff procedures on imports and imported goods, and has sparked widespread controversy among commercial circles due to its potential impact on import costs and prices in the markets.
Minister of Trade: Companies are racing to establish a foothold in the Iraqi market.
Trade Minister Atheer Al-Ghurairi confirmed that companies are racing to establish a foothold in the Iraqi market after it became an attractive environment for investments.
Al-Ghurairi said in a press statement that “the current session of the Baghdad International Fair is different from the previous one,” noting the increase in the number of participating countries to 36.
The Iraqi market attracts companies
He added, “This is a message that Iraq has become a trusted country and the Iraqi economy is welcoming and has promising opportunities, whether in the trade, industry, tourism, or all sectors, and this message has reached many countries around the world.”
He added that “there is a strong presence indicator of more than 1,100 companies at the Baghdad exhibition, and the competition is somewhat increasing to establish a foothold for these companies in the Iraqi market, which is considered a large and consumer-driven market.”
Al-Ghurairi pointed out that “there is an attraction for various companies and industries to form partnerships that will create industries that can be benefited from,” indicating that “the Baghdad exhibition represents a launch towards encouraging trade, industry and investment in all sectors.”
Baghdad International Fair
Earlier on Sunday, Trade Minister Atheer Al-Ghurairi inaugurated the 49th Baghdad International Fair, with the participation of 36 Arab and foreign countries.
In his speech during the opening of the exhibition , the minister stressed that the exhibition represents a message of confidence in a safe, open and ambitious Iraq, and looks forward to real economic partnerships that contribute to supporting development and the national economy.
He noted that the selection of the Republic of Uzbekistan as guest of honor reflects the strength of bilateral relations and the two countries' keenness to enhance trade cooperation.
Al-Ghurairi explained that holding the exhibition under the slogan “New Visions for the Economy of the Future” embodies the state’s orientation towards a diversified and sustainable economy based on partnership with the private sector, stressing the Ministry of Trade’s keenness to present the exhibition in a manner befitting Baghdad’s economic status and its pivotal role in the region.
The Minister of Trade called on international companies and businesspeople to seize the investment opportunities available in Iraq, contribute to reconstruction projects, transfer expertise, create jobs, and build long-term partnerships that serve common interests.
The Minister of Finance affirms Iraq's commitment to strengthening cooperation with regional and international financial institutions.
Finance Minister Taif Sami affirmed on Monday Iraq's commitment to strengthening cooperation with regional and international financial institutions.
A statement from the Ministry of Finance, received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), indicated that "Finance Minister Taif Sami participated in the 10th Arab Public Finance Forum, which commenced today in Jumeirah, Dubai. The forum was jointly organized by the UAE Ministry of Finance and the Arab and International Monetary Funds, as part of the preparatory day for the World Government Summit 2026."
The statement added that "Iraq's participation was marked by active engagement in the discussion sessions, which included Arab finance ministers and a select group of international economic experts. These sessions addressed prospects for economic growth in the Arab region and ways to enhance financial sustainability in light of current global challenges."
He added that "the session's agenda focused on discussing the Arab world's economic and financial priorities for the coming years, in addition to reviewing the key issues and contributions made by the Arab Financial Forum during the decade spanning from 2015 to 2025. The forum also provided a vital opportunity for participants to consider how to develop the forum's tools to best serve their goals, visions, and future needs."
According to the statement, Minister Taif Sami emphasized "Iraq's commitment to strengthening cooperation with regional and international financial institutions in a way that serves the government's vision of achieving financial stability and developing public resource management." She noted that "this forum represents an opportunity to discuss policies that support sustainable development, while emphasizing Iraq's continued efforts to modernize its financial and tax systems in line with international standards."
The statement concluded that "the forum discussed the most prominent challenges related to the digital transformation of public finances and the role of technology and artificial intelligence in enhancing governance efficiency and improving public spending management. It also explored ways to strengthen the resilience of public finances in the face of global economic shocks and enhance the ability to adapt to financial fluctuations, thus ensuring the stability of sustainable economic paths."
Trump strikes a deal with India to stop buying Russian oil and replace it with Venezuelan oil.
US President Donald Trump revealed on Monday that a trade agreement had been reached to stop importing oil from Russia and replace it with Venezuelan crude.
Trump said in a post on his platform "Truth Social" that he had a telephone conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who "pledged to stop buying Russian oil and pledged to buy more oil from the United States, and possibly from Venezuela," according to Trump.
He added that, out of "friendship and respect" for Modi, the United States would reduce its tariffs on Indian imports from 25% to 18%, provided that New Delhi would eliminate its tariffs on American products.
He confirmed that India would purchase American goods worth "more than $500 billion".
Modi welcomed the agreement, saying via the X platform, "On behalf of 1.4 billion Indians, I extend my deepest gratitude to President Trump for this wonderful announcement," adding, "When two great economies and the world's two largest democracies work together, it benefits our people and opens up tremendous prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation."
Washington confirmed that it would control Venezuelan oil production and sales following the military operation that resulted in the arrest of former President Nicolas Maduro in early January.
The US president had previously asserted months ago that India would not buy oil from Russia, which, if it happens, would deprive Moscow of vital revenues that Washington says are used to finance the war in Ukraine.
Last year, Trump imposed tariffs of 25% on all Indian goods, as part of a trade war he launched against several countries, including US trading partners.
Then, in August 2002, he decided to impose a 25% tariff on a number of Indian products because of India’s purchases of Russian oil.
A senior US official told AFP that the agreement announced on Monday puts an end to this tariff.
"By order of the President"... Iranian-American negotiations to begin within days
Iranian media reported on Monday that negotiations between Iran and the United States could begin in the next few days, with the participation of high-level officials from both sides.
The Tasnim news agency, which is close to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, quoted an informed source as saying that the chances of negotiations starting have become high, noting that the place and time of the meeting have not yet been decided.
The source explained that the negotiations are likely to be held at the level of Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and US envoy Steve Wittkopf, if a final framework is agreed upon in the coming days.
Fars News Agency quoted an informed source in the Iranian government as saying that the Iranian president had ordered the start of negotiations with the United States, noting that talks with the United States would most likely be held in Turkey within days.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei said during a press conference today that Tehran is studying the details of various diplomatic avenues to address tensions with the United States, adding that Iran hopes to reach results in the coming days.
Earlier, the Hebrew newspaper Maariv quoted an Israeli source as saying that US President Donald Trump is demanding five main conditions from Iran: handing over about 400 kilograms of enriched uranium, dismantling the nuclear and ballistic missile programs, halting the missile program, and ending support for proxies in Yemen, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon.
The source added that "Israel realizes that Iran will not be willing to discuss these demands collectively or individually," considering that "the current stage is characterized by procrastination."
Iranians Turn to Decentralized Tech Amid Internet Blackout During Protests
Amid a severe internet blackout in Iran, citizens are increasingly using decentralized technologies to communicate with the outside world. The blackout, which began in early January, was implemented by the Iranian government to suppress protests triggered by the collapse of the Iranian rial. Protesters like Darius have resorted to tools such as Sentinel's decentralized VPN, OpenVPN, Shadowsocks, and V2Ray to bypass government restrictions and maintain connectivity. The blackout, the most extensive in Iran's history, aims to prevent organizational communication among protesters and limit international exposure. Despite these efforts, decentralized networks and tools like Starlink have provided critical lifelines, allowing Iranians to document and share the situation. Reports suggest that up to 90% of Iranians have used internet circumvention tools since last August. However, the blackout has resulted in significant economic losses, with estimates of thousands of deaths during the protests, highlighting the regime's harsh response.
OFAC Sanctions Iranian Officials as Crypto Use Gains Traction
The United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has added top Iranian officials to its sanctions list. The United States will alienate top Iranian officials from global economic activities, including through digital assets, akin to Russia.
The United States President Donald Trump has increased pressure on the Iranian government through new sanctions. After reports of thousands of deaths of the protesters, President Trump has used sanctions amid threats of military intervention.
Among the Iranians sanctioned by the U.S. OFAC are:
- Eskandar Momeni Kalagari – the current Iranian Minister of the Interior, who is accused of murdering thousands of protesters.
- Babak Morteza Zanjani – an Iranian billionaire accused of financially backing major projects that support the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian regime.
“The Treasury will continue to target Iranian networks and corrupt elites that enrich themselves at the expense of the Iranian people. This includes the regime’s attempts to exploit digital assets to evade sanctions and finance cybercriminal operations,” Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent stated.
The United States’ sanctions on Iran are expected to add further pressure on the already struggling Iranian rial (IRR). Specifically, new OFAC measures targeting senior Iranian officials are likely to weaken demand for the currency over the coming months and quarters. Nonetheless, the Iranian officials will look to the BRICS movement to attempt to bolster the country’s economic activity.
Furthermore, Iran has a close diplomatic alliance with China and Russia, which forms a major counterforce to the United States. During the past year, China has aggressively sold U.S. Treasury bonds and accumulated Gold and Oil for its reserves.
The sanctioning of Iran’s officials will have a positive impact on crypto adoption in this country. Furthermore, cryptocurrencies, including stablecoins, have been operating as informal financial tools as more people attempt to protect their capital from the uncapped inflation and sanctions.
The rise in demand for crypto in Iran will have a bullish impact in the long run. Moreover, the crypto market has proved to be a better replacement for the old financial rail, which is heavily dependent on the local political and geopolitical environment.
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