Sunday Iraq News Posted by Tishwash at TNT 8-23-2026

TNT:

Tishwash:  Exclusive: Parliament hosts Finance Minister to discuss the financial crisis and solutions

The First Deputy Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, Adnan Faihan, revealed on Saturday that the Minister of Finance, Faleh Al-Sari, is expected to be hosted in Parliament to discuss the details of the financial crisis facing Iraq.

Faihan told Shafaq News Agency that "the Minister of Finance has requested to attend the House of Representatives, and the request to host him will be included on the agenda of one of the upcoming sessions, with the date of the hosting to be determined in the coming days," indicating that "the Minister wants to explain the details of the financial crisis and the expected solutions to address it."

He added that "the borrowing law will be included on the agenda of one of the upcoming sessions for its first reading."

Finance Minister Faleh al-Sari confirmed the existence of a real financial deficit that is hindering the completion of salary payments for employees, retirees and social welfare beneficiaries, noting that the total monthly obligations for salaries amount to about 7 trillion and 800 billion dinars.

For his part, Iraqi government spokesman Haider al-Aboudi confirmed that Iraq is facing "severe" financial challenges, noting that the government needs about 10.8 trillion dinars monthly to cover employee salaries and public expenditures, while the country's oil revenues do not exceed 2.5 trillion dinars.

It is worth noting that Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi reassured employees and retirees on Friday that monthly salaries and government payments would be fully secured, while emphasizing that Iraq is going through "difficult and challenging" circumstances due to regional developments and the disruption of oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz.  link

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Tishwash:  Muzhir Muhammad Salih: The 2027 budget is based on an oil price between $50 and $60.

 The Prime Minister’s financial advisor, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, described the 2027 budget as one of the most complex budgets in terms of planning, given the geopolitical challenges surrounding Iraq, suggesting the adoption of a hypothetical oil price ranging between $50 and $60 per barrel.

Saleh said in a press statement that the upcoming budget will place salaries, wages, grants, pensions and the social welfare network at the top of its priorities, stressing that these items represent a “red line” that cannot be crossed.

He added that operational spending will focus on key sectors, including the maintenance of electricity networks, national security, and the provision of medicines and food baskets, which he described as “a safety valve for the Iraqi people.”

On the investment side, Saleh stressed that the electricity sector will be given top priority, noting that “electricity today is a matter of life or death for the economy and society,” and that the government program attaches great importance to the reconstruction and maintenance of power networks and addressing the electricity crisis that has been ongoing for years.

Regarding oil revenues, he explained that adopting a price between $50 and $60 per barrel comes as a precautionary measure to counter the fluctuations in global oil markets and the risks to trade routes, especially developments related to the Strait of Hormuz and its potential impact on Iraqi exports.

Saleh predicted that Iraq would return to exporting more than 3 million barrels per day after the end of the Strait of Hormuz crisis, suggesting the possibility of preparing a supplementary budget in the middle of 2027 if financial revenues improve.

Regarding the preparation of the budget, he indicated that the draft budget law will be transferred from the Ministry of Finance to the Cabinet in the coming days, and will then be referred to the House of Representatives to complete the procedures and legislative readings.

He pointed out that the state is moving towards implementing program and performance budgeting in a partial and gradual manner, with the aim of enhancing spending efficiency and linking government spending to the results achieved, instead of being satisfied with traditional oversight of spending.

Finance Minister Faleh Sari had previously announced the formation of five ministerial committees to prepare the draft general budget law for 2027, in cooperation with the World Bank  link

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Tishwash:  The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament told NINA: The Minister of Finance and the proposed loan law will soon be presented to Parliament.

Baghdad / NINA / First Deputy Speaker of Parliament Adnan Faihan confirmed that Parliament is awaiting the discussion of the proposed loan law and the hosting of the Minister of Finance in upcoming sessions.

Faihan stated to the National Iraqi News Agency ( NINA ): "The Minister of Finance has officially requested to appear before Parliament to explain the financial crisis and the possible solutions proposed for implementation."

He clarified: "The date for this meeting will be included on the agenda of one of the upcoming sessions."

He added: "The proposed loan and grant law will soon arrive from the government and will be placed on the agenda of Parliament sessions to proceed through the legislative and legal process and be put to a vote."

Regarding the delay in completing the cabinet, Fayhan affirmed that "there is a general trend among the political blocs, the government, and parliament to finalize the cabinet formation, which we expect to reach the House of Representatives soon for a vote." He pointed out that the delay in voting on the remaining ministerial candidates is linked to several factors, including entitlements, such as the Ministry of Interior portfolio, for which a candidate has not yet been decided, as well as a Kurdish disagreement over who will occupy the position of Deputy Prime Minister and who will hold the ministerial portfolio.   link

Tishwash:  Iraq Warns Against Illegal Forex and Crypto Trading

At a Glance

Forex and crypto trading prohibited

Illegal market continues to expand

Citizens face significant financial losses

Authorities warn of financial crimes

Information obtained by Channel8 indicates that illegal Forex and cryptocurrency trading continues to expand in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region despite official restrictions, with unregulated platforms exposing users to significant financial and legal risks.

Key Statements and Focus Area

Central Bank of Iraq: Forex and cryptocurrency trading through unauthorized platforms is prohibited.

Kurdistan Region Ministry of Interior: No company or mobile application has been officially licensed to conduct this type of business.

Financial regulators: Restrictions are aimed at preventing money laundering, fraud, illicit financing, and the unauthorized movement of cash outside the country.

Despite the official restrictions, an expanding underground market allows people in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region to trade foreign currencies and cryptocurrencies through unregulated platforms and brokers.

Information obtained by Channel8 indicates that millions of dollars are being exchanged daily through anonymous applications, social media brokers, and informal financial networks.

One of the most common methods is peer-to-peer trading through international cryptocurrency platforms, including Binance and OKX.

Users can also arrange transactions through brokers operating on Telegram and other social media platforms, exchanging physical cash for digital currencies such as USDT.

Some traders use privately issued MasterCards and Visa cards to fund digital wallets. Such transactions can result in bank accounts being suspended.

Unlicensed currency exchange offices also reportedly operate as intermediaries, accepting cash and transferring digital assets to customers.

Iraq currently has no comprehensive legal framework regulating or protecting cryptocurrency trading. Authorities have therefore warned that users engaging with unauthorized platforms have limited legal protection if their funds are lost or stolen.

The restrictions are also intended to combat money laundering, prevent the financing of prohibited organizations, protect citizens from fraud, and limit the movement of physical cash outside the country.

Global data cited in the report indicates that ordinary retail traders face particularly high failure rates.

The UK Financial Conduct Authority and the European Securities and Markets Authority have reported that between 70% and 89% of retail users lose money in certain high-risk trading markets.

The information also indicates that inexperienced traders can lose their capital within a short period, with many accounts reportedly lasting less than 90 days before being depleted.

Professional and institutional traders generally operate with structured risk-management systems and longer-term strategies.

By contrast, ordinary retail users are more likely to rely on short-term speculation, limited financial information, and panic-driven decisions.

Estimates cited in the report place the success rate of ordinary retail traders at around 10% to 15%, compared with 75% to 85% for institutional and professional traders.

FYI

Foreign exchange (Forex) and cryptocurrency trading platforms operate within a decentralized global network that relies entirely on digital matching systems rather than centralized physical exchanges. Because these markets lack a fixed physical location, retail users interact directly with international brokers via electronic applications or peer-to-peer (P2P) networks to trade high-risk assets.

Unlike traditional banking, the rapid fluctuations in digital currency values mean that missing capital can vanish instantly into the digital space without any physical collateral or assets left behind. Due to these structural vulnerabilities, major regulatory bodies like the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) enforce strict transparency rules worldwide to warn the public about high retail loss rates.

Locally, because Iraq lacks any formal legislative framework to monitor or tax these transactions, the Central Bank of Iraq maintains a total prohibition on digital trading to prevent unregulated cash outflows and protect citizens from international fraudulent schemes.  link