Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Thursday Morning 7-9-26

IMF Expects Severe Contraction In Iraq’s Economy In 2026

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected on Thursday that Iraq’s economy will be the most hit by oil and transportation disruptions in the Middle East and Central Asia in 2026.

The IMF also predicted a robust economic rebound in 2027, when energy market conditions improve and commerce resume, local news outlet Shafaq News reported.

In its recent World Economic Outlook report, the IMF projected that Middle Eastern and Central Asian countries will see a sharp drop in growth to 0.7 percent in 2026, before rebounding to 6.5 percent in 2027. These forecasts assume that energy interruptions will last longer than previously predicted.

The economies of Iraq, Kuwait, and Qatar, which are heavily reliant on commodities, will experience significant impacts from disruptions in energy production and transportation. These nations are expected to face an economic downturn in 2026, followed by growth rates exceeding ten percent in 2027.

The anticipated fall in 2026 will mainly result from the disruption in oil production and distribution, especially by those nations that depend heavily on energy exports, but the recovery in 2027 will be brought about by a reduction of these shocks and resumption of business activities.

The IMF’s latest prediction reduces the region’s growth forecast for 2026 by 1.2 percent from the April report, while the 2027 forecast is lifted by about 1.9 percent, suggesting expectations of a stronger rebound.

The IMF, on the other hand, expects Saudi Arabia to remain largely unaffected due to its more diverse export channels, with an economic growth of 1.7 percent in 2026 and 5.5 percent in 2027.

https://www.iraqinews.com/iraq/imf-expects-severe-contraction-in-iraqs-economy-in-2026/

Iraq Tightens Iran Dollar Controls As US Restarts Shipments

Iraq   IraqiNews   July 9, 2026  Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) — The United States has restarted supplies of U.S. dollar banknotes to Iraq after Baghdad agreed to take further steps to stop American cash from reaching Iran and Iran-backed armed organizations, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing Iraqi and United States officials.

The outbreak of the Iran war in late February froze shipments of physical dollars from Iraq’s oil revenues held at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, enforced by the U.S. Treasury Department, and shipments were suspended for some four months, putting pressure on Baghdad’s cash-based economy.

Under the deal, Iraq promised to tighten its financial system, including stricter regulation of currency exchange firms and efforts to prevent U.S. cash from reaching Iran or Iran-backed militias via salaries and other financial channels.

Iraq agreed to put in place extra protections to prevent armed organizations from abusing its banking system, a U.S. Treasury official told the newspaper, and shipments resumed. Iraqi authorities said dollar payments had resumed but did not disclose the new terms publicly.

During the delay, the Treasury Department canceled at least two cash shipments, including one for around $500 million, before delivery resumed late last month, The Wall Street Journal said.

The deal comes as Prime Minister Ali Falih Al-Zaidi aims to boost economic ties with Washington while pushing domestic banking reforms.

Al-Zaidi is set to go to the United States later this month to have meetings with President Donald Trump, the newspaper added.

The report also mentioned that the Trump administration has pushed Baghdad to limit the role of Iran-backed militias, including steps to tighten monitoring of cash flows and increase official control over armed organizations.

Analysts told The Wall Street Journal that there are big political obstacles to enacting such regulations, given the entrenched role of militia groups in Iraq’s political and security scene.

Since 2003, Iraq has depended on supplies of U.S. dollar banknotes since most of its economy is still cash-based.

Access to actual dollars is a key source of liquidity for Iraq’s banking sector since oil profits are kept at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York before being released to Iraq.

The new deal is part of a wider push by Washington to tighten financial controls in Iraq while reducing the ability to evade sanctions and move dollars illegally across borders, as Baghdad grapples with balancing its strong economic links with the United States and neighboring Iran. https://www.iraqinews.com/iraq/iraq-tightens-iran-dollar-controls-as-us-restarts-shipments/

After the Decline... A New Rise In Dollar Prices In Iraq Today

Published Sumerian News, the exchange rates of the dollar against the dinar in the Iraqi local markets on Thursday, July 9, 2026. The sale price is 154500 dinars for 100 dollars.

The purchase price is 153650 dinars for 100 dollars.  It was Cabinet On February 7, 2022, it was announced that the dollar exchange rate would be adjusted to 1320 dinars to the dollar. LINK

Between High And Low.. The Latest Update Of Gold Prices In Iraq

Alsumaria News – Economy  Published Sumerian News Foreign and Iraqi gold prices in the local markets in the capital Baghdad Today is Thursday, July 9, 2026.

The sale price of Iraqi gold karat 21 amounted to 857 thousand dinars, compared to 853 thousand dinars for purchase.

In the jewelers' shops, the selling price of the gold weight of the Gulf karat 21 ranged between 890 thousand and 900 thousand dinars.

Global gold prices continue to rise in record highs, with investors increasingly confident that the US Federal Reserve will cut interest rates in September, as well as rising economic and geopolitical uncertainty, along with expectations of a reduction in US interest rates. LINK

Globally. Oil Prices Continue To Rise In Early Trading
Sumerian News - Economy Oil prices rose on Thursday after United States New strikes against Iran To diminish hopes of ending the war and reopening Strait of Hormuz Completely.

‎By 00:54 GMT, crude futures had risen.Brent" at 1% to $78.8 per barrel. The futures contracts for West crude increased. Texas The US broker is 1.01% to $74.26.

‎Before that, the two benchmarks at the settlement reached their highest levels in more than two weeks after the US president threatened Donald Trump Bombing Iran Last night.
‎He said U S Army He carried out new strikes on Iran in order to keep Strait of Hormuz vitality is open to navigation, hours after saying Trump The interim agreement to end the war is “over.” LINK