The Iraqi Currency Market Is On Tenterhooks... And The Dollar Remains Stable At High Levels.
Last updated: November 9, 2026 The Independent - The exchange rate of the US dollar against the Iraqi dinar remained stable on Monday in the markets of the capital, Baghdad, at high levels compared to the official rate, amid the continued challenges facing the exchange market and the commercial sector, and traders' anticipation of any new measures from the Central Bank of Iraq that may affect the movement of foreign currencies during the coming period.
The Al-Kifah and Al-Harithiya exchanges in Baghdad recorded a price of 168,600 dinars for every 100 US dollars, unchanged from the levels recorded in transactions yesterday, Sunday, indicating a state of relative stability in the parallel market, after fluctuations in exchange rates during the past period.
In local market exchange shops, the selling price of the dollar to citizens reached 169,000 dinars per 100 dollars, while the buying price recorded 168,000 dinars, with a difference of one thousand dinars between the selling and buying prices, according to the prices circulating in the market.
This stability reflects a state of anticipation among dealers, exchange companies and traders, especially with the continued gap between the official dollar price and the prices traded in the parallel market, a gap that is reflected in the costs of imports and the pricing of many goods and services.
Based on the exchange rate in the Al-Kifah and Al-Harithiya exchanges, the value of one dollar is about 1686 Iraqi dinars, while its selling price in exchange shops reaches 1690 dinars, which indicates the continued demand for the US currency at high price levels.
Exchange rate movements are of broad economic importance in Iraq, given the local market’s heavy reliance on imported goods and products, which makes any rise in the dollar outside official channels a potential factor in increasing import costs and the prices of some consumer goods.
This effect is related to import financing mechanisms, as the actual cost to traders varies depending on their ability to obtain dollars from official banking channels or their need to buy them from the parallel market, which may lead to price differences for goods between companies and importers.
On the other hand, a one-day stability of the dollar does not mean the end of the pressures facing the exchange market, as reading the direction of prices requires monitoring the movement of supply and demand, foreign currency flows, and the level of liquidity in the market, as well as the impact of regulatory and banking measures.
The ability of the Central Bank of Iraq and financial institutions to enhance importers’ access to official channels for financing foreign trade remains a key factor in reducing the gap between the official and parallel exchange rates, along with banking compliance requirements and foreign transfers.
The continued rise in the dollar's price in the parallel market raises questions about its impact on citizens' purchasing power, especially since some markets rely on daily exchange rates when setting prices for imported products, which may add pressure on household and private sector spending.
Moreover, price stability at high levels does not necessarily mean improved market conditions, but may reflect a temporary balance between supply and demand, pending new developments that affect the direction of the US currency.
Monday's trading indicates that the dollar maintained its levels from the previous day without registering a significant decline, while the direction of exchange rates in the coming days remains linked to developments in monetary policy, market activity, and commercial demand for foreign currency.
Dollar prices in Baghdad today
market Price per $100
Al-Kifah and Al-Harithiya stock exchanges 168,600 dinars
Selling in money exchange shops 169,000 dinars
Buying at money exchange shops 168,000 dinars
https://mustaqila.com/سوق-الصرف-العراقي-يترقب-والدولار-يستق/
Four Complex Issues Threaten The 2027 Budget... Abdul Hadi: It May Be Delayed Until After Mid-November
The Information/Baghdad... On Sunday, Uday Abdul-Hadi, a member of the Coordination Framework, confirmed that four complex points in the 2027 budget could hinder its approval by the Council of Ministers, thus preventing its arrival in Parliament after mid-November.
Speaking to Al-Maalouma, Abdul-Hadi explained that “there are four points that represent complications in the 2027 budget, most notably the Kurdistan Region’s share of the budget, in addition to the issue of the dollar exchange rate, the volume of crude oil exports, and how to handle other financial entitlements.”
He indicated that "these complications may lead to a delay in finalizing the budget vote in the Council of Ministers, and consequently, its delivery to the Finance Committee in Parliament."
Abdul-Hadi pointed out that "the 2027 budget will not be easy given the accumulated issues that need to be resolved, especially the rights of many segments of society who have been waiting for months for job security and the fulfillment of their entitlements."
He pointed out that "the nature of developments in the region and their impact on oil exports and the financial crisis will all put significant pressure on the 2027 budget. Therefore, the coming period, if it reaches the House of Representatives, will be a critical one in order to find solutions to all the complexities." End/25
Iraqi PM Carried Trump Proposal To Tehran To End War
2026-11-09 / 06:48 Shafaq News- Baghdad Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi carried a proposal from US President Donald Trump to Tehran aimed at ending the war, an informed source told Shafaq News on Monday.
Iraq's Ambassador to Iran, Yasser Abdul Zahra al-Hajjaj, confirmed that al-Zaidi's visit to Tehran was private and unannounced, focusing on efforts to reduce tensions and prevent further escalation in the region.
Speaking to the Iraqi News Agency (INA), al-Hajjaj said Iraq was not on the sidelines of regional developments but was actively pursuing its national interests under al-Zaidi's leadership, using diplomatic efforts to promote de-escalation and regional stability. He added that Baghdad was working to support regional stability and prevent the conflict from spreading through diplomatic engagement.
Citing an informed source, Fars News Agency reported that al-Zaidi made a brief visit to Tehran on Friday, lasting several hours, during which he held talks with Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, head of Iran's negotiating team, focusing exclusively on Iraq's efforts to end the war between Iran and the United States.
During the meeting, Ghalibaf thanked the Iraqi delegation for its efforts and outlined Iran's proposal, which is built around a two-day timeframe, stressing that the United States must respect Iran's rights under the framework of the proposal to advance negotiations.
Al-Zaidi received a phone call from Trump last Thursday, during which the two leaders discussed regional developments, security developments, and prospects for the coming period. They also stressed the importance of coordination and consultation between the two countries in addressing current challenges and prioritizing dialogue and diplomacy in resolving crises, according to a statement from Al-Zaidi's media office.
https://www.shafaq.com/en/Iraq/Iraqi-PM-carried-Trump-proposal-to-Tehran-to-end-war
Iraq’s Envoy Confirms Zaidi’s Unannounced Iran Visit In ‘Efforts Toward De-Escalation’
2026-11-09 | 18:08 BAGHDAD - 964 Media — Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi made a private, unannounced visit to Iran to ease regional tensions and defuse the risk of war, Iraq’s ambassador in Tehran, Yasser al-Hajjaj, said Monday.
Hajjaj told the state-run Iraqi News Agency that the trip was private and had not been announced. He did not say when Zaidi traveled or whom he met.
“Iraq is not on the sidelines of what is happening in the region. Rather, it is actively pursuing its supreme national interests under the leadership of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, directing its diplomatic efforts toward de-escalation, preventing further escalation and strengthening regional stability,” Hajjaj said.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said Monday that Tehran had not sent Washington a new proposal and that its existing plan still stood.
Iran remains in regular contact with the mediators, Pakistan and Qatar, he said. He listed Iran’s demands as an end to the U.S. naval blockade of its ports, the lifting of sanctions, the release of frozen Iranian assets and an end to the war.
Zaidi told President Donald Trump in a phone call on Thursday that Iraq would not allow its territory to be used to launch attacks on neighboring countries, the prime minister’s media office said. The statement did not say what Trump told him.
The call came two days after the U.S. midterm elections, as Qatari mediators pursued indirect talks between Washington and Tehran. On the day of the midterms, Trump told Fox News that U.S. forces had hit an anti-aircraft facility on Iran’s Qeshm Island, near the Strait of Hormuz, and described it as a minor attack.
On Friday, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein proposed to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that a committee of regional foreign ministers visit Tehran and Washington, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said.
Zaidi made his first official visit to Tehran in July, when he met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and said Iraq would not allow any threat against Iran to originate from Iraqi territory.
Shipping through Hormuz, Iraq’s main export route, has been disrupted since the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran began on Feb. 28, and the conflict has continued at varying intensity despite a ceasefire announced in April. https://en.964media.com/55010/