Under the patronage of Al-Zaidi, Iraq hosts a roundtable for American and Iraqi banks.
Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi affirmed on Friday that the government looks forward to an effective partnership with American financial institutions and banks, which will contribute to the development of the Iraqi banking sector.
The Prime Minister's Media Office stated in a press release that, "Under the patronage and in the presence of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, the Permanent Mission of Iraq to the United Nations in New York hosted a roundtable discussion on Thursday, Baghdad time, for representatives of a group of American banks and financial institutions, along with a number of officials and specialists in economic and financial affairs, and representatives of Iraqi banks."
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According to the statement, the Prime Minister emphasized in his remarks that "Iraq is witnessing a new phase of economic transformation and financial and banking reform," noting that "the weakness of the Iraqi banking system in recent years was partly linked to its limited openness and integration with the international banking system, particularly with American banks."
Al-Zaidi called on American banks and financial institutions to participate in building a new economic future for Iraq, stressing that "the entry of American banks into the Iraqi market will represent a qualitative leap in developing the banking sector, strengthening its relationship with the global financial system, and enhancing the efficiency of financial and investment transactions."
He stated that "Iraq is currently facing a new economic phase, producing approximately 4.5 million barrels of oil per day. The government's policy aims to increase production levels to 10 million barrels per day, as part of a vision to maximize resources and utilize them for development and economic diversification."
Al-Zaydi also emphasized Iraq's openness to American and international companies and banks, and the government's efforts to provide an attractive investment environment and offer necessary facilities to investors. He noted that "American banks have ample opportunities to participate in the Iraqi economy and finance projects and investments across various sectors."
He continued, "The government also looks forward to an effective partnership with American financial institutions and banks, which will contribute to developing the Iraqi banking sector and more effectively integrating the Iraqi economy into the global financial and economic system."
He explained that "the government has established a clear roadmap for economic, financial, and banking reform, and has begun a comprehensive reform plan for state-owned banks. This plan aims to enhance their efficiency, raise the level of governance and compliance, and establish a banking sector capable of meeting the demands of the modern economy."
He affirmed that "the anti-corruption and public funds protection measures are moving in the right direction, as the government is working to strengthen the systems and procedures that ensure the protection of state funds and raise the level of transparency and governance."
The weapons deadline is to buy time... and the factions did not agree
The Iraqi newspaper Al-Mada, in a report followed by Al-Mustaqilla, revealed new details regarding the deadline proposed for limiting the weapons of armed factions, amid a clear difference between the Iraqi vision and the American position regarding the nature of the steps that should be taken and the fate of the weapons during the next stage.
According to the report, sources and analysts believe that the new date proposed for addressing the weapons issue may be more of an attempt to buy more time than a final and binding timetable for handing over the factions' arsenal, especially in light of the fact that a final agreement has not yet been reached with them.
The newspaper pointed out that there is a fundamental difference in the terminology used between Baghdad and Washington. While Iraqi parties speak of “restricting weapons,” “regulating them,” and integrating factions into state institutions and the Popular Mobilization Forces, American parties use expressions such as “dismantling militias” and integrating weapons with the army, which reflects a continuing gap in perceptions between the two sides.
Al-Mada quoted informed sources as saying that the talks with the factions, which were said to have lasted for about 40 days, were not continuous negotiations, but rather witnessed pauses and changes in the negotiators, and did not ultimately reach a final agreement on the handover of weapons or mechanisms for dealing with them.
According to the same sources, talk of a new deadline came after a question was raised within the coordination framework regarding the period needed for the weapons inventory file, with one of the proposed answers being that about eight months might be sufficient, before the new date appeared just before Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi headed to New York.
The newspaper's sources linked the timing of the new schedule to American pressure regarding the arms file and to an attempt to avoid a political or security confrontation when the previous deadline expires on September 30, 2026. The sources described this path as potentially providing the government with additional time to address the issue.
The factions have not announced their approval.
On the other hand, there are still no indications that all armed factions have agreed to give up their weapons.
In a post published on September 22, Abdul Qadir al-Karbalai, the military aide to the al-Nujaba Movement, confirmed the movement’s continued stance on the survival of what it calls the “resistance” and the Popular Mobilization Forces, using harsh rhetoric towards US President Donald Trump and US envoy Tom Barrack.
According to Al-Mada’s report, this position reinforces questions about the ability of any government timetable to turn into a viable agreement unless the government obtains clear approvals from the relevant factions.
Baghdad and Washington: A dispute that goes beyond the deadline
The newspaper quoted Ihsan al-Shammari, a professor of strategic and international politics at Baghdad University, as saying that the success of al-Zaidi’s government in obtaining the Trump administration’s approval to extend the deadline for restricting weapons is not a foregone conclusion.
According to Al-Shammari’s analysis, the disagreement is not limited to the duration of implementation, but extends to the definition of the process itself. While Washington, in his estimation, adheres to the concept of “disarmament,” the Iraqi vision is moving towards “regulating weapons” and confining them to state institutions.
The information reported by Al-Mada indicates that there is more than one formula being put forward within the Iraqi political forces, including “restricting weapons to the state” and “regulating weapons with the state,” which are expressions that carry an important political and security difference regarding the future of the factions and their arsenal.
According to the sources, it has not yet been decided whether the weapons will be placed in warehouses belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces or transferred to other security institutions, given the objections and lack of confidence among some factions regarding the proposed storage options.
A new schedule is on the table in New York.
Researcher and politician Zulfiqar Hussein, as quoted by the newspaper, believes that Al-Zaidi’s visit to New York and the meetings he is holding on the sidelines of the United Nations meetings provide an opportunity to present the government’s vision regarding the management of the weapons file.
According to Hussein, the government may try to convince the American side that restructuring the security file needs additional time, and may link the implementation of the weapons control plan to economic and investment files and broader agreements with the United States and other countries.
However, he estimated that any potential US extension, if it were to occur, would likely be time-limited, given Washington's desire to obtain a clear program that moves from political pledges to concrete steps on the ground.
In conclusion, the data reported by Al-Mada reveals that the essence of the crisis is no longer related only to setting a new date, but to the more complex question: Is the intention to dismantle the factions’ weapons and hand them over to the state, or to organize them and reintegrate them into the security institutions?
Between these two options, the implementation of any new deadline remains contingent on the position of the factions themselves, on understandings between Baghdad and Washington, and on the ability of the Iraqi government to translate pledges and timetables into actual actions on the ground.
Al-Zidi discusses with the head of the Middle East Institute the path of economic and financial reforms
During the meeting, regional and international developments were discussed, along with the economic and financial reforms being pursued by Iraq, and the government's efforts to enhance the investment environment, support the national economy, and diversify sources of income.
Stuart Jones praised the Iraqi government’s success in implementing its anti-corruption policies, addressing financial issues, and advancing the economic reform process that supports the move towards a more efficient economy and stimulates investment climates in Iraq, thereby enhancing opportunities for development, economic partnership, and investment with major companies.
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How did Swift become a bargaining chip in Washington's hands?
Expert and strategic analyst Qasim Qasir confirmed on Thursday that the US administration continues its policy of economic blackmail and systematic financial piracy against countries and peoples who reject its policies of hegemony and arrogance. He pointed out that Washington has transformed the global financial system, the SWIFT system, and the dollar into tools of war and pressure to punish anyone who opposes its dictates and dubious agendas.
Qasir told Al-Maalouma, "The United States is exploiting its influence and historical control over monetary institutions and international banking systems to impose an unjust and coercive blockade outside the framework of international law and Security Council resolutions." He explained that "the use of the US dollar as a tool of political and economic punishment reflects the bankruptcy of the Western system and its declining ability to impose its conditions through traditional means."
He added that "the arbitrary decisions recently taken by Washington to impose a no-fly zone on Iranian civilian aircraft and attempt to force countries in the region to comply with it represent a blatant and flagrant violation of international laws and conventions, particularly the Chicago Convention regulating the safety and freedom of civil aviation." He stressed that "targeting civilian and humanitarian flights is a dangerous precedent that exposes the falsity of American slogans regarding human rights, freedom of trade, and freedom of movement."
The strategic expert pointed out that "the American escalation in militarizing the economy and politicizing international financial transactions has become a primary incentive for countries in the region and the axis of resistance to expedite the dismantling of the dollar's dominance and to build banking alliances and trade exchanges in local currencies to liberate themselves from the unjust restrictions and blackmail that threaten the stability and economies of free nations."
Earlier, Fadi Abu Dayyeh, a specialist in international affairs and regional politics, affirmed that the American aggression targeting a number of Iranian cities and provinces constitutes a flagrant violation of the state's sovereignty and territorial integrity, holding Washington fully responsible for breaching the agreements signed between the two sides.
Al-Salehi warns of Barak's plan to end the role of the resistance and disarm it.
On Thursday, Abdul Sattar al-Salihi, a leader in the Anbar Alliance, warned against the plan of US envoy Tom Barrack, which aims to disarm the resistance and end its deterrent role in the region.
Al-Salihi told Al-Maalouma News Agency, “The plan of the American envoy, Tom Barak, to Iraq has been exposed to everyone and its features have become clear after Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zaidi demanded the preparation of a plan to hand over the weapons of the resistance and end its deterrent role in the region. However, this demand was met with rejection, and the resistance confirmed that its weapons will not be handed over until the last foreign soldier leaves Iraqi territory, and the country’s sovereignty is prevented from being violated, and foreign interference in internal affairs is rejected. These are conditions prepared by specialists that are consistent with the demands of the people, who reject the foreign occupation in all its forms.”
He added that "Tom Barak's plan paves the way for ending the role of the resistance and allowing the Peshmerga and Asayish forces to retain their weapons as a military force outside the authority of the federal government, in a clearly defined scheme to strengthen one side over the other in an equation that appears to be the end of a conspiracy directed against the resistance by the axis of evil.
Hezbollah calls on the Iraqi people to break the siege on Iran
Hezbollah in Iraq, according to a statement it published today, Thursday, September 24, described what it called “entities and companies that participated in the air blockade on Iran” as “without dignity,” and called for the purchase of Iranian goods.
The party said, according to what Baghdad Today received, that the companies and entities “that agreed to submit to the unjust American decisions in exchange for crumbs of interests have chosen for themselves the role of the submissive backer of the American-Zionist decisions,” stressing, “they are entities without dignity,” in reference to the decision to impose an air embargo on Iranian airlines.
In its statement, the party issued what it called a "call to the Iraqi people" to break the siege imposed on Iran, declaring, "We call upon the sons of the Iraqi people to break this siege by every possible means in support of the brotherly Iranian people, especially by supporting its products and encouraging their exchange."
It is noted that air handling companies operating at Iraqi airports have begun implementing the US sanctions on Iranian airlines for fear of being subjected to direct economic sanctions.
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