Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Late Tuesday Evening 9-29-26
The Iraq Stock Exchange Officially Joins The "Tabadul" Platform 9 29 2026
The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange announced the official start of trading for the Iraq Stock
Exchange via the “Tabadul” platform, making it the eighth market to join the platform.
The move allows investors in Iraq to trade securities listed on the Abu Dhabi market directly, thus enhancing trading and investment opportunities between the two markets.
The “Tabadul” platform provides the ability to trade between participating markets and settle
transactions in local currencies, without the need for dual listing or custodian services.
With the addition of the Iraqi market, the platform now includes markets with a total market value exceeding one trillion dollars, and includes approximately 700 listed companies and more than 11 million registered investors.
https://www.economy-news.net/content.php?id=74498
Iraqi Government Votes On PMF Law - 9/29/2026
2026-09-29 / Shafaq News- Baghdad Iraq’s Council of Ministers voted Tuesday during its 21st regular session to approve a draft law governing the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), referring it to parliament for a vote in accordance with the Constitution.
Earlier, Informed sources told Shafaq News that the two amended drafts on the structure of the PMF Commission and its service and retirement system are nearing referral to Iraq’s parliament after several contentious provisions, including those facing what the sources described as a “US veto,” were removed. The sources said some provisions of the two PMF bills still face US objections. The final versions will therefore be referred to parliament to begin the formal legislative process.
Read more:Iraq's PMF Service and Retirement Law: Is political exploitation inevitable?
Regarding the anti-corruption campaign and recovering illicitly obtained funds, the Council also voted to form a committee to coordinate with the Jordanian side on establishing a joint team tasked with developing a shared framework for recovering Iraqi funds held in Jordan and settling outstanding debts under the terms of the Paris Club agreement, while safeguarding Iraq’s legal rights. https://www.shafaq.com/en/Iraq/Iraq-government-votes-on-Popular-Mobilization-Forces-law
The Government Votes On The Draft Law On Mobilization And Refers It To Parliament For A Vote
Baghdad - One News - 9/29/2026 The Cabinet, headed by Ali al-Zidi, voted on the draft law for the Popular Mobilization Forces and referred it to the House of Representatives for a vote in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, within what the government described as regulating the administrative framework of security institutions.
In the area of combating corruption, the Council decided to form a committee headed by the Ministry of Finance to coordinate with Jordan on recovering Iraqi funds and settling debts in accordance with the terms of the Paris Club.
He also abolished the special royal decree committee for following up on listing and sanctions files, and tasked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with coordinating directly with the US Treasury Department to obtain information related to suspicious individuals and companies on a case-by-case basis.
The council also approved a ban on the export of copper, aluminum, lead, iron alloys and their waste, restricting their circulation within Iraq to support local industry.
https://1news-iq.net/الحكومة-تصوت-على-مشروع-قانون-الحشد-وتح/
Saif Raad: Abu Mujahid Al-Assaf's Statement Is Dragging Iraq Into Ruin, And Iraqis' Fears Of The Factions' Rhetoric Are Escalating
Baghdad - One News - 9/29/2026 Security and political analyst Saif Raad said there is a clear difference and discrepancy between the statements of Abu Mujahid al-Assaf and Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi, considering that the recent speech of the factions has raised concerns among Iraqis in conjunction with the withdrawal of American forces from the country.
Raad explained that Abu Mujahid al-Assaf’s statement and its threat to the government prompted Iraqis to worry about the nature of the next stage, noting that the incidents in al-Dora and al-Bu Aitha reveal one aspect of the reasons for these fears regarding the factions’ rhetoric.
Raad considered that Ali al-Zaidi’s threat, in his capacity as Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, represents a threat to the people, warning that Abu Mujahid al-Assaf’s statement may drag Iraq into “ruin,” as he put it.
He pointed out that the American talk about the dangers of “Balkanizing Iraq” is a clear indication of the magnitude of the challenges that the country may face in the next stage, especially with the continued presence of weapons outside the framework of the state.
On the economic front, Raad believes that one of the biggest challenges facing the government is that the dollar file remains in the hands of the Americans, considering that this makes Iraq vulnerable to broad economic pressures.
Raad warned of the possibility of Iraq being subjected to harsh economic sanctions and international isolation that would affect the internal situation, noting that the failure to restrict weapons to the state could, in his estimation, lead to the division of Iraq and a scenario of “Balkanization of Iraq.” https://1news-iq.net/سيف-رعد-بيان-أبو-مجاهد-العساف-يجر-العرا
The US Treasury Grants Iraqi Airways A Conditional License For Flights To Iran Via Najaf Airport.
Last updated: September 29, 2026 The Independent - The US Treasury Department, through the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), issued a special and limited-term license allowing Iraqi Airways to conduct transactions related to operating passenger flights between Iraq and Iran via Najaf International Airport, under a set of strict conditions and restrictions.
The authorization comes as Iraqi Airways has resumed flights between Najaf Airport and several Iranian airports, following a suspension of air traffic due to US restrictions and sanctions related to the Iranian aviation sector.
International reports on September 28, 2026, indicated that Washington was moving towards granting a limited waiver allowing flights for pilgrims between Iran and Najaf for approximately one month.
According to the license number IA-2026-1516078-1, Iraqi Airways and its associated service providers, as well as American persons acting on its behalf, are permitted to conduct the transactions necessary to operate the authorized flights.
The license clearly defined the scope of the flights, stipulating that the flights in question must depart from and return to Najaf International Airport, and that they must be limited to transporting Iranian passengers arriving for religious pilgrimage purposes.
This means that the American measure does not represent a comprehensive lifting of restrictions on dealings related to Iran, but rather a specific exception for a particular purpose and time frame.
The license will remain in effect until the completion of the transactions it covers or until October 28, 2026, whichever comes first, with the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control retaining the authority to amend or revoke the license at any time.
The license imposes restrictions on the nature of the people and goods that can be transported. According to its text, it prohibits the transfer of cash in bulk or shipments intended for Iranian intelligence agencies, military forces, or law enforcement agencies, as well as prohibiting the provision of transportation services to people and entities subject to US sanctions within the categories covered by the ban.
The license also limits the goods that can be transported to passengers' personal belongings, equipment, and items necessary for the security, safety, and operation of aircraft, while restrictions remain in place on the export or re-export of goods, technology, or software to Iran unless expressly covered by the U.S. authorization.
One of the most prominent clauses of the license is that its continuation is linked to the Iraqi side’s commitment to restrictions related to Iranian air traffic in Iraqi airspace.
It stipulates the possibility of amending or canceling it in the event of non-compliance with the conditions related to the entry or passage of Iranian flights through Iraqi airspace, except for the cases covered by the authorization.
Iraqi Airways had announced the resumption of flights between Najaf and Iranian airports on Monday, September 28, while reports indicated that restrictions remained in place on the Iranian airlines themselves, reflecting the specific nature of the US exemption granted to the Iraqi national carrier.
On the financial and security oversight side, the license obliges Iraqi Airways to keep records of the transactions covered by it for 10 years, as well as to submit a report to OFAC within ten working days of the license expiring.
The report is expected to include details of the number of passengers transported on authorized flights, their names and passport numbers, as well as the money spent by Iraqi Airways within Iran on fuel, maintenance, airport services and other expenses related to operating the flights.
These conditions indicate that Washington dealt with the issue of flights between Iraq and Iran as a temporary and monitored exception, allowing a portion of religious pilgrimage traffic to continue via the Iraqi carrier, without this implying the termination or suspension of the broader system of US sanctions and restrictions related to Iran and its aviation sector.