Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Sunday Afternoon 7-5-26

EconomicsNews

Jul 5

USD/IQD Dips Below 154,000 In Baghdad And Erbil

2026-07-05 03:44 Shafaq News- Baghdad/ Erbil The US dollar opened Sunday’s trading lower 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, down from the previous session’s 154,250 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 153,600 dinars.

https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/USD-IQD-dips-below-154-000-in-Baghdad-and-Erbil

Gold Prices Rise In Baghdad But Slip In Erbil

2026-07-05 05:52 Shafaq News- Baghdad/ Erbil On Sunday, gold prices rose in Baghdad, hovering around 915,000 IQD per mithqal, while edging lower in Erbil, according to a Shafaq News market survey.

Gold prices on Baghdad's Al-Nahr Street recorded a selling price of 918,000 IQD per mithqal (equivalent to five grams) for 21-carat gold, including Gulf, Turkish, and European varieties, with a buying price of 914,000 IQD, up from Saturday's 883,000 IQD.

The selling price for 21-carat Iraqi gold stood at 888,000 IQD, with a buying price of 884,000 IQD.

In jewelry stores, 21-carat Gulf gold ranged between 920,000 and 930,000 IQD per mithqal, while Iraqi gold sold for between 890,000 and 900,000 IQD.

In Erbil, 22-carat gold was sold at 958,000 IQD per mithqal, 21-carat gold at 915,000 IQD, and 18-carat gold at 785,000 IQD.

https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Gold-prices-rise-in-Baghdad-but-slip-in-Erbil

Syria, Iraq Move To Revive Water Committee With Turkiye

2026-07-05 08:15 Shafaq News- Damascus Syria and Iraq agreed to strengthen cooperation on managing shared water resources, including exchanging hydrological data and working to revive a trilateral technical committee with Turkiye, a Syrian official said on Sunday.

Obada Al-Mubaid, director of International Water at Syria's Ministry of Energy, told Shafaq News that the technical protocol stipulated the continued data exchange on the Euphrates River, particularly during periods of water scarcity or sudden increases in water releases, to ensure a rapid response and appropriate measures. The agreement also calls for reactivating the joint technical committee involving Syria, Iraq, and Turkiye, subject to the three countries' approval, while strengthening coordination with Turkiye as the upstream country to safeguard the legitimate water rights of Syria and Iraq in accordance with international law.

According to Al-Mubaid, the deal provides for resuming joint training programs and exchanges of expertise in hydrological monitoring, dam operations, drought management, and early warning systems to enhance the capacity of technical staff and improve water resource management.

Additionally, the cooperation aims to establish a permanent institutional framework for technical coordination between Syria and Iraq, improve the management of the Euphrates River, unify technical positions on shared water issues, and strengthen the protection of both countries' water rights.

Last week, Iraq's Ministry of Water Resources and Syria's Ministry of Energy signed the agreement following bilateral talks on cooperation in managing shared water resources and exchanging technical data.

https://www.shafaq.com/en/society/Syria-Iraq-move-to-revive-water-committee-with-Turkiye

Middle East: Growing Objections Within The Framework To The Anti-Corruption Campaign After It Targeted Political And Parliamentary Figures

Baghdad - One News - 7/05/2026 A report by Middle East Online revealed growing objections within the Coordination Framework forces regarding the anti-corruption campaign led by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, after it targeted prominent political and parliamentary figures during Operation Dawn.

The report quoted political sources as saying that a number of leaders within the framework criticized the way the arrests were carried out, considering that resorting to special forces and strict security measures created a state of tension within the ruling coalition.

The sources also indicated that there were complaints about the raids being carried out without prior coordination with political leaders, as well as the leaking of information and photos of the accused before their cases were resolved judicially.

According to the report, some parties warned that the continuation of the disputes could threaten the cohesion of the ruling coalition, at a time when Al-Zaydi is continuing his campaign, supported by political and popular positions in favor of holding the corrupt accountable and recovering the looted funds. https://1news-iq.net/ميدل-إيست-اعتراضات-متصاعدة-داخل-الإطا/

Will Al-Zaidi's Campaign Become An Arab Model? Libyans See The Iraqi Experience As A Way To Move From Complaining About Corruption To Holding Those Involved Accountable And Recovering Stolen Funds

Baghdad - One News - 7/05/2026 The extensive campaign by Iraqi authorities to prosecute officials accused of corruption has reopened the debate in Libya about the possibility of launching a similar campaign, amid growing demands to strengthen accountability and recover public funds.

The London-based Al-Arab newspaper said that the repercussions of the Iraqi campaign were not limited to the Iraqi interior, but extended to Libya, where it became a focus of discussion among politicians, academics and activists who saw it as a model that could be used in confronting corruption.

According to the report, the scenes of raids on officials’ homes and the issuance of arrest warrants against influential figures have led many Libyans to question whether their country is capable of implementing similar measures, given the ongoing challenges related to political division and weak oversight institutions.

The report indicated that the comparison between Iraq and Libya is not limited to the extent of corruption, but rather relates to the state’s ability to turn corruption cases into judicial procedures that end with accountability and the recovery of funds, noting that the political division in Libya still limits the effectiveness of the judicial and oversight bodies.

The report quoted Libyan figures as saying that the problem is no longer in diagnosing the manifestations of corruption, but rather in the absence of the necessary political will to implement effective legal measures, at a time when reform efforts are still linked to consensus between the conflicting institutions.

He added that the United Nations had previously warned of widespread corruption and mismanagement, particularly in the oil sector, which is the main source of revenue for the Libyan state. Experts believe that the success of any anti-corruption campaign requires the independence of the judiciary, strengthening the work of oversight bodies, and updating legislation regulating the management of public funds.

The newspaper concluded that the Iraqi experience has raised expectations in Libya regarding the transition from discussing corruption to actual accountability. However, achieving this remains, according to observers, contingent on ending the political division and providing an institutional environment that allows for the independent application of the law.

https://1news-iq.net/هل-تتحول-حملة-الزيدي-إلى-نموذج-عربي؟-لي/

Iraqi President Outlines Policy On Iran, US, And Armed Factions

2026-07-04 / 14:46 Shafaq News- Baghdad Baghdad is moving forward with implementing its security agreement with Iran to end the presence of Iranian opposition factions on Iraq’s territory, Iraqi President Nizar Amedi said on Saturday.

In an interview with Al Hadath TV, Amedi indicated that Baghdad will build ties with Tehran on mutual respect, shared interests, and respect for sovereignty.

Relations with the United States, Europe, and Gulf states are sovereign decisions, he said, noting that Baghdad's ties with Iran or Washington will not come at the expense of one another.

On restricting weapons to the state, the president pointed out that the government began the first steps toward placing weapons under state control, with some armed factions responding positively. “The process requires caution and wisdom to avoid confrontation and bloodshed while addressing the reasons that led some groups to take up arms.”

“After the coalition's mission ends, Baghdad will evaluate its security needs before deciding on an memoranda of understanding, agreements, or contracts with the United States or other countries to continue developing its military capabilities.”

Amedi said Iraq rejects any attack on regional countries, especially Gulf states, from Iraqi territory, adding that Iraq's security and Gulf security are linked. He also called for a regional security framework after the end of the war in the region, saying Iraq could play a central role in promoting stability and economic recovery.

Regarding Turkiye, Amedi said Baghdad is coordinating with Ankara to address the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) issue and the situation in Sinjar. He said the PKK issue “is longstanding and complex, and military action alone cannot resolve it.”

Baghdad and Erbil suffer from several shortcomings, but the constitution remains the basis for managing the relationship. He called on the Kurdistan Region's two main parties to form a government, reactivate parliament, and resolve financial disputes through the federal budget law while guaranteeing the Region's constitutional rights.

The president also said the government has a genuine will to fight corruption, describing it as no less dangerous than terrorism. He said no one is above the law and that all corruption cases will be referred to the judiciary.

رئاسة جمهورية العراق

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The highlights of the interview of His Excellency the President of the Republic, Mr. Nizar Amedi, with Al-Hadath Channel:

The meeting of the last four presidents addressed strategic economic and security files, and it was agreed on collaborative work between presidents, political, parliamentary and community forces to prevent Iraq from sliding into the consequences of wars, security and economic crises in the region.

We raised the slogan "Iraq first" and to save the country first, we are all on the same boat, God forbid, if it sinks, everyone will drown.

The corruption file has a real will from the government and supported by all presidents, parliament and political powers, corruption is no less dangerous than terrorism.

Fighting corruption is an irreversible decision, no one is above the law, no red lines in this file, and everyone will be prosecuted.

The confiscation of weapons by the state is one of the most important files of the government, and the recent war has shown the fragility of the Iraqi security situation.

There is a real decision and will to confine weapons by the state in an Iraqi, patriotic, wise way and without bloodshed.

The first steps in the gun confinement file have begun, and there are answers from some factions, seeking to remove the reasons that led to carry arms and raise the slogan of resistance.

With the end of the war in the region, there is an opportunity to create a regional security framework that includes the countries of the region, and Iraq has a key role in it, leading to a regional economic recovery.

The constitution and the law are the rulers in the arms file, and the state will deal with any violation through judiciary and legal means.

Processing the profile of species and confinement of weapons requires caution and wisdom to avoid collisions and bloodshed.

Iraq refuses to target any regional state, especially siblings in the Arab Gulf countries, starting from Iraqi territories, Iraq's security and Gulf security are one.

The arms ban aims to strengthen Iraq's sovereignty and prevent the targeting of neighboring countries from Iraqi lands.

We are working on other security files with Turkey and Iran, including ending the Kurdistan Labor Party file and the Sinjar case.

We continue to implement the security agreement with Iran and to finish the file of Iranian opposition factions located in Iraq.

The current government's approach differs from previous governments since 2003, and we are working to address the accumulated files and make bold decisions in economy, security and sovereignty.

Iraq's relations with Iran are historical, cultural, religious, national and economic, and will be built on the basis of mutual respect, common interests and respect for sovereignty.

Iraq's relations with the United States, Europe and the Gulf countries are an Iraqi thing, and relations with Iran or the United States will not be at the expense of each other.

We seek to strengthen our relationship with the United States and make it a strategic partner in the future to build a strong economy in the region.

The assessment of the need for continuation of international support or to abandon it will be based on the reports and needs of the Iraqi armed forces.

After the mission of the international alliance, Iraq will assess its security situation, and on its basis it will decide to issue memorandums of understanding, agreements, contracts with the United States or others to complete the construction of its military capacities.

We proceed to implement the security agreement with Iran regarding the Iranian opposition in Iraq and to end any threat to the Iranian territories starting from Iraq.

The profile of the Kurdistan Labor Party is tangled and old, the military solution does not end it, Turkey has adopted a peace project with the party, and steps are underway to disarm its elements.

There is high coordination with Turkey to finish the Kurdistan Labor Party file and the Sinjar case, and the matter needs wisdom and patience.

Relations with Syria are evolving and moving from the security file to the diplomatic file, as relations with Damascus continue to improve.

Iraq is seeking to build the best strategic relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the economic, political and religious spheres, given the importance of Saudi Arabia as a neighboring and gulf state to Iraq.

The relationship between Baghdad and Erbil has some faults, and the constitution is the protector of this relationship, whereas the problem in the region lies in not forming a new government in the Kurdistan Region and the inactivation of the parliament.

We call on the two major parties in the region for agreement, genuine partnership, the formation of a fully competent government and activate the parliament.

The resolution of the financial disputes between Baghdad and Erbil goes through the budget law and ensuring the constitutional rights of the region.

There is no law on oil and gas despite Iraq's approval on these two suppliers, and there is a need for legislation to solve many problems.

There are more than fifty constitutional articles that have not been regulated by laws so far, in addition to the existence of hundreds of old resolutions, including the decisions of the dissolved Revolutionary Leadership Council, that are not in line with the current reality.

The President of the Republic has the right to present and amend draft laws, and the Presidency of the Republic to cooperate with other authorities to complete the legislation during the current period.

https://shafaq.com/en/Iraq/Iraqi-President-outlines-policy-on-Iran-US-and-armed-factions