Saturday Iraq News Posted by Tishwash at TNT 7-11-2026
TNT:
Tishwash: Iraqi PM Ali Faleh al-Zaidi to Visit Washington with High-Level Delegation for Economic and Security Talks
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi will travel to Washington this week accompanied by a high-level ministerial and business delegation for talks aimed at strengthening economic, financial, energy, and security cooperation between Iraq and the United States.
High-Level Iraqi Delegation
Ali Faleh al-Zaidi will be accompanied by the ministers of Foreign Affairs, Oil, Finance, and Electricity, as well as the Governor of the Central Bank of Iraq.
The Minister of Communications, Mustafa Sanad, may also join the visit. The delegation also includes investors and representatives from companies operating in the energy, electricity, and banking sectors.
Focus of Talks with Washington
The Iraqi delegation is expected to discuss several key issues with U.S. officials, including security, the economy, trade, finance, and banking sector development.
Energy will be a central focus of the talks, covering oil, electricity, and natural gas, with discussions aimed at encouraging greater investment by U.S. companies in Iraq.
Meeting with Trump and Planned Agreements
According to the visit agenda, al-Zaidi is scheduled to meet U.S. President Donald Trump and other senior American officials.
The Iraqi government has expressed its readiness to expand investment opportunities for U.S. companies, and several new agreements and strategic understandings in the energy and financial sectors are expected to be signed during the visit.
Kurdistan Region Representation
Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman, Advisor to Masrour Barzani, will participate in part of the meetings between the Iraqi delegation and U.S. officials.
Her participation is intended to coordinate discussions on issues related to the Kurdistan Region and the future of its relations with Washington. link
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Tishwash: Washington sets a condition for its partnership with Baghdad: ending the presence of weapons outside state control.
The United States renewed its support for the Iraqi government's efforts to restrict weapons to the state, stressing that the involvement of entities that Washington classifies as "terrorist" in state institutions is inconsistent with the nature of the partnership it seeks to build with Iraq, coinciding with warnings that the US-Iranian escalation could push Iraq back into the circle of conflict.
In an interview monitored by Al-Mada, the US Chargé d'Affaires in Baghdad, Joshua Harris, said that Washington believes that achieving full sovereignty for Iraq requires disarming all armed groups outside the authority of the state, considering that their existence contradicts the aspirations of Iraqis for stability and peace.
He added that the United States supports the Iraqi government's vision regarding the restriction of weapons and looks forward to its full and rapid implementation, stressing that the continued activity of illegal armed groups undermines the chances of security and stability in Iraq and the region.
In contrast, security expert Saif Raad Talib told Al-Mada that Iraq is still threatened with becoming an arena for exchanging messages between Washington and Tehran, in light of the escalating military confrontation between them, noting that the presence of armed factions, the continued violation of Iraqi airspace, and the weakness of air defense systems are the most prominent factors that increase this possibility.
He added that any new escalation, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz, could put Iraq in front of a major economic crisis, due to its oil exports being mainly dependent on Gulf ports, which could directly affect public revenues and budget financing.
In this context, the spokesman for the Iraqi government, Haider al-Aboudi, confirmed that September 30 will be the date for the end of the mission of the international coalition in Iraq, noting that the relationship will then turn into an economic and developmental partnership.
Al-Aboudi explained, in statements followed by (Al-Mada), that the government is proceeding with the implementation of the weapons control file in accordance with the constitution and the law, indicating that three parties have responded so far to the procedures for handing over weapons, while two other factions are preparing to complete the procedures, stressing that the disarmament process includes all types of weapons without exception or discrimination. link
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Tishwash: The Central Bank Governor under the dome of Parliament: Crucial questions awaiting answers
All eyes will be on the Iraqi Parliament in the coming days, after the Parliamentary Finance Committee announced its intention to host the Governor of the Central Bank to discuss a number of financial and monetary issues, most notably the mechanism for distributing dollars to travelers, and the repercussions of the recent measures related to the cash dollar quota.
The head of the parliamentary finance committee, Uday Awad, said that the committee will ask questions during the meeting about the reasons for reducing the traveler's share of dollars from $3,000 to $2,000, stressing that there are observations on the mechanism for distributing dollars to travelers, which he described as having problems related to complexity, corruption, extortion and favoritism.
This hosting comes at a time when the monetary file in Iraq is witnessing widespread discussion, especially with the continued debate about the mechanisms for selling dollars, the Central Bank’s procedures for regulating the market, and the impact of this on exchange rates, trade and import activity.
Well-informed political sources indicated that the hosting session may witness the raising of sensitive issues related to the performance of the Central Bank during the past period, the mechanism for managing monetary policy, in addition to evaluating the measures taken to address the dollar market disturbances.
According to the sources, some parties within Parliament are considering the possibility of taking political steps if they are not convinced by the answers provided, amid talk of the possibility of raising the issue of changing the management of the Central Bank, but this remains linked to the results of the hosting and the political positions during the coming period.
Observers believe that the dollar issue has become one of the most prominent economic issues facing the government and parliament, as it is directly linked to prices, market activity, and citizens' confidence in the banking sector.
The next stage may reveal whether hosting the Central Bank Governor will be just an oversight session, or the beginning of larger moves that may affect the management of the monetary file in Iraq link
Tishwash: Following the "Al-Zaidi crackdown," the government is diverting recovered funds to support the economy in the largest repurposing of corruption money.
The government of Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi is pursuing reform measures aimed at strengthening public financial management and enhancing the efficiency of financial institutions. This is being achieved through the adoption of new procedures based on the principles of transparency, good governance, and the sound investment of state resources.
Within this framework, the government's move to regulate the management of confiscated and recovered funds and assets by establishing a unified account is seen as a step towards transforming these resources from frozen or scattered funds into effective tools that can contribute to supporting the economy and financing development projects.
Observers believe these measures represent a shift in the way public resources are managed, moving towards a more organized and sustainable approach. This will enhance the confidence of citizens and investors and support the government's efforts in economic reform, combating waste, and maximizing non-oil revenues.
In this regard, the Prime Minister's financial advisor, Mazhar Muhammad Saleh, affirms that establishing a unified account for managing confiscated and recovered funds and assets is a crucial step in strengthening the state's financial management. He points out that this step will contribute to centralizing and managing these resources within a more efficient and transparent institutional framework.
Saleh told Iraq Observer that “establishing the unified account allows for the organized management of recovered funds, enhancing their utilization in supporting the national economy.” He explained that this initiative is part of the government’s efforts to regulate the management of confiscated and recovered assets and improve the efficiency of their utilization.
He added that the strategic use of these funds can yield greater economic returns, whether through their inclusion in development plans or investment in strategic projects that contribute to growth and job creation.
Saleh clarified that these resources represent an additional opportunity to strengthen public finances, emphasizing the importance of managing them according to the principles of governance, transparency, and efficiency. This will make them a source of funding for infrastructure projects and productive sectors, helping to diversify income sources and reduce dependence on oil revenues in the medium and long term.
The Prime Minister’s financial advisor pointed out that having additional financial resources gives the state greater flexibility in facing economic and regional challenges and helps it maintain financial stability and continue implementing its development programs.
He explained that the success of this step would enhance citizens' and investors' confidence in the state's financial management, especially given the importance of regularly announcing the amount of recovered funds and assets, their management mechanisms, and their uses, thus reinforcing the principles of transparency and accountability.
Saleh pointed out that the initiative's importance extends beyond simply recovering funds; it also encompasses building an institutional environment based on integrity and good governance. He noted that combating corruption contributes to reducing financial waste, lowering project costs, and improving the efficiency of public spending.
Saleh emphasized that strengthening governance and reducing corruption levels lead to increased efficiency in managing public projects and improved quality of services and infrastructure. He clarified that the true return on integrity lies not only in recovering funds but also in improving the performance of the national economy.
He concluded by saying that the initiative's success will not be measured solely by the amount of recovered funds but also by the state's ability to transform these resources, along with the savings resulting from curbing corruption, into productive investments and sustainable development projects. He affirmed that combating corruption represents an economic choice that impacts growth, financial stability, attracting investments, and improving the level of services.
On June 28, 2026, the Iraqi government, through its official spokesperson Haider al-Aboudi, announced the launch of Operation Dawn Charge, emphasizing that the operation would not cease and that it represented a radical shift in the state's policy toward corruption. He stressed that the pursuit of those involved would continue regardless of their positions or influence.
The first phase of the operation resulted in the arrest of dozens of officials and prominent political figures, including current and former members of parliament, and included raids in various parts of Iraq, including the heavily fortified Green Zone in Baghdad.
Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zubaidi also directed the Ministry of Finance to establish a special account for depositing recovered funds, with the aim of protecting public money and enhancing transparency in resource management.
Al-Zaydi affirmed that the current campaign represents "the first phase," to be followed by others, emphasizing that the government is tasked with protecting the interests of the Iraqi people and will not compromise on this responsibility. He also instructed oversight bodies to receive any reports concerning government performance or the performance of ministries in order to uncover cases of corruption or negligence. link