More Iraq News Posted by Tishwash at TNT 9-15-2026
TNT:
Tishwash: Al-Zaidi's consultation with the head of Rothschild Bank on expanding Iraq's cooperation with international financial institutions
The Iraqi Prime Minister and the head of the Rothschild Bank met in Paris and discussed ways to expand Iraq's cooperation with international and global banks and financial institutions.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zaidi met and held talks with Edouard de Rothschild, chairman of the Rothschild Bank, at his residence in Paris, the capital of France, on Monday.
According to a statement from the Iraqi Prime Minister's Office, during the meeting, the two sides discussed ways to expand Iraq's cooperation with international and global banks and financial institutions, the Iraqi government's measures to develop and strengthen the banking sector, improve Iraq's credit rating, and the government's goals for creating a strong and diversified economy.
Edouard de Rothschild emphasized the importance of investment opportunities available in Iraq and the areas through which international financial institutions can contribute to Iraq's development programs. link
Tishwash: An economist explains the extent to which cash liquidity can be withdrawn from citizens.
Economic expert Dr. Safwan Qusay explained the possibility of withdrawing the cash liquidity held by citizens and transitioning entirely to electronic systems.
Qusay told Al-Maalouma, "Some studies indicate that Iraq has the capacity to fund credit cards, with the aim of withdrawing the estimated 70 trillion dinars held by Iraqis, so that banks can access it to finance public expenditures."
He added, "By selling real estate shares or shares in companies with suitable returns through the Iraq Stock Exchange, banks can withdraw this liquidity through such projects."
He pointed out that "there is a need to incentivize Iraqis to buy bonds and shares through the returns and interest generated by the nature of the project being sold. This is one solution for withdrawing cash liquidity, which can be implemented in the coming period." link
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Tishwash: From Paris, Iraq requests Interpol's support to pursue corrupt officials and recover stolen funds.
On Monday, the head of the Integrity Commission, Mohammed Ali Al-Lami, called on Interpol to strengthen international cooperation and coordination in pursuing those wanted and accused in corruption cases, and to expedite the procedures for tracking them and exchanging relevant information.
This came, according to a statement issued by the commission and received by Shafaq News Agency, during Al-Lami’s meeting with the president of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), Lucas Philippe, on the sidelines of his participation in the government delegation visiting the French capital, Paris.
Al-Lami stressed that “the transnational nature of corruption crimes, and the associated smuggling of funds and movement of wanted persons between countries, makes international cooperation a fundamental pillar in the system of combating it, stressing the need to prevent perpetrators of these crimes from exploiting borders or differences between systems and legislations to escape legal prosecution and benefit from the proceeds of their crimes.”
He pointed out that “the escalation of anti-corruption campaigns in Iraq, and the tightening of prosecution, investigation and inquiry procedures, has prompted some of those involved to try to leave the country and take refuge outside its borders, which requires a rapid international response and effective coordination with Interpol and counterpart agencies to track down the wanted individuals, determine their whereabouts and take the necessary legal measures against them.”
The head of the commission explained that “some wanted individuals resort to various means and methods to obstruct the procedures for pursuing them, including taking refuge in foreign nationalities, or exploiting the differences between legal systems, as well as attempting to politicize criminal cases related to corruption,” stressing the importance of “exchanging information, evidence, and documents that contribute to clarifying the criminal nature of these cases and enhancing the chances of enforcing legal procedures regarding them.”
Al-Lami called for strengthening Interpol’s support for Iraq’s efforts in combating corruption, pursuing wanted individuals, and recovering the proceeds of their crimes, stressing that “confronting transnational corruption requires an effective international partnership that prevents providing any safe haven for corrupt individuals and reinforces the principle that fleeing the country does not mean escaping justice.”
The statement noted that the discussions touched on mechanisms to expedite the pursuit and tracking of those wanted in corruption cases, and to facilitate the exchange of information about them, as well as activating points of direct contact and coordination between the two sides, in order to shorten procedures and enhance the speed of response to requests related to international prosecution.
He explained that the two sides discussed enhancing cooperation in the field of building the capacities of Iraqi personnel concerned with pursuing wanted persons and recovering funds, through specialized training programs, exchanging experiences and expertise, and benefiting from the capabilities and mechanisms provided by the international organization in the field of police cooperation and information exchange.
He pointed out that the meeting emphasized the importance of continuing coordination, developing communication channels, and exchanging information and experiences between the two sides, in order to raise the level of response in the files of those wanted in corruption cases, and to contribute to supporting Iraq’s efforts to pursue them and recover the funds and assets obtained from their crimes.
It is noted that Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi arrived earlier on Sunday evening in the French capital, Paris, on an official visit accompanied by a high-level government delegation, according to his media office. link
Tishwash: The Central Bank of Iraq is taking steps to reduce the dollar gap; A unified exchange rate for currency exchange offices is approaching 1320.
Informed sources revealed to the Independent Press Agency new moves within the Central Bank of Iraq aimed at reducing the large gap between the official exchange rate of the dollar and the prices circulating in the local market, through a package of measures being worked on to regulate the sale of foreign currency and tighten control over exchange companies, in conjunction with the continued rise of the dollar in Baghdad and other governorates.
The sources said the anticipated measures focus on reorganizing the mechanism for the dollar's access to the market and meeting the actual and legitimate demand for foreign currency, thereby reducing the dependence of traders and citizens on the informal market and limiting speculation that has pushed the exchange rate away from the levels set by the central bank.
According to information obtained by the Independent Press Agency, one of the options being considered in the coming period is setting a more disciplined and unified price for selling dollars through exchange companies and authorized outlets, so that the prices are much closer to the official price, instead of the wide gap currently recorded between the dollar available through official channels and its price in the market.
The sources indicated that the move, according to the available information, is not related to changing the official price of the dinar, but rather to trying to bring the price at which the dollar reaches the end beneficiary closer to the approved official levels, foremost among them the level of 1320 dinars per dollar, through procedures related to distribution, control, pricing and the mechanism of the work of exchange companies.
This information comes at a time when the Central Bank officially confirms that there is no intention to change the official exchange rate, as it was categorically denied on June 17, 2026, the news that spoke of amending the price of the dinar, warning against circulating documents or information not issued by it.
The official pricing system announced by the Central Bank in February 2023 is based on a rate of 1,300 dinars for purchasing dollars from the Ministry of Finance, 1,310 dinars for selling dollars to banks, and 1,320 dinars as the maximum selling price from banks and non-bank financial institutions to the end user. Official bank data also shows the rate remaining at 1,310 dinars per dollar.
Tightening restrictions on exchange companies
Sources from “Independent Press” confirm that the current phase is already witnessing increased oversight of exchange companies, and that this trend is likely to expand in the coming days, especially with regard to the sources of buying and selling dollars, the approved prices, the movement of funds, and compliance with the Central Bank’s regulations.
These moves are consistent with measures taken by the bank during the past months to strengthen oversight of the money exchange sector. In June 2026, the bank asked A and B category money exchange companies and brokerage firms to provide it with data relating to bank accounts for regulatory and supervisory purposes. It also continued during 2026 to withdraw licenses from violating companies and tighten compliance requirements.
Last April, the Central Bank confirmed its ability to meet all requests from banks and exchange companies for dollars allocated to travelers, pilgrims, and foreign transfers, indicating that a key part of its strategy is based on increasing access to dollars through official channels instead of allowing demand to flow to the informal market.
25,000 dinars gap for every 100 dollars
The anticipated moves are gaining even greater importance as the large gap between the official price and the local market continues.
The selling price of the dollar in Baghdad exchange shops on Monday, September 14, 2026, was recorded at about 157,000 dinars per 100 dollars, while the buying price was about 156,000 dinars, while the Al-Kifah and Al-Harithiya exchanges recorded about 156,500 dinars per 100 dollars.
Assuming a rate of 1320 dinars per dollar for the end beneficiary through official channels, the value of 100 dollars is approximately 132,000 dinars, which means there is a gap of approximately 25,000 dinars per 100 dollars compared to the selling price traded in some exchange shops in Baghdad.
According to sources, this gap is what the central bank seeks to gradually reduce, not by changing the official price, but by expanding official channels and facilitating the fulfillment of the real demand for dollars, while increasing oversight of entities that buy currency at the official price and then these prices are not actually reflected in the end beneficiary.
The Central Bank had previously paved the way for this path.
The anticipated move brings back to the forefront a previous position of the Central Bank, in which it stressed that the dollar circulating in Iraq comes mainly from the Central Bank through banks, exchange companies and brokerage, and that dealing at prices far from the set price is related to speculation more than it is a normal independent exchange market.
The bank also confirmed on June 22, 2026, the continuation of its reform program to maintain monetary and financial stability, stressing its continued commitment to meeting legitimate demand for dollars and taking the necessary policies to maintain exchange rate stability and the integrity of financial channels.
According to sources from the Independent Press Agency, the coming days will be important regarding the dollar issue, and may witness the implementation of additional measures at the level of exchange companies and pricing and distribution mechanisms, in an attempt to create a more disciplined price in the market and reduce the space in which speculation moves.
The sources confirmed that the ultimate goal of the proposed measures is to bring the dollar available to citizens and merchants through legal channels closer to the official rate, and to increase the ability of official channels to meet demand, which, if the measures are implemented efficiently and the required quantities are provided, may lead to increased pressure on the informal market and push exchange rates to gradually decline.
However, the sources stressed that the success of these measures will remain linked to the central bank's ability to ensure that the dollar reaches the rightful beneficiary at the set price, and to prevent its resale outside official channels, in addition to securing the needs of trade and foreign transfers on a regular basis.
Thus, the Iraqi exchange market enters a new phase of anticipation, amid a still significant gap between the official and parallel market rates. All eyes are on the Central Bank to see what measures it may announce in the coming days, and to what extent they can bring the dollar back to levels closer to the official rate. link