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Dinar Recaps 20 5/1/26 Dinar Recaps 20 5/1/26

Iraq Economic News And Points To Ponder Friday Morning 5-1-26

Iraq’s Import Trap: A System That Produces Demand, Not Supply

2026-05-01 Shafaq News Every day, above the oil fields of southern Iraq, gas burns off into the sky in towers of orange flame. Iraq flares 1,200 million standard cubic feet of gas per day —enough, if captured, to power the industries the country doesn't have. Instead, Baghdad imports gas from Iran to generate electricity for the factories that cannot run without it.

It pays billions for the fuel it is simultaneously destroying. The ships that arrive at Umm Qasr carrying rice, sugar, and cooking oil are a symptom of the same logic: a country that possesses what it needs, and cannot stop paying others to provide it.

Iraq’s Import Trap: A System That Produces Demand, Not Supply

Iraq’s GDP stood at $279.6 billion in 2024, according to the World Bank. In that same year, oil accounted for 89% of the country's foreign exchange earnings, with crude oil accounting for between 92 and 99% of total exports.

The country sits atop one of the largest hydrocarbon reserves on earth. And yet it cannot feed itself, power its factories reliably, or manufacture goods that compete on its own domestic market.

The standard explanation —weak institutions, post-war damage, incomplete reconstruction—describes symptoms while leaving the cause untouched. The more accurate account is this: the political economy that oil built in Iraq actively destroys the conditions under which domestic production could ever compete.

Every boom has deepened the dependency rather than reducing it, not by accident but by design, because the system that distributes oil revenues is also the system that governs, and it has no incentive to change.

$80 Billion in Imports

Iraq's annual import bill exceeds $80–90 billion in goods, according to Iraqi Ministry of Planning estimates. That number is striking because of what it covers. Between 80 and 100% of many basic staples, including wheat, rice, and sugar.

The dependency on agricultural imports has been building since the mid-1960s, accelerating through each successive conflict, and never reversed during the periods of relative stability and high oil prices that should, theoretically, have enabled investment in domestic alternatives.

The USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service documented what this looks like at ground level in its most recent grain reporting on Iraq. In one recent drought year, the planted area for paddy rice fell by 96% compared to the previous season, as the government restricted cultivation areas in the south due to water shortages. Iraq —a country bisected by the Tigris and Euphrates, ancient breadbasket of the Fertile Crescent— cannot reliably grow its own rice.

The gap between what Iraq consumes and what it produces is not a temporary problem awaiting the right infrastructure investment; it is the settled outcome of a structural transformation that oil revenue accelerated and that no government since 2003 has found either the tools or the political will to reverse.

Dutch Disease, Iraqi Edition

Economists have a precise term for what happened: Dutch disease describes the way a resource boom creates overreliance on one sector at the expense of others, operating through two channels: a resource movement effect, where labor migrates from manufacturing to the booming sector, causing direct deindustrialization; and a spending effect, where increased revenues raise demand for non-tradable goods, causing indirect deindustrialization. Iraq exhibits both channels in their most acute form.

Oil extraction accounts for 55% of Iraqi GDP; manufacturing, construction, water, and electricity combined account for 8%. Agriculture accounts for 4%. The tradable, productive sectors of the economy were not gradually outcompeted; they were crowded out by a state that, flushed with petrodollars, found it cheaper and politically easier to employ people directly than to build the conditions for a private economy.

Iraq's labor force numbers around 15 million people, and approximately 42% work in the public sector, an outcome rooted in decades of state-centered economic policy, first institutionalized under the Ba'ath regime and later reinforced during the post-2003 reconstruction period.

The World Bank reported that the average Iraqi public employee generates 17 minutes of effective work per day. More than 10.5 million Iraqi citizens —approximately a quarter of the total population— receive a monthly salary from the state. Salary and pension obligations now exceed $48 billion annually, close to 40% of the federal budget, according to Iraq's Federal Board of Supreme Audit.

Every dinar spent retaining a surplus civil servant is a dinar not spent on the power grid, the roads, or the credit facilities that would allow a private manufacturer to exist, let alone compete.

Factories That Cannot Run

Of all the structural obstacles facing Iraqi producers, none is more concrete or more consequential than electricity, and the way the country manages its own energy.

Iraq is the world's second-largest gas-flaring country after Russia, burning 1,200 million standard cubic feet per day while simultaneously importing gas from Iran at a cost of billions of dollars annually, spending roughly $2.78 billion on Iranian gas in 2021 alone, and twice that the following year, according to the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. The fuel that could power Iraqi industry is instead lit on fire above the fields that produce it, while the state pays a neighbor for the replacement.

The supply gap this creates is severe, even before an acute outage in the summer season, Iraq generates around 24,000 megawatts, considerably less than the estimated 34,000 megawatts needed to meet local demand. The International Energy Agency projects the deficit will persist: even if all planned capacity additions are completed and transmission reforms implemented, Iraq will still face a shortage of approximately 10,000 megawatts over the next five years.

For a manufacturer, unreliable electricity is not an inconvenience; it is a structural cost that no tariff protection can offset. A factory running on backup diesel generators faces energy expenses far above those of competitors in Turkiye, Iran, or China, where power is stable and often subsidized. Iraqi producers are asked to compete internationally with one hand tied behind their back, and then told the problem is that their hand is weak.

The financial structure of the electricity sector ensures the crisis cannot self-correct. Only about 20% of electricity bills are paid in full, driven by weak enforcement and a widespread public expectation that electricity should be a free public service.

More than 50% of generated electricity is lost before billing through theft and inefficiency, and less than 30% of total production contributes to financial revenue, leaving only about 10% of operational expenses covered by collections.

A ministry that recovers a tenth of its operating costs cannot invest in the grid. A grid that cannot be invested in remains unreliable. An industry that cannot rely on the grid cannot grow. The loop is closed, and it has been closed for decades.

Tariff That Is Not a Tariff

Protective tariffs exist on paper for domestic manufacturers. The government operates a Public Distribution System providing subsidized staple foods, purchases grain harvests at above-market prices, and has backed financing for over 1,300 industrial projects. Formally, the architecture of industrial protection is present.

What is also present —and what systematically neutralizes it— is the border. Cartels maintain control around Iraq's key crossing points, employing false trade invoicing whereby importers misrepresent or undervalue products to pay less import duty, while encouraging officials to ignore mandatory inspections.

Analysts estimate that smuggling and illicit trade activities deprive the state of between three and four billion dollars in lost revenue annually. A tariff that is not enforced at the point of entry is not a tariff; it is an announcement.

Transparency International's 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index scored Iraq at 26 out of 100, against a world average of 43. The IMF, in its 2023 Article IV consultation, found that customs procedures required urgent modernization and that anti-smuggling initiatives had not been implemented on a meaningful scale.

It also recorded, without evident surprise, that approximately $2.5 billion was stolen from Iraq's General Commission for Taxes in 2021–22, only a fraction of which has been recovered.

owsThe Public Distribution System, meanwhile, provides genuine short-term relief. Research by the WFP and the IPC found that the PDS sl the transmission of global food price shocks to Iraqi consumers, with local prices adjusting to roughly 68% of an international price increase after five months. But the same research concluded the system strains the public budget while failing to provide long-term protection from global price volatility.

Political Trap

This is the argument that matters most, and the one most economic reporting on Iraq consistently avoids: import dependence is not a policy problem awaiting a technical solution. It is the equilibrium output of a rentier political settlement, and every actor inside that settlement has a rational interest in preserving it.

Rentier dynamics have produced deeply rooted public expectations of state generosity. Any attempt to cut subsidies or restructure the payroll risks provoking popular backlash —as Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi found directly when his 2015–18 reform efforts were met with mass protests. The government distributes oil revenues not primarily to develop the economy, but to maintain social peace.

Public employment is patronage institutionalized. Subsidized imports are a transfer payment that happens to destroy the market for domestic producers. The arrangement works, politically, for as long as oil prices cooperate.

They are not cooperating as the oil price required to balance Iraq's budget rose to around $84 per barrel in 2024, up from $54 in 2020, as spending expanded and non-oil revenues stagnated. With oil trading well below that threshold, Iraq is running a structural fiscal deficit while being politically unable to address its causes. Non-oil GDP was projected to slow to just 1% in 2025 as falling oil prices and financing constraints weighed on government spending and consumer sentiment.

The IMF's 2025 Article IV mission delivered its verdict without diplomatic softening: Iraq's vulnerabilities have increased in recent years due to a large fiscal expansion, and the country is struggling with high unemployment, an excessive state footprint, a weak banking sector, corruption, and an inefficient electricity sector.

It called for customs enforcement, tariff reform, wage bill reduction, labor market liberalization, and governance improvements —presenting these not as optional enhancements but as interlocking necessities. Iraq has received versions of the same prescription, from the same institution, in nearly the same language, for more than a decade.

Gas Will Keep Burning

Iraq will not resolve its import dependency through targeted subsidies, above-market procurement prices, or financing windows for industrial projects. These are interventions inside a system whose own logic produces the problem they are designed to solve. The dependency will begin to close only when the cost of maintaining the current settlement exceeds the cost of dismantling it, when oil revenue falls far enough, for long enough, that the state can no longer afford to employ a quarter of the population, subsidize electricity it cannot bill for, and look the other way at borders it does not control.

That moment may be approaching as it has approached before —after 2014, after 2020— and passed without transformation. Whether this time is different depends less on any particular minister or reform package than on whether the fiscal pressure now building is severe enough to break the political coalition that has made dependence the rational choice for twenty years.

Until then, the gas will keep burning above the southern fields. The ships will keep arriving at Umm Qasr. And somewhere between the flame and the cargo hold lies the answer to a question Iraq has not yet decided it wants to ask.

Written and edited by Shafaq News staff.

https://www.shafaq.com/en/Report/Iraq-s-import-trap-A-system-that-produces-demand-not-supply

Dinar Recaps 20 5/1/26 Dinar Recaps 20 5/1/26

MilitiaMan & CREW IRAQ DINAR UPDATE-Clean Progress taking place-Washington - Iraq in line-Reforms-REER-Results

MilitiaMan & CREW IRAQ DINAR UPDATE-Clean Progress taking place-Washington - Iraq in line-Reforms-REER-Results

4-30-2026

The Crew: Samson, PompeyPeter, Petra, Daytrader, Sunkissed, GIGI and Militia Man

No drama. No intrigue. No songs and dances. Just straight, factual news that I read and interpret to the best of my ability after being an avid Dinar investor and insanely obsessed Dinarian for over 15 years.

Follow MM on X == https://x.com/Slashn

MilitiaMan & CREW IRAQ DINAR UPDATE-Clean Progress taking place-Washington - Iraq in line-Reforms-REER-Results

4-30-2026

The Crew: Samson, PompeyPeter, Petra, Daytrader, Sunkissed, GIGI and Militia Man

Follow MM on X == https://x.com/Slashn

Be sure to listen to full video for all the news……..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_7hkrxBXWk

DINARRECAPS8 4/30/26 DINARRECAPS8 4/30/26

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Late Thursday Evening 4-30-26

Good Evening Dinar Recaps,

Currency Stress Signals Shift: Emerging Market Selloff and Dollar Strength Reshape Global Balance

Sharp currency declines and capital outflows are intensifying pressure on emerging markets, signaling deeper structural shifts in the global financial system

Good Evening Dinar Recaps,

Currency Stress Signals Shift: Emerging Market Selloff and Dollar Strength Reshape Global Balance

Sharp currency declines and capital outflows are intensifying pressure on emerging markets, signaling deeper structural shifts in the global financial system

OVERVIEW (KEY POINTS)

Global currency markets are under pressure as emerging market currencies weaken sharply against a strengthening U.S. dollar, highlighting growing financial stress across multiple regions.

This is happening now due to a combination of rising energy costs, capital flight to safe-haven assets, and tightening global liquidity conditions, all amplified by geopolitical uncertainty.

Key players include central banks in emerging economies, global investors reallocating capital, and the U.S. dollar maintaining dominance amid instability.

The broader implication is clear: currency instability is accelerating capital flow shifts and exposing vulnerabilities in the current global financial structure.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS

1. Emerging Market Currencies Slide Rapidly

Currency weakness is spreading.

Several currencies hitting multi-year or record lows
Selling pressure driven by capital outflows and risk aversion

2. U.S. Dollar Strengthens as Safe Haven

Flight to safety is intensifying.

Investors moving into dollar-denominated assets
Dollar benefiting from global uncertainty and liquidity demand

3. Central Banks Intervene to Stabilize Markets

Authorities attempt to slow declines.

Interventions include currency support measures and liquidity injections
Limited effectiveness as broader market pressures persist

4. Energy Prices Amplify Currency Pressure

Oil costs are impacting trade balances.

Higher energy prices worsening import bills for emerging economies
Increased strain on foreign exchange reserves

5. Capital Flows Shift Toward Developed Markets

Global investment patterns are changing.

Funds moving toward U.S. and developed market assets
Emerging markets facing reduced investment inflows

WHY IT MATTERS

This development highlights how currency markets are a leading indicator of broader financial stress, often signaling deeper systemic issues before they fully emerge.

As currencies weaken, the impact spreads to inflation, debt servicing, and economic stability, particularly in economies reliant on external financing and imports.

For policymakers, defending currencies becomes increasingly difficult when global conditions favor stronger reserve currencies like the dollar.

At the system level, this reflects a growing imbalance: capital concentration in safe havens versus vulnerability in emerging markets.

WHY IT MATTERS TO FOREIGN CURRENCY HOLDERS

Purchasing power declines in weakening currencies
Exchange rate volatility increases across markets
Dollar strength impacts global pricing and trade
Higher risk in holding emerging market currencies

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE GLOBAL RESET

Pillar 1: Capital Flow Realignment

Shifting capital toward safe-haven assets is accelerating a rebalancing of global financial influence, concentrating liquidity in fewer markets.

Pillar 2: Currency System Pressure

Widespread currency instability highlights structural weaknesses that could lead to changes in reserve currency dynamics and trade settlement systems.

CONCLUSION

The current wave of currency pressure is more than short-term volatility—it reflects underlying structural stress within the global financial system.

As capital flows shift and currencies weaken, the risks extend into inflation, debt sustainability, and economic growth.

This moment underscores a critical reality: currency stability is central to financial system confidence, and cracks are beginning to show.

When currencies weaken and capital moves, the foundation of the global financial system begins to shift.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

~~~~~~~~~~

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Newshound's News Telegram Room Link

RV Facts with Proof Links Link

RV Updates Proof links - Facts Link

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Thank you Dinar Recaps

DINARRECAPS8 4/30/26 DINARRECAPS8 4/30/26

Iran War: What’s Happening On Day 62 As Trump Asks Iran To ‘Give Up’?

Iran War: What’s Happening On Day 62 As Trump Asks Iran To ‘Give Up’?

Trump says the US blockade of Iranian ports is working, urging Tehran to ‘give up’ amid tensions.

By Elizabeth Melimopoulos and AFP 30 Apr 2026 EXPLAINER News|US-Israel War On Iran

United States President Donald Trump says Washington’s blockade of Iranian ports has been a success, urging Tehran to “just give up” as pressure mounts in a deepening standoff over the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has pushed back strongly, with Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf dismissing the US campaign as ineffective, while the military says its restraint so far has been “intended to give diplomacy a chance”.

Iran War: What’s Happening On Day 62 As Trump Asks Iran To ‘Give Up’?

Trump says the US blockade of Iranian ports is working, urging Tehran to ‘give up’ amid tensions.

By Elizabeth Melimopoulos and AFP 30 Apr 2026 EXPLAINER News|US-Israel War On Iran

Meanwhile, tensions in the Strait of Hormuz are rippling through global markets, sending oil prices above $120 a barrel and driving US petrol prices to a four-year high.

Here is what we know as the conflict enters day 62:

In Iran

Blockade ‘doomed to fail’: Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said a US naval blockade on Iranian ports would deepen disruptions in the Gulf while failing to achieve its targets. “Any attempt to impose a maritime blockade or restrictions is contrary to international law… and is doomed to fail,” Pezeshkian said in a statement.
Iran speaker dismisses blockade’s impact on oil: Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said no oil wells have “exploded” under the US blockade, arguing the measures have only driven up global prices. He added Iran’s storage has not reached capacity and accused US officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, of acting on “junk advice” over the policy.
Can the blockade force a production halt? The US says cutting off exports will eventually push Iran’s storage to capacity, forcing output to stop, but analysts say remaining storage may cover only about 20 days of output. As Muyu Xu, a senior crude oil analyst at Kpler, notes, any cuts are likely to be gradual, with a higher chance of acceleration into May.
No US presence in strait: Ghalibaf vowed his country’s control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz would ensure a future without US presence in the Gulf region.

War diplomacy

Putin-Trump talks: Russian President Vladimir Putin warned his US counterpart Donald Trump not to resume attacks on Iran. In a phone call between the two leaders, Putin said Trump’s decision to extend the ceasefire was “the right one”, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters, including from the AFP news agency.
Sticking points in US-Iran negotiations: The two sides remain divided over Iran’s nuclear programme and uranium stockpile, the US blockade, the release of $20bn in Iranian assets, and Tehran’s demand for $270bn in war reparations.
Geopolitical ripple effects: OPEC is reportedly in “crisis mode” amid the energy shock and the UAE’s plan to exit the group. Trump is also weighing a reduction of US troops in Germany after tensions with Berlin.
US-Germany tensions: Trump said the US was considering reducing its troops in Germany over Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s refusal to join Washington’s war against Iran – a force estimated between 35,000 and 50,000 troops.
EU pushes back: Following Trump’s comments, the European Union said Thursday that the deployment of US troops in Europe was in Washington’s interest. “Our NATO allies are also increasing their defence spending at an unprecedented pace,” EU spokeswoman Anitta Hipper added.

In the Gulf

Iran condemns Bahrain citizenship revocations: Tehran says Manama violated the rights of 69 people stripped of citizenship for allegedly supporting Iranian attacks. Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior accused them of “colluding with foreign entities”, while Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the move “discriminatory” and an attempt to deflect from support for US-Israeli actions.

In the US

‘$25bn’ cost of the war so far: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was asked during a fiery exchange in Congress about the cost of 60 days of conflict, and replied that it was estimated at less than $25bn so far.
Long blockade: Trump has told national security officials to prepare for a long blockade of Iran’s ports to compel Tehran to give up its nuclear programme, according to the Wall Street Journal.
‘No more Mr. Nice Guy’: “Iran can’t get their act together. They don’t know how to sign a nonnuclear deal. They better get smart soon!” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, alongside an illustration of himself holding an assault rifle, with the caption “NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!”
Economic toll of the blockade: Washington says it has seized nearly $500m in Iranian crypto assets under “Operation Economic Fury” to ramp up pressure. Meanwhile, US Democrats are criticising the war’s $25bn cost, citing higher fuel and food prices for Americans.

In Israel

Israel warns Iran: Israel’s defence minister said his country may soon have to “act again” against Iran, to ensure the Islamic republic “does not once again become a threat to Israel”.

In Lebanon and Gaza

Lebanon slams Israel: Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the “continuing Israeli violations” in south Lebanon, saying they included “demolitions of homes and places of worship, while the number of killed and wounded rises day after day”.
Deadly Lebanon strike: Israeli strikes on three south Lebanon villages killed nine people, among them two children and five women, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry.
Gaza crisis deepens: Israeli forces have intercepted a Gaza-bound civilian aid convoy in what a press officer described as a possible “kidnapping on the high seas”, while Palestinians continue to be killed in the Gaza Strip despite a fragile “ceasefire”.

Global economy

Oil jumps: Global crude prices soared following reports of a possible extended blockade, with Brent jumping above $119 a barrel to its highest level since 2022 and US benchmark WTI above $105.
Record profits: French fossil fuel giant TotalEnergies said net profit rose 51 percent in the first quarter to $5.8bn, boosted by higher oil prices linked to the war in Iran.
Asia hit hard by rising oil prices: The Asia Pacific region, heavily reliant on Middle East oil, is feeling the strain as Brent crude nears $120 a barrel. The Asian Development Bank has cut growth forecasts and raised inflation projections, with higher fuel and food prices hitting millions.
‘Major energy crisis’: The world is facing a “major energy and economic challenge” as oil prices have soared in the wake of the war, said International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol at a Paris meeting. With the world faced with “the biggest energy crisis in history”, oil prices were “putting a lot of pressure in many countries”, he added.

Iran war: What’s happening on day 62 as Trump asks Iran to ‘give up’?

DINARRECAPS8 4/30/26 DINARRECAPS8 4/30/26

Iraq Economic News And Points To Ponder Thursday Evening 4-30-26

US Extends Deadline For Lukoil Asset Sales To May 30

2026-04-30 Shafaq News- Baghdad/ Washington The US Treasury Department extended the deadline for energy companies to finalize deals to acquire foreign assets owned by Russian Lukoil to May 30, 2026, from an earlier May 1 cutoff.

According to a statement from the department, the United States has imposed strict conditions on the sales, barring the Russian side from receiving any direct payments, with proceeds instead held in frozen accounts under US supervision to prevent their use in financing the war effort.

US Extends Deadline For Lukoil Asset Sales To May 30

The extension marks the fifth since sanctions were imposed last October. The move forms part of US pressure on Moscow over the war in Ukraine, with sanctions forcing Lukoil, Russia’s second-largest oil producer, to divest its international portfolio, estimated at $22 billion.

Lukoil operates the West Qurna-2 field in Basra, one of Iraq’s largest oil fields, under a contract with the Oil Ministry. Development began after 2010, with production starting in 2014. The field holds substantial reserves and produces between 400,000 and 470,000 barrels per day, making it a key contributor to Iraq’s oil revenues and export capacity.

https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/US-extends-deadline-for-Lukoil-asset-sales-to-May-30

Oil Jumps On US Military Option Against Iran

2026-04-30 Shafaq News Oil prices rose on Thursday on a report the U.S. is ‌considering potential military action against Iran to break the deadlock in negotiations to end the war, increasing concerns of more supply disruptions to already curtailed Middle East exports.

Brent crude futures for June rose $5.27, or 4.5%, to $123.30 a barrel as of 0347 GMT after gaining 6.1% in the previous session. The June contract, which has increased for a ninth day, expires on Thursday and the more active July contract was at $113.10, up $2.66, or 2.4%, after gaining 5.8% in the previous session.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures for June were up $2.42, or 2.3%, ⁠at $109.30 a barrel, after climbing 7% in the previous session, climbing in eight of nine sessions.

Both benchmarks are on track for their fourth month of gains.

U.S. President Donald Trump is slated to receive a briefing on Thursday on plans for a series of military strikes on Iran in hopes it will return to negotiations on its nuclear programme, according to an Axios report late on Wednesday.

The U.S. and Israel began air strikes on Iran on February 28 and it retaliated by closing off almost all shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for energy supplies fromMiddle Eastern producers. Amid a ceasefire that has paused active combat, the U.S. has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports.

Talks to resolve the conflict, which has killed thousands and caused what analysts say is the world's biggest energy disruption ever, have deadlocked, with the U.S. insisting on discussing ‌Iran's alleged ⁠nuclear weapons programme and Iran demanding some control over the strait and reparations for damage from the war.

"The oil market has moved from over-optimism to the reality of the supply disruption we are seeing in the Persian Gulf," said ING analysts in a note.

In a sign the conflict and resulting energy supply disruptions are set to continue for longer, Trump spoke on Wednesday with oil companies about how to mitigate the impact of a possiblemonths-long U.S. blockade, a White ⁠House official said.

"Prospects for any near-term resolution to the Iran conflict or a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz remain dim," IG market analyst Tony Sycamore said in a note.

The OPEC+ grouping of members ofthe Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies is likely to agree a small increase of around 188,000 ⁠barrels per day in oil output quotas on Sunday, sources told Reuters on Wednesday.

The meeting comes just after the United Arab Emirates' withdrawal from OPEC, effective May 1, which is expected to deal a blow to the oil producer group's ability to control prices. Although the Gulf nation's exit ⁠would allow it to raise production after exports restart, analysts say that is unlikely to affect market fundamentals this year, especially with the Hormuz closure and other production disruptions from the war.

"Gulf countries, including the UAE, will take months to return to pre-war production volumes," Wood Mackenzie analysts said in a note.(REUTERS) https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Oil-jumps-on-US-military-option-against-Iran

Basrah Crudes Surge Despite Global Losses

2026-04-30 Shafaq News- Basrah Iraq’s Basrah crude jumped nearly 12% on Thursday, even as global oil markets declined.

Basrah Heavy crude climbed by $14.44 to $135.33 per barrel, while Basrah Medium crude rose by $14.44 to settle at $137.43 per barrel. Brent crude futures fell $2.05, or 1.7%, to $115.98 a barrel as of 1016 GMT.

https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Basrah-crudes-surge-despite-global-losses

Iraq Imports From Turkiye Fall To $659 Million In March

2026-04-30 Shafaq News- Ankara Iraq ranked eighth among Turkiye’s top importers with $659 million worth of goods in March, down from $774 million in February, the Turkish Statistical Institute (TURKSTAT) stated on Thursday.

Germany ranked first with imports valued at $1.82 billion, followed by the United Kingdom at $1.419 billion, the United States at $1.378 billion, Italy at $1.216 billion, France at $995 million, Spain at $846 million, and Romania at $802 million.

Exported goods included manufactured products, as well as agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, and quarrying, which together accounted for 94% of Turkiye’s total exports.

https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Iraq-imports-from-Turkiye-fall-to-659-million-in-March

Dinar Recaps 20 4/30/26 Dinar Recaps 20 4/30/26

UAE Drops Bombshell, Oil and Gold to Surge

UAE Drops Bombshell, Oil and Gold to Surge

Daniela Cambone: 4-30-2026

In a recent, high-stakes episode of The Daniela Cambone Show hosted by ITM Trading, Daniela Cambone sat down with world-renowned economist Professor Steve Hanke to dissect a series of earth-shaking developments in the global economy.

From the sudden realignment of the Middle East energy landscape to the underlying forces driving persistent inflation, the interview provides a masterclass in how geopolitics and monetary policy intersect to shape our financial future.

UAE Drops Bombshell, Oil and Gold to Surge

Daniela Cambone: 4-30-2026

The headline news of the discussion was the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) decision to exit the OPEC cartel effective May 1st.

According to Professor Hanke, this isn’t merely a logistical change; it’s a strategic pivot driven by a “pump now or lose out” mentality. The UAE is increasingly frustrated by strict production quotas and views the long-term horizon for real oil prices as declining.

Furthermore, Hanke highlights a growing sense of regional insecurity. With heightened tensions involving Iran and the broader Middle East, the UAE is concerned that future geopolitical disruptions could hinder their ability to export oil later.

By leaving OPEC, they gain the autonomy to accelerate extraction and maximize revenues while the markets are still accessible, fearing that their underground “black gold” might eventually be devalued by volatility and shifting alliances.

The conversation took a deep dive into the broader implications of Middle Eastern instability. Hanke notes that as regional tensions rise, the traditional balance of power is tilting. While the United States faces significant strategic and economic setbacks in the region, Russia and China are emerging as key beneficiaries of the shifting dynamics.

Professor Hanke did not hold back in his critique of current U.S. foreign policy. He described the American approach to the ongoing regional conflicts as ill-prepared, suggesting that the current narratives mirrors the flawed justifications used during the lead-up to the Iraq war.

He questioned the efficacy of modern military intervention, suggesting that “winning” in today’s complex global context is an increasingly elusive concept that carries heavy economic costs.

Moving from the oil fields to the Federal Reserve, Hanke offered a sobering perspective on inflation. While main stream media often focuses exclusively on interest rate hikes, Hanke argues that inflation is fundamentally a result of money supply growth.

Despite the Fed’s attempts to cool the economy, Hanke predicts that inflationary pressures will remain “sticky” due to continued bank lending and money creation.

He suggests that we shouldn’t expect a radical departure from the Federal Reserve’s current steady-state policy until a new leadership takes the helm, leaving investors to grapple with a prolonged period of diminished purchasing power.

For those looking to protect their wealth, the most striking part of the interview was Hanke’s medium-to-long-term outlook on commodities, particularly gold. Despite the usual market ebbs and flows, Hanke remains decisively bullish. He points to China’s massive role in commodity demand and the steady accumulation of gold by central banks as primary drivers for the metal’s value.

When asked about price targets, Hanke’s projections were bold: he sees gold continuing its upward trajectory, potentially reaching $6,000 to $7,000 per ounce in the long term.

This forecast is rooted in the belief that gold remains the ultimate hedge against monetary mismanagement and geopolitical chaos.

The insights shared by Professor Steve Hanke serve as a wake-up call for investors and policy watchers alike. As the UAE chooses independence over cartel quotas and the global power structure reshuffles, the importance of understanding monetary supply and hard assets has never been higher.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DjereXFYh4

DINARRECAPS8 4/30/26 DINARRECAPS8 4/30/26

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Thursday Afternoon 4-30-26

Good Afternoon Dinar Recaps,

Digital Finance Breakthrough: U.S. and UK Advance Crypto and Tokenization Frameworks

Regulatory momentum in two major economies signals accelerating transition toward a digitized financial system

Good Afternoon Dinar Recaps,

Digital Finance Breakthrough: U.S. and UK Advance Crypto and Tokenization Frameworks

Regulatory momentum in two major economies signals accelerating transition toward a digitized financial system

OVERVIEW (KEY POINTS)

The United States and the United Kingdom are both advancing key policies that move financial systems closer to regulated digital asset integration, marking a significant step toward next-generation financial infrastructure.

This is happening now as U.S. lawmakers push forward a comprehensive crypto market structure bill, while the UK formalizes rules allowing tokenized funds to operate within existing financial regulations.

Key players include U.S. regulators, UK financial authorities, institutional investors, and global markets preparing for blockchain-based financial operations.

The broader implication is clear: digital assets are transitioning from experimental markets into regulated financial systems, signaling structural evolution in global finance.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS

1. U.S. Pushes Forward Crypto Market Structure Bill

Legislative momentum is building.

Senate efforts aim to define oversight between major financial regulators
Bill progression signals movement toward clear regulatory framework

2. Regulatory Clarity Targets Institutional Adoption

Framework designed to reduce uncertainty.

Addresses issues like stablecoin yields and compliance standards
Includes provisions on ethics and legal protections

3. UK Approves Tokenized Funds Within Existing Rules

Digital assets move into mainstream finance.

Asset managers can now use blockchain for fund operations
Tokenization integrated without creating separate experimental systems

4. Blockchain Becomes Core Financial Infrastructure

Shift from pilot programs to real-world use.

Funds allowed to maintain records on distributed ledger technology (DLT)
Supports onchain transactions as primary system of record

5. Roadmap Expands Toward Tokenized Economy

Future financial architecture taking shape.

Progression toward tokenized assets and cash flows
Exploration of digital wallets and smart contract management

WHY IT MATTERS

This development highlights a major shift: digital finance is moving into regulated, institutional frameworks, increasing legitimacy and scalability.

Markets are likely to respond as regulatory clarity reduces uncertainty, potentially unlocking capital flows into digital assets and tokenized systems.

For policymakers, the challenge is balancing innovation with stability, ensuring investor protection while enabling modernization.

At the system level, this reflects a transition toward a digitally integrated financial ecosystem, where blockchain plays a central operational role.

WHY IT MATTERS TO FOREIGN CURRENCY HOLDERS

Digital assets may influence cross-border transactions
Currency competition could increase with tokenized systems
Capital flows may shift toward regulated digital markets
Exchange systems may become faster and more efficient

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE GLOBAL RESET

Pillar 1: Institutionalization of Digital Assets

Regulatory frameworks signal that crypto and tokenization are becoming embedded in traditional finance, not operating outside it.

Pillar 2: Infrastructure Transformation

Adoption of blockchain for core financial processes points to a long-term restructuring of how assets are issued, traded, and settled.

CONCLUSION

The coordinated movement by the U.S. and UK marks a turning point in the evolution of financial systems, where digital assets gain formal recognition within regulatory structures.

As frameworks solidify, the gap between traditional finance and digital systems continues to narrow, accelerating adoption and integration.

This is not a speculative phase—it is a measured transition toward a new financial architecture.

When regulation embraces innovation, the foundation of the financial system begins to transform.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

SOURCES

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DINARRECAPS8 4/30/26 DINARRECAPS8 4/30/26

Iraq Economic News And Points To Ponder Thursday Afternoon 4-30-26

The Toman Loses 65% Of Its Value In 6 Months

Money and Business Economy News - Follow-up The Iranian currency continued its sharp decline in the parallel markets against the US dollar on Thursday morning, coinciding with increasing economic pressure from Washington on Tehran amid fears of a possible renewal of military conflict in the Middle East region.

The Toman Loses 65% Of Its Value In 6 Months

The US dollar traded at 179,850 tomans, with the local currency losing more than 16% in one week and about 38.65% in the past six months, driven by escalating regional tensions and the ongoing naval blockade of Iranian oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. https://www.economy-news.net/content.php?id=68487

Iraq Announces Its Rejection Of Any Illegal Measures That Would Hinder International Trade.

Money and Business Economy News — Follow-up Iraq announced its rejection of any illegal measures that would hinder international trade.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a statement received by “Al-Eqtisad News” that “the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Iraq to the United Nations, Ambassador Luqman Al-Faily, participated in the Security Council session held on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, which was dedicated to discussing the item on the maintenance of international peace and security: maritime security.”

The Ambassador delivered a speech on behalf of the Republic of Iraq, in which he emphasized "the great importance that Iraq attaches to maritime security and freedom of navigation, reiterating its full commitment to ensuring freedom of navigation in international waterways, particularly in the Arabian Gulf region and the Strait of Hormuz, in accordance with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)."

He pointed out that "any threat to these corridors represents a direct danger to the stability of the Iraqi economy, as they are the main route for its oil exports and foreign trade."

He also called for "activating mechanisms for dialogue and cooperation between the Gulf littoral states, stressing his rejection of any illegal measures that would hinder international trade, given their negative impact on global supply chains and their repercussions on energy and food prices." https://www.economy-news.net/content.php?id=68485

Al-Zaydi Discusses With Taif Sami The Files Of Salaries And Financial Revenues

Money and Business Economy News – Baghdad Prime Minister-designate Ali Faleh al-Zaidi discussed the issues of salaries and financial revenues with Finance Minister Taif Sami on Thursday.

A statement from his media office, received by "Al-Eqtisad News," stated that "Prime Minister-designate Ali Falih Al-Zaidi met with Finance Minister Taif Sami."

The statement indicated that "the meeting reviewed the financial situation in Iraq, including financial revenues and the salary file, as well as discussing the challenges facing the financial situation under the current circumstances, and the importance of continuing to work on maximizing and diversifying financial resources."https://www.economy-news.net/content.php?id=68492

Oil Jumps On US Military Option Against Iran

U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures for June were up $2.42, or 2.3%, ⁠at $109.30 a barrel, after climbing 7% in the previous session, climbing in eight of nine sessions.

Both benchmarks are on track for their fourth month of gains.

"The oil market has moved from over-optimism to the reality of the supply disruption we are seeing in the Persian Gulf," said ING analysts in a note.

"Prospects for any near-term resolution to the Iran conflict or a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz remain dim," IG market analyst Tony Sycamore said in a note.

"Gulf countries, including the UAE, will take months to return to pre-war production volumes," Wood Mackenzie analysts said in a note. (REUTERS) https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Oil-jumps-on-US-military-option-against-Iran

Gold Rises Slightly, Eyes Second Monthly Decline

2026-04-30 Shafaq News Gold edged higher on Thursday on ‌dip-buying, but was on track for a second straight monthly fall as elevated oil prices kept fears alive of inflation and higher-for-longer interest rates.

Spot gold was up 0.5% at $4,567.16 per ounce, as of 0549 GMT, after falling to its lowest point since March 31 in the last session. Bullion was down about 2.2% so far this month.

U.S. gold futures for ⁠June delivery rose 0.4% to $4,578.10.

"Gold has struggled again this month as oil strength has dominated the narrative. Rising crude pushes up inflation expectations and interest rate forecasts, which in turn caps gold's appeal," said Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade.

However, "a combination of bargain-hunting and expectations that a peaceful resolution to the (U.S.-Iran) conflict will be found at some point are providing something of a floor for gold," he said.

Brent crude rose above $124 a barrel on a report that the U.S. was considering potential military action against Iran to break the deadlock in negotiations to end the war, ‌increasing ⁠concerns of more supply disruptions to already curtailed Middle East exports.

The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady on Wednesday, but in its most divided decision since 1992 noted rising concerns about inflation in a policy statement that drew three dissents from officials who no longer feel the U.S. central bank should communicate a bias towards ⁠lowering borrowing costs.

Traders are now pricing out Fed rate cuts entirely for this year, with markets now seeing a 30% chance of a hike by March 2027, sharply up from roughly 5% a day prior. FEDWATCH

While gold ⁠is traditionally seen as a hedge against inflation, high interest rates weigh on its appeal as a non-yielding asset.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump discussed how to mitigate the impact of a possible ⁠months-long U.S. blockade of Iran's ports with oil companies.

Spot silver rose 1.1% to $72.26 per ounce, platinum gained 1.9% to $1,914.85, and palladium was steady at $1,458.75. All three metals were also on track for a second straight monthly fall. (REUTERS)

https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Gold-rises-slightly-eyes-second-monthly-decline

Dollar Climbs In Baghdad And Erbil Markets

2026-04-30 Shafaq News- Baghdad/ Erbil The US dollar opened Thursday’s trading higher in Iraq, hovering around 154,000 dinars per 100 dollars.

According to Shafaq News market survey, the dollar traded in Baghdad's Al-Kifah and Al-Harithiya exchanges at 153,900 dinars per 100 dollars, up from the previous session’s 153,750 dinars.

In the Iraqi capital, exchange shops sold the dollar at 154,500 dinars and bought it at 153,500 dinars, while in Erbil, selling prices stood at 153,700 dinars and buying prices at 153,550 dinars.

https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Dollar-climbs-in-Baghdad-and-Erbil-markets

Gold Prices Rise In Baghdad And Erbil Markets

2026-04-30 Shafaq News- Baghdad/ Erbil On Thursday, gold prices hovered around 1 million IQD per mithqal in Baghdad and Erbil markets, continuing their upward trend, according to Shafaq News market survey.

Gold prices on Baghdad's Al-Nahr Street recorded a selling price of 996,000 IQD per mithqal (equivalent to five grams) for 21-carat gold, including Gulf, Turkish, and European varieties, with a buying price of 992,000 IQD. The same gold had sold for 986,000 IQD on Wednesday.

The selling price for 21-carat Iraqi gold stood at 966,000 IQD, with a buying price of 962,000 IQD.

In jewelry stores, the selling price per mithqal of 21-carat Gulf gold ranged between 995,000 and 1,005,000 IQD, while Iraqi gold sold for between 965,000 and 975,000 IQD.

In Erbil, 24-carat gold was sold at 1,140,000 IQD per mithqal, 22-carat gold at 1,046,000 IQD, 21-carat gold at 998,000 IQD, and 18-carat gold at 855,000 IQD. https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Gold-prices-rise-in-Baghdad-and-Erbil-markets-4-1

DINARRECAPS8 4/30/26 DINARRECAPS8 4/30/26

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Thursday Morning 4-30-26

Good Morning Dinar Recaps,

Shipping Crisis Deepens: Red Sea Disruptions and Oil Volatility Strain Global Trade System

Escalating maritime threats and rerouted supply chains are driving costs higher and exposing vulnerabilities in the global financial system

Good Morning Dinar Recaps,

Shipping Crisis Deepens: Red Sea Disruptions and Oil Volatility Strain Global Trade System

Escalating maritime threats and rerouted supply chains are driving costs higher and exposing vulnerabilities in the global financial system

OVERVIEW (KEY POINTS)

Global trade is facing renewed strain as shipping disruptions intensify across key maritime routes, particularly in the Red Sea and surrounding regions tied to Middle East instability.

This is happening now because ongoing geopolitical tensions have forced shipping companies to reroute vessels away from high-risk zones, increasing transit times and operational costs.

Key players include global logistics firms, energy markets, and major economies now adapting to higher transportation costs and supply chain uncertainty.

The broader implication is clear: persistent disruption in global trade routes is feeding inflation, slowing growth, and increasing systemic financial stress.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS

1. Red Sea Shipping Disruptions Intensify

Critical trade routes remain unstable.

Attacks and threats forcing vessels to avoid key corridors
Increased reliance on longer routes around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope

2. Freight Costs Surge Globally

Shipping expenses are rising sharply.

Longer routes increasing fuel consumption and delivery times
Freight rates climbing across container and bulk shipping sectors

3. Oil Markets React to Supply Risks

Energy prices remain volatile.

Disruptions impacting oil transport and availability
Prices responding to uncertainty around secure delivery routes

4. Supply Chains Face Prolonged Delays

Businesses are adjusting operations.

Delays affecting manufacturing and retail sectors
Companies increasing inventory buffers to manage risk

5. Logistics Firms See Mixed Impact

Short-term gains, long-term uncertainty.

Higher rates boosting near-term profitability
Concerns over future demand if global growth slows

WHY IT MATTERS

This development highlights how physical trade disruptions can quickly translate into financial stress, especially when they affect key global supply routes.

Markets are reacting through increased volatility in commodities, equities, and transportation sectors, reflecting uncertainty in delivery timelines and costs.

For policymakers, rising shipping costs add another layer to inflation, complicating decisions around interest rates and economic support measures.

At the system level, this reinforces a key vulnerability: global trade efficiency is critical to financial stability, and disruptions expose structural weaknesses.

WHY IT MATTERS TO FOREIGN CURRENCY HOLDERS

Import-heavy currencies face added pressure from higher costs
Purchasing power declines due to rising goods prices
Exchange rate volatility increases with trade imbalances
Commodity-linked currencies may benefit from higher prices

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE GLOBAL RESET

Pillar 1: Trade Route Vulnerability Exposed

Ongoing disruptions highlight the need for diversified and resilient global supply chains, reshaping trade strategies.

Pillar 2: Cost-Driven Economic Realignment

Rising logistics and energy costs are forcing economies to restructure pricing, sourcing, and production models.

CONCLUSION

The escalation in shipping disruptions marks a critical stress point for global trade and financial systems.

As costs rise and delays persist, the impact is spreading across industries, contributing to inflation and economic uncertainty.

This is not an isolated issue—it reflects a broader shift in how geopolitical risk is influencing global commerce and finance.

When trade routes become unstable, the financial system built on them must adjust.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

~~~~~~~~~~

🌱 A Message to Our Currency Holders🌱

If you’ve been holding foreign currency for many years, you were not foolish.
You were not wrong to believe the global financial system would change.

What failed was not your patience — it was the information you were given.

For years, dates, rumors, and personalities replaced facts, structure, and proof. “This week” predictions created cycles of hope and disappointment that were never based on how currencies actually change.

That is not your failure.

Our mission here is different: • No dates • No rates • No hype • No gurus

Instead, we focus on:
• Verifiable developments • Institutional evidence
• Global financial structure • Where countries actually sit in the process

Currency value changes only come after sovereignty, trade, banking, settlement systems, and fiscal coordination are in place. History and institutions confirm this sequence.

You will see silence. You will see denials. That is not delay — that is discipline.

Protect your identity. Organize your documents. Verify everything.
Never hand your discernment to anyone who cannot show proof.

You deserve truth — not timelines.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News

~~~~~~~~~~

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Newshound's News Telegram Room Link

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RV Updates Proof links - Facts Link

Follow the Gold/Silver Rate COMEX

Follow Fast Facts

Seeds of Wisdom Team™ Website

Thank you Dinar Recaps

DINARRECAPS8 4/30/26 DINARRECAPS8 4/30/26

Iraq Economic News And Points To Ponder Thursday Morning 4-30-26

The Dollar Is A Pressure Tactic... A US Report Links The Suspension Of Shipments To The Influence Of Factions In Iraq!

Published on: April 29, 2026, 3:45 PM Follow-up/Al-Mada The Foundation for Defense of Democracies in the United States held Iraqi factions linked to Iran responsible for Washington’s decision to suspend dollar shipments to Baghdad, considering this move a financial and security pressure tool that can be used to push Iraq towards deeper changes in the management of its economy and banking system.

The report explained that the United States had been sending cash payments ranging between $400 and $500 million to Iraq periodically for years, within a mechanism linked to oil revenues, but the US Treasury Department recently halted these shipments.

The Dollar Is A Pressure Tactic... A US Report Links The Suspension Of Shipments To The Influence Of Factions In Iraq!

The report indicated that the decision came in the context of escalating attacks carried out by armed factions using drones and missiles against American targets inside Iraq, including the American embassy in Baghdad, considering that suspending the flow of dollars was “justified,” and that its effectiveness depends on how it is used as a tool of pressure.

He explained that the Iraqi economy is heavily dependent on dollar inflows, so any disruption to these shipments directly impacts the market, leading to increased demand for hard currency, a decline in the value of the dinar, and greater difficulty in importing basic commodities such as food and fuel.

The report noted that part of these funds reaches, through the banking system, entities linked to armed factions, through companies operating in the fields of construction, import, banking and security services, indicating that the problem is not limited to cash flows, but extends to the mechanisms of their distribution.

In this context, the report considered Rafidain Bank, as the government entity through which oil revenues deposited in the US Federal Reserve pass, to be a key link in the distribution of funds within Iraq, including employee salaries. It added that transferring the salaries of some entities to Al-Nahrain Islamic Bank, under pressure from the US Treasury Department, did not solve the problem but merely shifted it to another entity.

He warned that a prolonged dollar shortage could lead to inflation and monetary instability, weakening the Iraqi government's ability to manage the economy and giving factions more room to strengthen their financial and social networks.

The report called on Washington to use this suspension thoughtfully, so that it would press for Iraqi compliance without causing an economic collapse, suggesting linking the resumption of dollar shipments to enhanced security measures around American diplomatic facilities.

He also stressed the need to push Iraq towards reducing reliance on cash and moving towards electronic payment systems, in order to limit illegal activities, calling for an investigation into the activities of Al-Nahrain Islamic Bank for possible involvement in money laundering operations, and the possibility of subjecting it to procedures under “Article 311” of the “Patriot” Act.

In the same context, the report recommended threatening sanctions against government officials if they are found to be involved in fuel smuggling or supporting financial networks linked to factions, in addition to strengthening oversight and external auditing of Al-Rafidain Bank, as it is the main channel for the flow of dollars.

The report concluded by emphasizing that Iraq’s continued access to dollars without strict oversight is no longer an acceptable option, calling for any future financial flows to be linked to transparent procedures that ensure they do not leak to entities outside the official framework. https://almadapaper.net/433487/

An American Institute: Iraqi Factions Are Behind The Suspension Of Dollar Shipments To Baghdad, And The Trump Administration Is Using The Move As A Pressure Tactic

4/29/2026 Baghdad – One News The US-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies blamed “Iraqi militias linked to Iran” for Washington’s suspension of dollar shipments to Baghdad, describing the move as “correct” and potentially useful for security and financial pressure on Iraq, and calling for an investigation into the activities of “Al-Nahrain Islamic Bank.”

The American Institute noted in a report that the United States has been transferring funds in amounts ranging from $400 to $500 million at a time to Baghdad for many years, pointing out that the US Treasury Department stopped sending these shipments related to Iraqi oil sales.

The report confirmed that Iraq is critically dependent on dollar inflows, but the Iraqi government, especially the Ministry of Oil, is deeply entangled with the militias, adding that suspending the shipments represents an effective and short-term financial lever for security and financial pressure. https://1news-iq.net/معهد-أميركي-الفصائل-العراقية-وراء-تعل/

A Parliamentary Question To The Governor Of The Central Bank Regarding The Delay In Releasing Foreign Remittances

Baghdad / NINA / The Parliamentary Finance Committee directed a question to the Governor of the Central Bank on Tuesday regarding the delay in releasing foreign currency transfers.

Committee member, MP Hussein Mounis, stated in a press release: "A question was directed to the Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq regarding the delay in releasing foreign currency transfers (excluding US dollars) to Iraqi banks, despite the completion of the requirements for the first phase of reforms being implemented by Oliver Wyman."

He added, "The current circumstances in the region and Iraq, along with the accompanying difficulties in international trade, necessitate greater support for the Iraqi market through financing and credit facilities that contribute to the stability of commercial activity." He demanded clarification on the reasons for the delay in releasing these transfers and the setting of an official date for their implementation, given their importance in supporting imports and trade.

Mounis stressed the need to answer the parliamentary question within a period not exceeding 15 days, based on the provisions of Article (15) of the Law of the Council of Representatives and its Formations. /End 9 https://ninanews.com/Website/News/Details?key=1292558

Parliamentary Finance Committee: Preparing The Budget Requires A Fully Empowered Government And Real Resources, Not "Fantasy" Figures

2026-04-28 10:53 Shafaq News – Baghdad Jamal Kojar, a member of the Finance Committee in the Iraqi Parliament, confirmed on Tuesday that the deficit is hindering the resolution of the budget, while pointing out that budgets are based on resources and not on "fanciful figures".

Kojer told Shafaq News Agency that preparing the budget law and sending it to the House of Representatives requires a fully empowered government, and that the current caretaker government does not have the authority to send the draft budget law to Parliament.

He added that the House of Representatives, in coordination with the government, has three options: to limit spending to the 1/12 system, to legislate a law similar to the Food Security Law, or to submit a draft budget law for the second half of this year.

Koger explained that "the total budget amount cannot be determined given that there is a financial deficit, and the important point is that budgets are based on resources and not on imaginary figures."

The Finance Committee in the Iraqi Parliament confirmed last week that voting on the 2026 budget law is linked to the formation of the next government, the government program, and the speed with which it is sent to the Council.

Committee member Ribwar Karim told Shafaq News Agency that the committee received information from the government indicating that "there is no liquidity crisis, and that employees' salaries are fully secured for the coming months."

Karim added that the parliament is still waiting for the formation of the next government with full powers, so that it can present projects to confront any economic crisis in the next stage.

https://www.shafaq.com/ar/سیاسة/المالية-النيابية-عداد-الموازنة-يتطلب-حكومة-كاملة-الصلاحية-وموارد-فعلية-وليس-رقاما-فضا-ية

A US Report Recommends That The Trump Administration Sanction Iraq's Rafidain Bank: A Means Of Securing Dollars For Factions

Baghdad – One News 4/29/2026 According to the US report, dollar shipments arriving in Iraq sometimes fall into the hands of militias through banking services, which run construction and import companies, currency exchanges, and security contracting firms.

The report considered that a large part of the problem lies with the state-owned Rafidain Bank, as it is the final means of distributing oil revenues deposited in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, which reach Iraqi society, especially civil servants, after until recently it also reached members of the Popular Mobilization Forces through their salaries, which were forced by pressure from the Treasury Department to be transferred to the smaller, state-owned Al-Nahrain Islamic Bank. https://1news-iq.net/تقرير-أمريكي-يوصي-إدارة-ترامب-بمعاقبة/

Dinar Recaps 20 4/30/26 Dinar Recaps 20 4/30/26

Thursday Iraq News Posted by Tishwash at TNT 4-30-2026

TNT:

Tishwash: Al-Marsoumi: Iraq is at a critical economic crossroads and needs competent individuals and political support.

Economic expert, Nabil Al-Marsoumi, warned that the Iraqi economy is going through a phase that requires extensive reforms in light of the major challenges that will face the president and the next government.

Al-Marsoumi told Al-Furat News Agency that: “The economic reality is characterized by significant pressures, most notably limited liquidity, challenges in the oil sector, budget deficits, high rates of unemployment and poverty, and declining economic performance.”

TNT:

Tishwash: Al-Marsoumi: Iraq is at a critical economic crossroads and needs competent individuals and political support.

He added, "The next government will not be able to change the reality on its own unless it has broad political support, and political forces must refrain from demands that may hinder its work and limit populist rhetoric that increases the burdens on the state."

Al-Marsoumi stressed that “Iraq stands today at an important crossroads in its economic path due to the magnitude of the challenges,” emphasizing “the importance of forming a government of competent individuals, far removed from quotas, capable of managing the current stage and addressing the economic crisis.” link

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Tishwash: Baghdad and Erbil meet to unify customs procedures

Iraq’s Border Ports Commission held a meeting Tuesday with federal and regional representatives aimed at unifying customs procedures between federal authorities and the Kurdistan Region, focusing on tariff alignment and the rollout of a shared electronic system.

The meeting, held under commission chief Lt. Gen. Omar al-Waeli and convened on directives from the Ministerial Council for Economy, discussed unifying the customs tariff and implementing the ASYCUDA electronic system across all border crossings. Participants also addressed customs exemptions, prohibition and restriction lists, standardization and quality control, radiographic inspection procedures, the agricultural calendar, unofficial crossings and tax procedures.

Waeli called for discussions “in a positive spirit, making citizens’ needs, meeting their requirements, and facilitating trade movement between the region and the governorates a top priority.” He noted that “the region is going through exceptional circumstances that require everyone to overcome differences in viewpoints and implementation,” and described the commission as “a point of meeting and understanding with the region.”

Efforts to unify customs procedures follow years of differences between federal and regional systems, including variations in tariff application at border crossings that have led to trade disruptions and delays. Previous attempts to enforce unified tariffs and clearance procedures have highlighted the impact of inconsistent regulations on traders and supply chains.

Recent discussions between Baghdad and Erbil have focused on aligning tariffs and ensuring consistent conditions for companies operating across all crossings.

************

Tishwash: An advisor to the outgoing prime minister, said that al-Zaidi met with the US chargé d’affaires in Baghdad, Joshua Harris

Abdul Amir Taiban denies the existence of an American veto on Ali al-Zidi, who is tasked with forming the next government, and confirms that all leaders of the framework support this assignment.

Al-Zaydi at the US embassy hours after the framework was nominated and approved – Taiban

A day after Ali al-Zaidi was tasked with forming Iraq’s ninth government, Abdul Amir Taiban, an advisor to the outgoing prime minister, said that al-Zaidi met with the US chargé d’affaires in Baghdad, Joshua Harris, considering this meeting a “green card” and an American approval and blessing of his appointment, contrary to the voices that say there is an American “veto” on his appointment.

In an interview with journalist Laith Al-Jazaeri, which was followed by 964 , Taiban reveals a “unique situation” that the framework was notNetwork accustomed to, after it unanimously agreed to nominate Al-Zidi, a situation that the framework had lacked throughout the past five months.

He explained that the absence of Humaam Hamoudi and Amar Al-Hakim from the picture during Al-Zidi's assignment does not mean that they do not support his assignment, revealing absolute support for Al-Zidi’s assignment.

On Monday evening (April 27, 2026), the Coordination Framework announced the nomination of Ali al-Zidi for the premiership, praising the “historic stances” of the head of the State of Law Coalition, Nouri Kamel al-Maliki, and the head of the Reconstruction and Development Coalition, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, by relinquishing their candidacy for the premiership and formation of the next government, in the absence of the head of the Sayyid al-Shuhada Brigades, Abu Ala al-Walai, and the head of the Supreme Islamic Council, Humam Hamoudi.

President Nizar Amidri tasked Ali al-Zidi, the candidate of the largest parliamentary bloc, with forming the new government, explaining that“with this, we have completed the third stage of the constitutional entitlement, which could not tolerate delay,” wishing him “success in forming a strong national government that represents all Iraqis and meets their aspirations.”

The President called on all political forces to “support al-Zaydi and cooperate with him to expedite the completion of this constitutional and national entitlement in a way that serves the interests of Iraq and its people.” The official news agency quoted Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zidi’s first remarks, in which he said, “We are determined to work with all political forces to form a government that responds to the demands of citizens in establishing security and stability and achieving comprehensive development.”

Al-Zidi’s nomination comes after a difficult process that included two violations of the constitutional deadlines.

The first lasted 71 days, until the election of the President of the Republic on April 11, 2026, while the other violation appears to be about to end within hours, after the country lived through 48 hours of a constitutional violation of the deadline for assigning the candidate of the largest bloc to head the government. conducted a preliminary investigation into the history, life, andNetwork 964 Thebusiness of Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi before his appointment. provides more information about the young businessman who following report appears to be more active than is typical among his peers.

His name appears on long lists of those who own or contribute to companies that carry out large projects. He also has extensive political connections, despite not practicing politics. link

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Tishwash: Badr: Washington will return $500 million to Iraq as a message of support for al-Zaidi

Hamed al-Moussawi, spokesman for the Badr parliamentary bloc, said on Wednesday that Washington would resend the $500 million shipment it had previously withheld from Baghdad as a "goodwill gesture" to the new project in Iraq led by Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zidi .

Al-Moussawi said in a televised interview followed by Al-Sa’a Network that “the coordination framework held a first session through a group of advisors to develop visions regarding the form of the next government and to divide the points between the parties .”

He added that "there is a vision within the coordination framework that believes that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should be within the framework, because the ministry during the past period went through circumstances that did not reflect the vision of Iraq as a whole, and there is talk about creating a position of (Minister of State for Foreign Affairs) that would be part of the coordination framework, and through which it would try to open a window with the world, provided that this person would also be the Minister of the Economic Ministerial Council ."

He continued, “Some of those who are affiliated with us in the factions’ channels are saying: What is Al-Zaidi’s political and security experience? And how will he manage foreign affairs? And I say to them: Looking at our other partners, there is now a person who leads an entire component (Al-Halbousi), and he was a simple person and later became the leader of a bloc, so why do we revolt when we reach the Shiite? ”

He noted that he had heard that the Americans would release the $500 million they had previously withheld from Iraq, as a goodwill gesture to the new project led by al-Zaidi .

He explained that "Badr has 20 deputies, and this guarantees us two ministries according to the prevailing equation in the political process. According to the language of numbers and electoral entitlement, 20 seats correspond to two ministries and 20 special grades . link

************

Tishwash: Independent politician: Government formation will proceed too quickly and in less time than planned.

An independent politician suggested that the process of forming the new government will proceed at a record speed and in less than the constitutional period, in light of political consensus and support within the coordination framework.

Abu Mithaq Al-Masari said during his appearance on the program “On the Ruler” broadcast by Al-Furat satellite channel, that “the visit of the Prime Minister-designate to both Hadi Al-Amiri and Nouri Al-Maliki dispelled doubts about the seriousness of his assignment, especially with the country entering the critical stage of constitutional deadlines.”

He added that "the formation of the government will proceed very quickly and in less time than specified, and that al-Zidi's nomination is serious and heading towards completing the formation," indicating that "Washington is interested in having a strong political actor in Baghdad, and al-Zidi has the consensus of the framework forces, which is what the United States wants, without any objection to it."

He pointed out that "Al-Zaydi faces a difficult task and must prioritize the issue of managing Iraq's funds with the US Federal Reserve," noting that "the government only needs half plus one, and all the members of the framework support it, which means there is no difficulty in passing it within the parliament."

Al-Masari continued, "There are expected concessions to the Kurdistan Democratic Party regarding the sovereign ministries, with talk of rotating the portfolios of Foreign Affairs and Finance, in addition to a move to rotate the Ministry of Education with Higher Education," expecting that "Abbas al-Amiri will assume the presidency of al-Zaydi's office." link

DINARRECAPS8 4/29/26 DINARRECAPS8 4/29/26

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Wednesday Evening 4-29-26

Good Evening Dinar Recaps,

Central Banks Split: Oil Shock Drives Inflation Higher as Policy Gridlock Emerges

Surging energy prices and global uncertainty are dividing central banks, increasing risks to growth, currencies, and financial stability

Good Evening Dinar Recaps,

Central Banks Split: Oil Shock Drives Inflation Higher as Policy Gridlock Emerges

Surging energy prices and global uncertainty are dividing central banks, increasing risks to growth, currencies, and financial stability

OVERVIEW (KEY POINTS)

Major central banks are showing growing division and caution as rising oil prices and geopolitical tensions push inflation higher across global economies.

This is happening now because the ongoing Middle East conflict has driven oil above $110–$120 per barrel, feeding directly into inflation while slowing growth expectations.

Key players include the U.S. Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, and global institutions now facing a policy dilemma between controlling inflation and supporting economic growth.

The broader implication is clear: policy fragmentation and inflation pressure are increasing systemic risk, signaling deeper stress within the global financial system.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS

1. Federal Reserve Shows Rare Internal Division

Policy consensus is breaking down.

Fed held rates steady at 3.5%–3.75%
Most divided vote since 1992, signaling uncertainty

2. Oil Prices Surge on Prolonged Supply Disruption

Energy markets remain under pressure.

Oil climbed above $118–$120 per barrel amid supply fears
Ongoing blockade concerns point to extended disruption

3. Global Inflation Pressures Reaccelerate

Energy costs are driving price increases worldwide.

Inflation rising across Europe and globally due to energy spikes
Fuel-driven inflation spreading into broader economies

4. Central Banks Hold Rates Despite Rising Risks

Policy caution dominates globally.

Bank of Canada and others keeping rates unchanged amid uncertainty
ECB signaling potential future hikes despite weak growth outlook

5. Global Growth Forecasts Are Being Cut

Economic outlook is weakening.

Asia growth forecast reduced while inflation raised to 5.2%
Manufacturing and exports showing signs of slowing momentum

WHY IT MATTERS

This development highlights a critical shift: central banks are no longer aligned, reflecting uncertainty about how to respond to energy-driven inflation.

Markets are reacting to this divergence with increased volatility in bonds, currencies, and equities, as expectations for future policy become less predictable.

For policymakers, the challenge is intensifying. Raising rates risks slowing economies further, while holding rates allows inflation to persist longer.

At the system level, this signals a transition toward a more fragile and fragmented financial environment, where coordinated global responses are harder to achieve.

WHY IT MATTERS TO FOREIGN CURRENCY HOLDERS

Currency volatility increases due to policy divergence
Purchasing power declines as inflation rises globally
Safe-haven currencies may strengthen during uncertainty
Emerging market currencies face added pressure

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE GLOBAL RESET

Pillar 1: Monetary Policy Fragmentation

Diverging central bank strategies signal a shift away from coordinated global monetary policy, increasing systemic instability.

Pillar 2: Energy-Driven Inflation Reshaping Economies

Persistent energy shocks are forcing structural adjustments in pricing, trade, and economic policy frameworks.

CONCLUSION

The current environment reflects more than temporary volatility. It represents a fundamental shift in how central banks respond to global shocks.

As inflation rises and policy consensus breaks down, the financial system is becoming more sensitive to both geopolitical events and energy markets.

This moment highlights a deeper reality: when central banks lose alignment, systemic risk rises significantly.

When energy shocks divide monetary policy, the global financial system enters a new phase of instability.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

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