Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Thursday Afternoon 8-20-26

Oil Prices Hover Near Peak During Hormuz Impasse

2026-08-20  Shafaq News   Oil prices steadied in early trade on Thursday as investors assessed the outlook for the U.S.-Iran war and the security of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Brent crude futures for October delivery rose 25 cents, or 0.3%, to $91.87 a barrel by 0037 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures for September slipped 2 cents to $85.81 a barrel. The more active October WTI contract gained 14 cents, or 0.2%, to $84.53.

Both Brent and WTI benchmarks gained for a fourth straight session ⁠on Wednesday, settling at their highest since July 24. The September WTI contract expires later on Thursday.

"Oil prices remained elevated as the market is supported by sporadic attacks in the Middle East but lacks fresh momentum without a major escalation," said Hiroyuki Kikukawa, chief strategist of Nissan Securities Investment, a unit of Nissan Securities.

"The market is likely to maintain a gradual upward trend given uncertainty over peace talks and tensions involving the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Iran," he added.

The UAE's ⁠decision to suspend all financial and economic transactions with Iran until further notice has refocused the spotlight on fraught ties between the major Gulf Arab oil producer and Iran.

On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump said no talks were taking place with Iran and that the Strait ⁠of Hormuz was open. Iran, however, said the waterway remained shut.

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz slowed, data showed on Wednesday, as most shipowners avoided the key waterway because of a ⁠lack of clear signalling on its reopening from a blockade put in place during the Iran war.

In the U.S., crude and gasoline inventories rose and distillate ⁠stockpiles fell last week, the Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday. Crude inventories rose by 4.4 million barrels in the week ended on August 14, compared with estimates for a 600,000-barrel draw.(Reuters)

https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Oil-prices-hover-near-peak-during-Hormuz-impasse

Basrah Crude Grades Gain Over 18%

2026-08-20  Shafaq News- Baghdad   Iraq's two Basrah export grades climbed more than $12 on Thursday, outpacing modest gains in global benchmarks.

Basrah Heavy settled at $77.43 a barrel, up $12.39, or 19.05%. Basrah Medium rose to $80.73 a barrel, gaining $12.39, or 18.13%.

The moves ran well ahead of the day's global benchmarks. Brent crude edged up 0.3% to $91.87 a barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) slipped 2 cents to $85.81.

In Arab markets, Saudi Arab Light was priced at $85.44 a barrel, up 35 cents, or 0.41%. Kuwait Export Blend rose $2.42, or 2.92%, to $85.23 a barrel. In the UAE, Murban crude was priced at $99.40 a barrel, up $1.65, or 1.69%, while Qatar Land crude stood at $94.32 a barrel. https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Basrah-crude-grades-gain-over-18

Dollar Falls Against Dinar In Baghdad And Erbil

2026-08-20 Shafaq News- Baghdad/ Erbil   The US dollar fell against the Iraqi dinar on Wednesday, hovering around 154,000 dinars per $100 in Baghdad and Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region.

At the Al-Kifah and Al-Harithiya exchanges in Baghdad, the dollar traded at 154,150 dinars per $100, down from 154,600 dinars on Wednesday, according to a Shafaq News market survey.

In Baghdad's local exchange shops, the selling price reached 154,500 dinars per $100, while the buying price stood at 153,500 dinars.

Rates eased in Erbil as well, where the dollar sold at 154,100 dinars per $100 and was bought at 154,000 dinars.

https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Dollar-falls-against-dinar-in-Baghdad-and-Erbil

Iran's Central Bank Says Iraq Banking Barriers Removed

2026-08-20 Shafaq News- Tehran   Obstacles to banking transactions between Iran and Iraq have been removed, and Tehran expects to access funds held in Iraq within weeks, Iran's central bank governor said in remarks carried by Iran's Mehr news agency.

Abdolnaser Hemmati, Governor of the Central Bank of Iran, said the groundwork had been laid for Iran to draw on those resources following recent talks with Iraqi officials.

A central outcome of his recent visit to Baghdad, Hemmati said, was an agreement by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi to issue guarantees to Iranian contractors backed by Iranian assets held in Iraqi banks, with executive orders issued to that end.

Iran holds an estimated $10-11 billion in funds and energy receivables in Iraq, mainly payments for gas and electricity that Baghdad deposits into restricted accounts because US sanctions limit dollar and euro transfers to Iranian institutions.

Hemmati added that the implementation of the Iran-US asset-release memorandum depends on approval from Iran's leadership, and that the government and the Supreme National Security Council, Iran's top security body, insist economic decisions rest on national interest and require that approval.

Iraq depends on Iranian gas and electricity and pays for them into restricted accounts under US sanctions rules, leaving Tehran unable to move much of the money. A separate memorandum between Iran and the United States on unfreezing Iranian assets has not led to any funds being released.

Hemmati said that asset-release memorandum, though drawn up to serve Iran's interests, remains on hold pending a decision from the country's leadership.

Read more: $24 billion frozen asset dispute blocks final US-Iran agreement

https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Iran-s-Central-Bank-says-Iraq-banking-barriers-removed

Gold Prices Rise In Baghdad And Erbil

2026-08-20 Shafaq News- Baghdad/ Erbil   On Thursday, gold prices hovered around 980,000 IQD per mithqal in Baghdad and Erbil markets, according to a Shafaq News market survey.

Gold prices on Baghdad's Al-Nahr Street recorded a selling price of 980,000 IQD per mithqal (equivalent to five grams) for 21-carat gold, including Gulf, Turkish, and European varieties, with a buying price of 976,000 IQD. The same gold sold for 955,000 IQD on Wednesday.

The selling price for 21-carat Iraqi gold stood at 950,000 IQD, while the buying price reached 946,000 IQD.

In jewelry stores, the selling price per mithqal of 21-carat Gulf gold ranged between 980,000 and 990,000 IQD, while Iraqi gold sold for between 930,000 and 940,000 IQD.

In Erbil, 22-carat gold was sold at 1,100,000 IQD per mithqal, 21-carat gold at 940,000 IQD, and 18-carat gold at 827,000 IQD. https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Gold-prices-rise-in-Baghdad-and-Erbil-4-1-6

Nine Oil Tankers Await Loading At Basra Port

2026-08-20 Shafaq News- Basra   Nine oil tankers are docked at Iraq's Basra port waiting to load crude, one of the largest concentrations of tankers at the southern oil terminals since February, a source in the ports authority told Shafaq News on Thursday.

Five of the vessels are berthed at the Basra oil terminal for loading, while the remaining four are waiting their turn.

Basra, in southern Iraq, is the country's principal outlet for crude exports, handling most shipments through its terminals on the Gulf.

Iraq, OPEC’s second-largest producer, exports about 95% of its crude through southern terminals.

Read more: No exit but Hormuz: Iraq's economic vulnerability exposed

https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Nine-oil-tankers-await-loading-at-Basra-port

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Thursday Afternoon 8-20-26

Good Afternoon Dinar Recaps,

Treasury Intervention Loses Its Grip as Oil, Debt and Bond Yields Reignite Global Market Pressure

The Treasury's effort to calm the long-term bond market provided only temporary relief. As yields climb again, oil approaches $94 and U.S. debt surpasses $40 trillion, investors are confronting a more difficult question: can policy intervention overcome the underlying forces driving the global repricing of risk?

Overview

• The Treasury's bond-market intervention has lost some of its initial effect, with the 30-year Treasury yield climbing back toward 5.25% after briefly falling following the announcement.

• U.S. national debt has surpassed $40 trillion, adding another dimension to investor concerns about the long-term cost of financing government spending.

• Oil has surged toward $94 a barrel amid continuing U.S.-Iran tensions, adding inflation pressure at exactly the time markets are already worried about government debt and Federal Reserve policy.

Key Developments

1. The bond market is pushing back

The Treasury's decision to increase long-term bond buybacks initially brought relief to investors.

That relief has not lasted.

The 30-year Treasury yield climbed back to approximately 5.25%, while the 10-year yield moved back toward 4.71%. The reversal suggests investors remain concerned that Treasury intervention alone cannot solve the forces pushing long-term borrowing costs higher.

The significance goes beyond Treasury bonds.

Long-term government yields are used as a benchmark for mortgages, corporate borrowing, real estate and equity valuations across the financial system.

When those yields rise, financial conditions tighten throughout the economy.

2. The $40 trillion debt milestone changes the backdrop

The United States has now crossed $40 trillion in national debt.

That milestone arrives at an especially sensitive moment.

Investors are already demanding higher yields to hold longer-term government debt, while the government continues to require enormous amounts of financing.

Reuters reports that the current pressure is not limited to the United States. Long-term borrowing costs have been rising across major economies, including Japan and Germany, as governments face increased borrowing needs from defense spending, aging populations and the costs of recent crises.

This makes today's story much larger than a U.S. Treasury problem.

The world's major governments are simultaneously competing for capital.

3. Oil is adding a second inflation shock

Brent crude has climbed to approximately 93–94 per barrel, with continuing disruption and uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S.-Iran conflict adding to supply concerns.

That creates a difficult combination for central banks.

Higher oil → higher inflation pressure

while

Higher bond yields → tighter financial conditions.

Central banks therefore face an increasingly uncomfortable choice between fighting inflation and protecting economic growth.

Why It Matters

The important development this afternoon is that the market is testing the limits of government intervention.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's expanded buyback program demonstrated that Washington has tools available to respond when long-term yields become disruptive.

But the subsequent rebound in yields suggests that investors are still focused on the underlying fundamentals.

The problem isn't simply liquidity.

It is the combination of:

Massive government borrowing + persistent deficits + inflation risk + higher energy prices + elevated global borrowing needs.

A Treasury buyback can improve market functioning.

It cannot by itself eliminate those structural pressures.

The Bigger Global Financial Reset Story

This is where today's afternoon development becomes especially important.

• Yesterday, the story was:

The bond market is repricing sovereign debt.

• This morning, the story became:

Treasury is attempting to stabilize the long end of the market.

• This afternoon, we have the next stage:

The bond market is pushing back.

That progression is significant.

It suggests that the global financial system may be entering a period in which governments and central banks have less ability to control financial conditions simply through policy announcements.

Markets ultimately have to absorb the debt.

And investors ultimately decide what yield they require to hold it.

Why This Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

The interaction between Treasury yields, the dollar and commodities is becoming increasingly important.

Earlier this week, the dollar weakened sharply even as investors were focused on elevated U.S. yields. Today, the dollar has recovered somewhat, but the broader question remains: will higher U.S. yields continue to translate into stronger demand for dollars?

That relationship is no longer as straightforward as it once was.

Foreign-currency holders should therefore watch not only central-bank interest-rate decisions but also:

• U.S.Treasury demand

• Long-term bond yields

• Government debt levels

• Oil and commodity prices

• Inflation expectations

• Foreign demand for U.S. assets

• Central-bank reserve diversification

These forces increasingly interact with one another.

Implications for the Global Financial Reset

1. Sovereign debt is becoming the central pressure point.

The $40 trillion U.S. debt milestone arrives as investors are demanding higher returns for long-term government bonds.

That raises the cost of financing future deficits and creates a feedback loop between debt, interest expense and new borrowing.

2. Policy intervention may increasingly be used to manage market stress.

The Treasury's decision to expand buybacks demonstrates that Washington is prepared to become more active when long-term borrowing costs rise sharply.

The larger question is whether these measures can remain effective if investors continue demanding higher compensation for fiscal and inflation risks.

3. Energy is becoming part of the debt-and-currency equation.

Oil approaching $94 adds another layer of complexity.

Higher energy prices can increase inflation, which can keep interest rates higher for longer, which can increase government borrowing costs.

That creates a potentially powerful chain:

Iran conflict → oil → inflation → interest rates → Treasury yields → debt costs → currencies.

That is precisely why the Iran conflict is no longer only a geopolitical story.

It has become a global financial story.

What to Watch Next

The next several developments could be especially important:

1. Whether the 30-year Treasury yield moves back toward or above the recent 5.34% high.

2. Whether Brent crude remains above $90 or approaches $100.

3. Whether the Treasury announces additional measures to influence long-term borrowing conditions.

4. Whether the dollar resumes its recent decline.

5. How the Federal Reserve responds if oil-driven inflation begins appearing in economic data.

6. Whether foreign investors continue accepting current Treasury yields or demand still higher compensation.

Bottom Line

The Treasury stepped in to calm the bond market — and the bond market is now testing that intervention.

At the same time, U.S. debt has crossed $40 trillion and oil is approaching $94, creating a combination of fiscal and inflationary pressure that policymakers cannot easily solve with a single tool.

This is becoming more than a story about Treasury yields.

It is a story about whether the world's largest financial system can maintain stable borrowing costs while debt, energy prices and geopolitical risk are all moving higher at the same time.

Seeds of Wisdom Team

Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Reuters — US Treasury buyback briefly eases bond rout, but debt worries persist

• Associated Press — The bond market swings back to worries and helps knock U.S. stocks lower

~~~~~~~~~~

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Thank you Dinar Recaps

Thursday Iraq News Posted by Tishwash at TNT 8-20-2026

TNT:

Tishwash:  Removing zeros: A currency restructuring or a step to boost confidence in the dinar?

The issue of removing zeros from the Iraqi currency has resurfaced, amid economic debate about the feasibility of this step and its implications for the value of the dinar and the purchasing power of the citizen, as well as the readiness of the banking and financial sectors to implement it.

Economic experts believe that removing zeros, if implemented within a comprehensive study and a clear plan, could contribute to restructuring the currency and simplifying financial and banking transactions, while emphasizing that the measure itself does not mean an increase or decrease in the purchasing power of the dinar, as long as prices, salaries and savings are transformed at the same rate.

Strengthening the value of the dinar

Economic expert Haider Al-Sheikh told Al-Sabah newspaper: “Changing the Iraqi currency and removing zeros will enhance the value of the Iraqi dinar against foreign currencies,” explaining that “changing the currency will contribute to reviving the economy and providing cash liquidity to the government.”

The sheikh explained that the currency change process, according to the study, requires several months to print specific denominations in batches, in preparation for replacing them with the current currency. He pointed out that this process could contribute to strengthening the balances of government and private banks in Iraqi dinars and providing liquidity. 

The necessary cash.

He added that another benefit of the process is “knowing the amount of currency held by the government and banks, as well as knowing the volume of currency circulating in the market.”

The sheikh pointed out that Iraq, after 2003, printed more than 100 trillion dinars, indicating that about 70 percent of the printed cash is outside the government's control and stored in homes. And it is traded on the market.

 Renaming the monetary unit

For his part, economist Mustafa Faraj said that "removing zeros from the Iraqi currency, if implemented according to a comprehensive study and plan, represents a positive step towards restructuring the currency and simplifying financial and banking transactions," stressing that "the process itself does not necessarily mean an increase or decrease in value." 

The purchasing power of the dinar.

Faraj explained that removing three zeros, for example, means changing prices, salaries, and balances by the same percentage, and therefore the citizen's purchasing power does not change as a result of the removal alone.

He added that the main economic benefit is “reducing the volume of circulating figures, facilitating accounting and banking operations, supporting electronic payment systems, and making dealing in dinars more efficient and transparent,” stressing that the success of the step is linked to monetary stability, price control, and broad public awareness.

He explained that removing zeros could be part of a “broader monetary and banking reform package that enhances confidence in the dinar and supports economic stability.” 

It is not a single, formal procedure.

Risks of the conversion phase

In contrast, economic researcher Ahmed Eid warned that the most prominent risks that may accompany the removal of zeros are not related to the accounting removal process itself, but rather to the conversion phase and what may accompany it in terms of confusion in the markets and exploitation by some traders, especially in rounding prices upwards.

He explained that goods with small prices may be more likely to increase when converted to the new monetary unit, which, if this is repeated on a large scale, may lead to citizens feeling an actual increase in the cost of living, even though the process of removing zeros is theoretically supposed not to change purchasing power.

Eid pointed to other risks, including the weak financial literacy of some citizens, particularly with regard to converting cash savings, pricing goods and services, contracts and debts, as well as the possibility of speculation and rumors spreading about the value of the dinar.

He stressed that these risks become greater if the operation is carried out during an economic period suffering from financial pressures and problems related to liquidity and confidence.

Dual pricing and oversight

To protect the purchasing power of citizens, Eid called for the adoption of a sufficient transitional period preceding and accompanying the change process, during which dual pricing in the old and new dinars would be adopted, and precise rules would be put in place to prevent arbitrary rounding of prices, in addition to tightening control over markets and implementing a broad awareness campaign.

He stressed the need for the central bank to ensure that all bank accounts, savings, debts, salaries and contracts are converted in the same proportion, with the new currency being made available in an organized manner, and a period of simultaneous circulation of the two currencies being maintained.

He stressed that “the most important thing is that the removal of zeros should be preceded by real financial and monetary stability,” explaining that protecting purchasing power is not achieved by changing the form of the currency, but rather by controlling inflation, stabilizing the exchange rate and addressing financial and economic imbalances.  link

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Tishwash:  National Security Advisor to Qalibaf: The government is proceeding with restricting weapons to the state.

Baghdad/Al-Masalla: National Security Advisor Qasim Al-Aboudi confirmed on Thursday to Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf that the Iraqi constitution does not allow the existence of armed groups that threaten the security of other countries, while indicating that the government is proceeding with restricting weapons to the state.

The media office of the National Security Advisor stated in a statement received by Al-Masalla Agency that “National Security Advisor Qasim Al-Aboudi met with the Speaker of the Iranian Shura Council, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who is currently visiting Iraq,” indicating that “the meeting discussed the latest developments in the region and ways to strengthen relations between Iraq and the Islamic Republic of Iran, in a manner that serves the interests of the two countries and the two friendly peoples.”

He added that “the meeting also included discussions on security agreements between Iraq and the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Al-Aboudi stressed that “Iraq is committed to the joint security agreement between the two countries,” noting that “the relationship between the two friendly countries is a historical and close one, and the two peoples are bound by close ties.”

He added that “Iraq’s stability is in the interest of the region’s stability,” noting that “Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zubaidi’s government emphasizes strengthening relations with neighboring countries in particular and countries of the world in general, and this is in the country’s interest.”

He stated that “the Iraqi constitution does not allow the existence of armed groups that threaten the security of other countries,” explaining that “the government is proceeding with restricting weapons to the hands of the state.”

For his part, Qalibaf affirmed that “the Islamic Republic of Iran cherishes its relations with Iraq and supports the government program regarding the establishment of a legal framework that regulates weapons under the command of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces,” explaining that “his country is committed to the security agreements concluded between the two countries link

Tishwash:  The Cabinet approves a new mechanism for pricing crude oil.

In a move aimed at restructuring the economic portfolio and enhancing export and import capacities, the government took a series of sovereign decisions during the fifteenth regular session of the Council of Ministers, which was held on Tuesday evening under the chairmanship of Council Chairman Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi, which included the oil, finance, electricity, infrastructure, and international relations sectors.

As part of the government's procedures to increase export and import capacities, the recommendation regarding the purchase of crude oil was approved, based on the price of the State Oil Marketing Company (SOMO) or the price set in the general budget, whichever is lower, with a discount of (30%), to be determined annually, starting from (September 1, 2026), and paid to the public treasury, provided that its financial effects are reviewed in detail, with the implementation of the aforementioned study being based on lifting subsidies on the prices of petroleum products for all sectors, with the exception of the main products supplied exclusively to citizens (gasoline, gas oil, kerosene, and liquefied gas) from (September 1, 2026), and that any subsidy granted to any sector reduces the share of the public treasury, and the proposed mechanism is presented to the Federal Board of Financial Control for the purpose of adopting the amended accounting policy to avoid future audit observations.

In the oil sector as well, the Council voted to approve the mechanisms for exporting Iraqi oil through specialized international and local companies, and through different outlets, provided that the contracts are for a period of (3) working months starting from the date of (September 1, 2026).

The recommendation regarding exceptional approvals to increase export and import capacities was also approved, authorizing the Minister of Oil to establish additional transport routes for existing and current contracts, and to renew those contracts. The Minister was also authorized to approve the import of petroleum products when needed to ensure a stable supply and prevent crises, provided that the Oil Pipelines Company completes the expansion of loading platforms. Furthermore, approval was granted to commence work prior to contract signing for the rehabilitation of the IT2A station and a supporting unloading station for the IT1 station, with a capacity of 300,000 barrels per day. This will ensure the rapid delivery of imported raw materials without compromising the principles of competition and transparency.

As part of the procedures for regulating oil sales mechanisms, the Council approved the recommendation related to the mechanisms for advance payment of the prices of Iraqi oil sales, and the methods for companies purchasing the value of shipments to deposit, and advance payments into the relevant accounts belonging to the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Iraq.

The council approved the continued payment of dues to Basra Gas Company for the value of its products delivered to South Gas Company, as it is a self-financing company.

The Council approved the Ministry of Oil's donation of (5) billion dinars to the Ministry of Health, allocated for the purchase of medicines, medical supplies, and laboratory equipment. In the electricity sector, the recommendation of the Central Review and Approval Committee for Referrals at the Ministry of Electricity was approved, regarding the adoption of Request for Proposals (RFPs) in the electricity distribution sector.

To enhance the procedures for collecting fees and taxes, the Council approved the adoption of the principle of pre-payment of customs duties and estimated tax deposits for imported goods, starting from (October 1, 2026), and the importer depositing the amounts of foreign transfer for import purposes with the authorized banks, and not transferring the amounts except after the importer pays the amounts of customs duties and estimated tax deposits through the (ASYCUDA) system, and the approved electronic payment mechanisms, and transferring them to the accounts of the public treasury and the competent accounts in the Ministry of Finance, within (15) days, and that the calculation of the amounts of customs duties and estimated tax deposits be based on the initial data provided by the importer, including the commercial invoice and shipping documents, or import, customs classification, type of goods, origin and value according to the approved customs tariff schedules.

As part of the government's efforts toward administrative and financial reform, the Council voted to amend the instructions regulating write-off procedures and accounting treatments. This amendment requires all government entities to submit records of debt and asset write-offs to the Federal Board of Supreme Audit for review before the authorized body makes a write-off decision.

The Ministry of Finance was also tasked with amending Instruction No. 1 of 2022, which regulates write-off procedures and accounting treatments, to ensure compliance with these amendments. Furthermore, the Cabinet approved the Ministry of Transport/Air Navigation Company's allocation of 15 billion dinars to the Ministry of Finance for border crossings, specifically for developing the infrastructure at the Rabia, Al-Walid, and Safwan border crossings.

The Council approved the recommendation to suspend the implementation of Cabinet Resolution (963 of 2025) until the end of (2026), provided that the local market is monitored during the suspension period. 

The council also voted to approve the extension of the Independent High Electoral Commission’s occupancy of school buildings until (December 31, 2027), provided that the commission submits a plan that includes time limits for vacating the occupied classrooms and school buildings in stages.

As part of the government’s measures to strengthen international relations, the Minister of Trade, or whomever he authorizes, was given the power to negotiate and sign the draft agreement for economic, trade, scientific, cultural, artistic and sports cooperation between Iraq and the Republics of Nigeria and Zambia.  link

************

Tishwash:  State economic integration

The government of Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi is adopting a program for financial reform and rationalizing spending in parallel with diversifying sources of revenue and reducing dependence on oil. The Ministry of Public Finance is facing pressure in providing the necessary liquidity to cover public expenditures, with a public spending volume of about 7 trillion and 800 billion dinars, which is not an exaggeration in relation to the size of the wealth of the Iraqi economy, and it would not have affected the size of liquidity or the money supply were it not for the systematic and organized corruption that has been dividing the state’s revenues for years into more than half.

The security operations conducted by the government to pursue corrupt individuals have revealed the enormous sums of money seized from those arrested, while investigations into other suspects continue. Beyond the issue of corruption itself, efforts to increase state resources necessitate measures and laws that do not harm citizens by imposing additional financial burdens that could overburden them due to flawed past economic policies.

Among the possible solutions for the state is to start collecting taxes owed by foreign and local companies and to expand electronic automation in government institutions to reduce financial waste, prevent duplication of work, and collect fees in a legal and proper manner, not by sharing them with other investors as happens in the matter of electricity privatization in some residential areas. In addition, there is the need to audit outstanding advances and loans and recover them from companies and individuals, and to work on reviewing collection contracts in state institutions to determine the size of the revenues that these institutions receive compared to the investor's share.

Some contracts have the investor's share reaching 75 percent of the revenues compared to 25 percent for the state, without knowing the details of the level of service provided by the investor and whether it actually warrants this percentage or is just corruption that drains the state's resources.

Another issue is the need to pay attention to the multiplicity of legislation and decisions that conflict with the investment law and confuse the investment environment instead of benefiting from its financial returns. Perhaps the question that arises regarding the reality of the economy in Iraq is, where do the solutions lie? Is it in institutional reform and combating corruption in a real and unambiguous way, or in controlling the state’s revenues in all their forms, whether local or foreign, in a centralized manner that is not subject to any political interference, or both together?

The strength of the economy lies in coordinating the work of the security, economic and political system with an integrated structure in which politics ensures the success of the other systems that run the life of the citizen.

When there are gaps that work to prevent the integration of these systems with each other with the aim of enriching themselves at the expense of public money, it is not possible to talk about any reform or economic development in the country, because public money will remain permissible under the names of projects and illusions of economic returns, and thus remain in the cycle of our only source of income, oil and nothing else.  link

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Thursday Morning 8-20-26

Good Morning Dinar Recaps,

The Dollar Falls as Treasury Steps In: A New Risk Equation Emerges for Global Finance

The U.S. Treasury is increasing long-term bond buybacks as investors question the sustainability of high borrowing costs — while the dollar weakens and oil prices add another layer of inflation pressure.

Overview

• The U.S. dollar has fallen to a three-month low even as long-term Treasury yields remain above 5%, challenging the traditional relationship between higher U.S. yields and a stronger dollar.

• Treasury's expanded bond-buyback program has temporarily eased pressure in the long end of the market, but investors are already questioning whether it can address the underlying concerns over debt, inflation and Treasury supply.

• Oil near $93 a barrel is adding inflation risk at the same time that markets are watching the Federal Reserve and reassessing U.S. fiscal risk.

Key Developments

1. The dollar is weakening despite elevated Treasury yields

The U.S. Dollar Index fell to approximately 98.723 on Thursday, its lowest level since May 14. The euro and British pound both moved to three-month highs against the dollar.

That is significant because higher U.S. interest rates have traditionally provided an important incentive for global investors to hold dollar-denominated assets.

But today's market is showing that yield alone may no longer be enough.

Investors are also weighing America's enormous debt load, inflation expectations, geopolitical risk and the long-term supply of Treasury securities.

The result is a more complicated relationship:

Higher Treasury yields do not automatically mean a stronger dollar.

2. Treasury is attempting to calm the long end of the bond market

The Treasury announced that it will double the size of certain longer-term bond buybacks to at least $4 billion per operation, compared with the previously planned $2 billion.

The move followed a sharp rise in long-term yields. The 30-year Treasury yield had reached 5.337% earlier this week — its highest level since 2007 — before falling after the Treasury announcement.

The stated purpose is to improve liquidity and market functioning rather than formally establish a target for long-term interest rates.

However, the timing is important.

Washington is becoming increasingly sensitive to what is happening at the long end of the Treasury curve.

That matters because long-term Treasury yields influence mortgage rates, corporate borrowing costs, asset valuations and the cost of financing the federal government's enormous debt.

3. The bond-market relief is already showing signs of fading

The initial Treasury announcement produced a significant decline in long-term yields.

But by Thursday, the 30-year yield had moved back upward to around 5.22%, after briefly falling to approximately 5.18%. Reuters reported that investors were questioning how effective the Treasury's intervention could be in addressing the underlying pressures.

Liquidity can be improved without eliminating the reason investors are demanding higher yields.

Those underlying pressures include large government deficits, heavy Treasury issuance and concerns about inflation.

In other words, the Treasury can influence market conditions — but it cannot make the underlying debt disappear.

4. Oil is adding another complication

Brent crude has climbed to approximately $93 per barrel, with higher oil prices raising concerns about energy costs and renewed inflation pressure.

This creates a difficult environment for central banks.

Higher oil prices can push inflation upward even as elevated borrowing costs are already slowing portions of the economy.

That produces the uncomfortable combination of:

Higher debt costs + higher energy costs + inflation uncertainty.

Why This Matters

The most important development today isn't simply that the dollar is down or Treasury yields are high.

It is the relationship between the two.

For years, investors generally understood the equation:

Higher U.S. yields → stronger demand for dollars → stronger dollar.

Today's market is showing that the equation is becoming more complicated.

If investors believe higher yields are increasingly compensation for fiscal risk, inflation risk and the enormous amount of debt that must be financed, the dollar may not receive the same benefit from rising yields.

That is a potentially important structural change.

Why This Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

For foreign-currency holders, the dollar's reaction deserves close attention.

A weaker dollar can change the relative value of currencies around the world even when U.S. interest rates remain relatively high.

Today's movement also demonstrates why currency values cannot be judged by interest rates alone.

Investors are increasingly evaluating:

• U.S.debt and deficit levels

• Inflation expectations

• Treasury supply

• Federal Reserve policy

• Energy prices

• Geopolitical risk

• Confidence in the long-term purchasing power of currencies

That doesn't mean the dollar is losing its reserve-currency status.

It does mean that the factors determining dollar strength are becoming more complicated.

Implications for the Global Financial Reset

• Sovereign debt is becoming a central financial-market variable.

The recent surge in long-term Treasury yields demonstrates that government borrowing costs can become a global market issue.

When the world's largest sovereign-debt market reprices, the effects extend into currencies, equities, mortgages, commodities and international capital flows.

• Treasury policy is becoming increasingly important to global markets.

The expanded buyback program shows that Washington is paying close attention to conditions at the long end of the Treasury market.

The question now becomes whether these measures provide lasting stability or merely buy time while fiscal pressures remain unresolved.

• The dollar, bonds and commodities are becoming increasingly interconnected.

A weaker dollar, higher oil prices and elevated Treasury yields create a very different environment from the low-rate, low-inflation world that dominated much of the previous decade.

This is where the broader reset story becomes visible.

Debt affects yields.
Yields affect currencies.
Currencies affect commodities.
Commodities affect inflation.
Inflation affects central-bank policy.

The pieces are no longer moving independently.

What to Watch Next

The most important signals over the coming weeks will be:

1. Whether the 30-year Treasury yield can remain below the 5.30%–5.34% area.

2. Whether the Dollar Index continues falling despite elevated U.S. yields.

3. Whether oil remains near or above $90 a barrel.

4. Whether Treasury expands its intervention beyond the currently announced buybacks.

5. Whether the Federal Reserve maintains its focus on inflation or begins moving toward lower rates.

6. Whether foreign investors continue demanding higher compensation for holding long-term U.S. debt.

Bottom Line

The important signal today is not simply that Treasury yields are high. It is that the dollar is weakening while those yields remain elevated.

That suggests global investors are increasingly looking beyond the traditional interest-rate equation and examining the fiscal and structural risks behind the world's largest bond market.

The Treasury's response may help stabilize market liquidity, but it does not resolve the underlying combination of debt, deficits, inflation and rising energy costs.

And that is why today's development matters for the broader global financial-reset story.

The next major shift may not come from a single currency or a single central-bank decision — it may come from the growing interaction between sovereign debt, Treasury yields, the dollar and the commodities that drive global inflation.

Sources

• Reuters — Dollar falls to three-month low as Treasury moves to soothe bond jitters

• Reuters — Bond relief ebbs as investors question Treasury's rescue efforts

~~~~~~~~~~

🌱 A Message to Our Currency Holders🌱

If you’ve been holding foreign currency for many years, you were not foolish.
You were not wrong to believe the global financial system would change.

What failed was not your patience — it was the information you were given.

For years, dates, rumors, and personalities replaced facts, structure, and proof. “This week” predictions created cycles of hope and disappointment that were never based on how currencies actually change.

That is not your failure.

Our mission here is different:   • No dates • No rates • No hype • No gurus

Instead, we focus on:
• Verifiable developments • Institutional evidence
• Global financial structure • Where countries actually sit in the process

Currency value changes only come after sovereignty, trade, banking, settlement systems, and fiscal coordination are in place. History and institutions confirm this sequence.

You will see silence. You will see denials. That is not delay — that is discipline.

Protect your identity. Organize your documents.    Verify everything.
Never hand your discernment to anyone who cannot show proof.

You deserve truth — not timelines.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News

~~~~~~~~~~

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Thank you Dinar Recaps

Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Late Wednesday Evening 8-19-26

Al-Mustaqilla reveals: The Central Bank of Iraq is discussing removing zeros from the dinar

Al-Mustaqilla reveals: Removing zeros from the Iraqi dinar is under discussion within the Central Bank

August 19, 2026Last updated: August 19, 2026

The Independent - The eyes of economic and banking circles in Iraq are turning to the Central Bank of Iraq, amid information about internal discussions regarding the project to remove zeros from the Iraqi dinar and modernize the currency and the monetary and banking system, in a step that, if the decision is made to proceed with it, will be one of the biggest monetary transformations in the history of modern Iraq.

According to an informed source who spoke to Al-Mustaqilla, the issue of removing zeros is still under discussion within the Central Bank, and has not yet turned into a final binding decision, while a number of scenarios are being discussed regarding the future of the Iraqi currency and the mechanism for transitioning to the new monetary system.

The source indicates that the Central Bank is preparing to issue a statement or clarification soon explaining its direction regarding the project, and whether it will proceed with changing the currency, or will be content with updating the banking and monetary system while keeping the current currency.

Between Removing Zeros And Changing The Value Of The Dinar

Economically, there is a fundamental difference between removing zeros and raising the value of the Iraqi dinar.

Removing zeros is essentially a process of renaming a currency, converting large nominal values into smaller monetary units. For example, if three zeros are removed, 1,000 dinars might become one dinar of the new currency, with a similar conversion occurring in prices, wages, deposits, debts, and contracts.

This means that removing zeros does not in itself create new wealth or increase the purchasing power of the citizen.

Raising the value of the dinar against the dollar is a different decision that is linked to monetary policy, the size of foreign reserves, financial balance, trade balance, domestic liquidity, and the central bank’s ability to defend the exchange rate.

Therefore, any serious economic discussion about the project should not confuse the two terms.

Why Is Iraq Considering Removing Zeros?

The Iraqi monetary system suffers from inflation in the nominal value of money as a result of decades of accumulated inflation and exchange rate changes.

The presence of banknotes in high denominations, along with transactions amounting to millions and billions of dinars, raises the cost of counting, storing, transporting, and accounting settlement, and increases the need for more advanced electronic systems to manage payments.

From an accounting and banking perspective, restructuring currency denominations can contribute to:

• Simplifying daily transactions.

• Facilitating accounting and the preparation of financial statements.

• Reducing the size of numbers in banking systems.

• Improving the efficiency of payment and settlement processes.

• Facilitating the transition to an economy more reliant on electronic payments.

• Reducing some of the costs associated with printing, transporting, and managing cash.

But the success of this step does not depend solely on changing banknotes, but rather on a comprehensive reform of the monetary and banking system.

The Central Bank Faces A Sensitive Decision.

Information obtained by “Al-Mustaqila” indicates that the discussion is not only about printing a new currency, but also about the formula through which the transition from the current system to a more efficient monetary system can be made.

Here a number of fundamental economic questions arise:

Will the zeros be removed while keeping the real value of the dinar unchanged?

Will there be a comprehensive repricing of goods and services?

How will bank deposits and loans be processed?

How will the salaries of employees and retirees be transferred?

What will happen to commercial, real estate, and investment contracts?

And how will cash outside the banking system be dealt with?

These details will be more important than the shape of the new currency itself.

Parliament Enters The Equation

If the central bank decides to officially proceed with changing the currency or redefining its monetary units, the project will need a clear legal framework.

According to the source, there is a discussion about preparing a draft law that can be submitted to the House of Representatives if the Central Bank makes an official decision to proceed with the project.

This means that if the file moves from the study phase to implementation, it will not be a technical decision related to the central bank alone, but will become a broad national project that requires coordination between the central bank, the government, parliament, the banking sector and financial institutions.

The Most Dangerous Factor: Currency Circulating Outside Banks

One of the most difficult issues any project to remove zeros will face is the amount of cash outside the banking system.

The success of the currency restructuring process requires accurate knowledge of the volume of cash in circulation, the mechanisms for replacing old banknotes, the dual circulation period between the old and new currency, and the mechanisms for combating money laundering and the introduction of illicit funds into the banking system.

Therefore, if the project is adopted, it will be an opportunity to reorganize the movement of money within the economy, but at the same time it carries great risks if the replacement process is not governed by precise and transparent procedures.

What About The Dollar?

The Iraqi economy is characterized by a high degree of dollarization, as the dollar is used in part of transactions, savings, trade and real estate, in addition to the dinar's exchange rate being linked to the central bank's monetary policy.

Therefore, changing the shape of the dinar without addressing the reasons for the preference for the dollar may not, on its own, lead to increased confidence in the local currency.

Confidence in the dinar is ultimately linked to deeper factors, most notably:

Exchange rate stability, inflation control, strong foreign reserves, fiscal discipline, sound banking system, and economic policy stability.

Possible Economic Scenarios

The future of the project can be read through three main scenarios:

The first scenario involves modernizing the banking system without changing the currency.
This scenario entails focusing on electronic payments, reforming banks, upgrading banking systems, and improving liquidity management, while maintaining the current dinar in circulation.

The second option is to remove zeros while maintaining the real value of the dinar.
In this case, the currency unit, denominations, and nominal numbers are changed, but the process itself is not considered a true revaluation of the dinar's exchange rate.

Third: Removing zeros in conjunction with a broad monetary and banking reform.
This scenario is the most complex, as it requires restructuring exchange rates, liquidity management, banking systems, prices, wages, contracts, and debt, along with a widespread public awareness campaign.

The Real Challenge Is Not The Banknote.

Economically, a new currency can be printed within a limited period, but rebuilding confidence in the currency takes years.

If three zeros are removed, for example, a citizen who had 10 million dinars will have 10,000 units of the new currency according to the same conversion rate; that is, the calculation changes, but the real economic value does not change simply by removing the zeros.

Therefore, talking about removing zeros as a direct means of "raising the value of the dinar" requires economic scrutiny.

A strong currency is not made by small denominations of currency, but by a strong economy, a stable monetary policy, and reliable financial institutions.

What Is The Market Waiting For?

The Iraqi market is awaiting what the Central Bank will issue in the coming period.

Any official announcement must clearly answer several questions: the implementation date, the conversion rate, the new categories, the dual trading period, the currency exchange mechanism, the status of deposits and loans, exchange rates, the fate of contracts and salaries, and legal guarantees for citizens and companies.

A clear official message will also be important to prevent speculation and rumors that could exploit any inaccurate talk about a "new currency" or a "sudden increase in the value of the dinar".    https://mustaqila.com/المستقلة-تكشف-المركزي-العراقي-يناقش-ح/

Foreign Buying of US Treasuries Just Fell 88% in a Single Month

Foreign Buying of US Treasuries Just Fell 88% in a Single Month

Notes From the Field By James Hickman (Aimon Black / Sovereign Man) August 19, 2026

If you were to head to Bloomberg, CNBC, or Yahoo Finance this morning and see virtually all green across the board in US markets, you wouldn’t think it’s a sad day for America.

And yet, despite stocks being up and investors positively effervescent, it is indeed a sad day, because today marks the first real capitulation by the Treasury Department.

Stocks are up because the Treasury Department announced this morning that it will double repurchases of long-dated government bonds. If that sounds boring and mundane, it’s not.

For the past several weeks, Treasury yields have been skyrocketing. Our readers won’t be surprised by this— we’ve been predicting this and telling the story for quite some time.

In short, the bond market is rapidly losing confidence in America. And that’s especially true for foreign governments and central banks.

For most of the past eighty years, pretty much every foreign government on the planet parked their national savings in US government bonds. It was a no-brainer. US Treasury bonds paid interest. They were extremely liquid and could be sold in seconds. And they are backed by the wealthiest, most powerful, most creditworthy nation on Earth.

So the rest of the world happily lent their financial surpluses to the US government and asked few questions.

At peak (in 2011), foreigners owned nearly half of all marketable US Treasury bonds. Fifteen years later they hold less than a third, and that proportion is sliding quickly.

Earlier this week the Treasury Department reported that foreigners continue to trim their holdings of US government bonds. In fact, so far this year, foreigners have only purchased 7% of net US debt issuance. In June, their purchases of Treasury bonds and notes fell 88% in a single month, and once you add in the Treasury bills they sold, foreigners were net SELLERS of US government debt.

It’s not hard to understand why; between the political theater, rising deficits, and inability to cut even obvious fraud, foreigners are no longer as willing to risk lending money to America... especially when they have to take that risk for three decades (i.e. holding a 30-year Treasury bond).

As a result, foreigners are selling. And as they sell, the natural consequence of the bond market is that Treasury yields have been rising... especially for the least popular securities like the 30-year Treasury bond.

This morning the US government officially staged an intervention. They signaled to the bond market, and to the world, that they’re willing to step in and buy back their own debt in order to prop up the market.

Investors cheered. But, again, this is actually quite sad news. It is tantamount to the Treasury Department capitulating and acknowledging that they have lost the confidence of foreign investors.

We’ve been writing about this trend for quite some time, encouraging our readers to consider investing in gold... as well as gold producers.

In our most recent edition of Schiff Sovereign: Premium, for example, we wrote about three major gold companies that we believed were significantly undervalued. They’re all up 10% just this morning... because gold is on an absolute tear.

Why Gold?

As foreign governments and central banks have been moving out of US dollars, they’ve had to park that money into some other asset. At the moment, gold is realistically the only viable strategic reserve asset that is extremely liquid, widely accepted around the world, and carries zero counter-party risk.

Foreign countries have already been buying up gold over the past few years as their confidence in the US has waned; from 2022 through 2025 they bought a few hundred billion dollars' worth— roughly 2% of their financial reserves. And that modest purchase alone took the gold price from about $1,600 to more than $4,000.

Global central banks are back in the gold market buying again today. And since we can’t exactly hold our breath that the US government is going to get its fiscal house in order anytime soon, we can only conclude that the central bank gold-buying trend will continue... and accelerate.

This trend is bad for America. But it’s good for gold. And it’s even better for gold producers.

To your freedom,  James Hickman     Co-Founder, Schiff Sovereign LLC

PS: One of the other companies we've covered in Premium, a gold producer, is up a bit this week, but we still think it is wildly undervalued. So does its own CEO, who told analysts on this week's earnings call that the company is "significantly undervalued."

It has no debt, just reported the most profitable first half in its history, and trades at roughly two times its annual cash flow.

https://www.schiffsovereign.com/trends/foreign-buying-of-us-treasuries-just-fell-88-in-a-single-month-155645/?inf_contact_key=fe0b3885637db56e3227b9f39acc60d7266def61f88c0e3dcc6731a9f494e737

Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Wednesday Afternoon 8-19-26

Oil Rises For Fourth Day On Hormuz Concerns

2026-08-19 Shafaq News   Oil prices climbed for a fourth ​straight day on Wednesday as investors weighed conflicting messages from Tehran and Washington on ‌whether the Strait of Hormuz is open to ships.

Brent crude futures climbed 69 cents, or 0.8%, to $91.71 by 0415 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up 76 cents, or 0.9%, to $85.70 a barrel.

Both contracts closed on Tuesday at ​their highest in more than three weeks as hopes of peace between the U.S. and Iran ​faded.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday no talks were taking place with Iran ⁠and insisted the Strait of Hormuz was open, contradicting Iran's assertion that the critical waterway remained shut ​to shipping.

A temporary ceasefire agreement expired on Monday and a senior Iranian official told Reuters that his country ​was moving to due to the diplomatic stalemate, though there were no reports of fresh strikes by either side on Tuesday.

"The shipping risks are increasing again as attacks from Iran and Houthis remain prevalent in both key chokepoints, ​keeping oil prices supported in the near term," said June Goh, senior oil market analyst at Sparta ​Commodities, referring to the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb strait.

Shipping through Hormuz slowed, data showed on Wednesday, as most shipowners ‌avoided the ⁠key waterway due to a lack of clear signalling on its reopening from a blockade.

"However, Gulf producers are finding alternative export routes to bring oil out to the Gulf of Oman," said Goh. "If sustainable, this could help increase shut-in production from these two producers."

To avoid the Strait of Hormuz, Iraq's cabinet approved mechanisms ​for exporting Iraqi crude through specialized ​international and local companies ⁠and via multiple export outlets, the government said on Tuesday.

The contracts under the new mechanism will run for three months starting September 1, according to a ​statement issued after the cabinet meeting.

Two Chinese shipping giants have stopped sending oil tankers ​through Hormuz ⁠and Bab el-Mandeb amid the conflict in the Middle East and are instead collecting oil cargoes outside the Gulf.

In the U.S., crude oil and distillate inventories fell, while gasoline stocks rose last week, market sources said, citing data ⁠from ​the American Petroleum Institute.

Official inventory numbers from the U.S. Energy Information ​Administration are due at 10:30 a.m. ET (1430 GMT), with analysts polled by Reuters expecting crude stocks fell by about 600,000 barrels in the ​week ended August 14.  (REUTERS)

https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Oil-rises-for-fourth-day-on-Hormuz-concerns

Basrah Crude Grades Gain Over Five Percent

2026-08-19 Shafaq News- Baghdad   Iraq's two Basrah export grades climbed more than five percent on Wednesday, outpacing modest gains in global benchmarks.

Basrah Heavy settled at $65.04 a barrel, up $3.27 or 5.29 percent, while Basrah Medium rose to $68.34 a barrel, a gain of $3.27 or 5.03 percent.

The moves ran well ahead of the day's benchmarks. Brent crude edged up 0.69 percent to $91.65 a barrel, and West Texas Intermediate rose 0.79 percent to $85.59.

Arab Light gained 4.53 percent to $85.09 a barrel. The OPEC reference basket bucked the trend, slipping 0.50 percent to $85.43. https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Basrah-crude-grades-gain-over-five-percent

Chevron Moves Ahead On Southern Iraq Oil Deals, Exits KRI

2026-08-19 Shafaq News- Baghdad  Chevron is pressing forward on two of southern Iraq's major oil projects and has joined a proposed pipeline that would carry Iraqi crude across Syria to the Mediterranean, the US energy major told Shafaq News, while declining to discuss the strategy behind its shifting presence in the country.

Taken together, the moves amount to a significant shift in Chevron's Iraq footprint from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) toward federal Iraq. Chevron withdrew entirely from the KRI in 2025, telling the US Securities and Exchange Commission in its annual filing that it had "completed exit agreements."

 The retreat ended a presence dating to 2012 and centered on the Sarta and Qara Dagh blocks; a settlement and relinquishment agreement covering Sarta was signed with the Kurdistan Regional Government and partner Genel Energy in April 2025, according to Genel's financial disclosures.

Sarta had underperformed for years, and the prolonged shutdown of the KRI's export pipeline further weakened its near-term commercial prospects.

Read more: Energy war nears Iraq: Oil infrastructure faces rising threat

The company's attention has turned to the south. On West Qurna (Phase 2), one of the largest oilfields in Iraq's southern Basra province, Chevron said it had built on agreements first signed in February 2026.

Chevron Exploration Services, Inc. and the state-run Basra Oil Company "have signed an agreement which advances commercial negotiations in respect of West Qurna (Phase 2)," the company noted, adding that it "looks forward to sharing its expertise in successfully developing oil and gas projects to support Iraq in further developing its energy resources."

A parallel step came at Nasiriyah, a field in the southern province of Dhi Qar. Chevron Business Development EMEA Ltd. and the Dhi Qar Oil Company (TOC) signed an addendum to a Heads of Agreement dated August 19, 2025, a move Chevron indicated "advances commercial negotiations in respect of the Nasiriyah Field and surrounding Nasiriyah Exploration Area."

Read more: Iraq's rentier economy: Risks and reforms

The company also confirmed its involvement in a proposed cross-border pipeline that could give Iraq a westward export route, providing an alternative to Iraq's Gulf export routes.

The governments of Iraq and Syria have each signed a Heads of Agreement with Urbacon Concessions Investments WLL, TIC Infra II LLC and Chevron Business Development EMEA Ltd. "in connection with a potential cross-border oil pipeline project from Iraq through Syria to the Mediterranean Sea," Chevron said.

On each project, the company drew the same line: "Beyond this, it is not our policy to comment on specific details related to commercial matters."

Chevron did not address questions on the financial and technical shape of its pipeline role, whether it views a Mediterranean route as an alternative to exports through the Strait of Hormuz, or how its growing partnership with the federal government in Baghdad sits alongside its dealings with the KRI.

Read more: SCOOP: Iraq in talks with US-Iran over Hormuz oil shipments

https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Chevron-moves-ahead-on-southern-Iraq-oil-deals-exits-KRI

Iraq’s Federal Revenues Drop 40%+ On Oil Decline

2026-08-19 Shafaq News- Baghdad   Iraq’s federal revenues fell 42% year-on-year in June 2026, driven by a sharp decline in oil income, according to budget execution data.

Total revenues dropped to 35.946 trillion dinars ($27.23 billion) from 62.004 trillion dinars ($46.97 billion) in June 2025, a decline of about 26.058 trillion dinars.

Oil revenues nearly halved to 28.506 trillion dinars from 57.053 trillion dinars a year earlier, a decrease of 28.547 trillion dinars. Non-oil revenues, however, rose to 7.440 trillion dinars from 4.951 trillion dinars over the same period.

As a result, oil’s share of total federal revenues fell to 80% from 92%, while the contribution of non-oil revenues increased to 20% from 8%. The dollar figures are based on an exchange rate of 1,320 dinars per dollar.

https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Iraq-s-federal-revenues-drop-40-on-oil-decline

USD/IQD Exchange Rates Dip In Baghdad, Erbil

2026-08-19 Shafaq News- Baghdad/ Erbil  The US dollar hovered around 154,000 Iraqi dinars per $100 in Baghdad and Erbil on Wednesday, declining in both markets by the close.

In Baghdad, the dollar fell to 154,250 dinars per $100 at Al-Kifah and Al-Harithiya central exchanges, down from 154,600 in the morning.

Exchange shops in the capital sold the dollar at 154,750 dinars and bought it at 153,750 per $100. In Erbil, the dollar also declined, with exchange shops selling at 154,050 dinars and buying at 154,000 per $100.

https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/USD-IQD-exchange-rates-dip-in-Baghdad-Erbil-8-1

Globalists Are Planning For Economic Reset | Alex Newman

Globalists Are Planning For Economic Reset | Alex Newman

Liberty and Finance:  8-18-2026

AI data centers are rapidly expanding across America, but Alex Newman warns the consequences could go far beyond higher electricity bills and massive energy & water consumption.

 He argues that the push to hyperscale AI infrastructure could accelerate a dangerous combination of private credit, government subsidies, surveillance technology, and financial instability.

He warns that multiple financial bubbles could eventually implode simultaneously, creating the conditions for what he describes as a massive economic reset and a new digital financial system.

We also discuss the U.S.-China AI race, federal land being opened to data centers, the future of privacy and freedom, and what individuals can do to prepare for turbulent times ahead.

INTERVIEW TIMELINE:

0:00 Intro

1:30 AI takeover

15:45 Climate change

28:00 Globalists preparing for crisis

34:40 Preparedness steps

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KO1cQXMCEz0

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Tuesday Afternoon 8-19-26

Good Afternoon Dinar Recaps,

Treasury Steps In as the Bond Market Sends a Warning to Washington

The U.S. Treasury is dramatically increasing its long-term bond buybacks as yields surge, while the Federal Reserve remains divided over inflation and the possibility of future rate hikes.

Overview

• The Treasury is doubling its long-term bond buyback operations to $4 billion per round, a significant intervention designed to improve liquidity in the $32 trillion Treasury market.

• The move comes after the 30-year Treasury yield approached a 20-year high near 5.34%, as investors demanded greater compensation for inflation, fiscal deficits and the enormous supply of government debt.

• Gold surged more than 3% and the dollar weakened after the Treasury announcement, while the Fed's newly released minutes revealed continuing disagreement over whether additional rate increases may eventually be necessary.

Key Developments

• The Treasury has moved more aggressively into the bond market

The Treasury announced that it will more than double the size of its purchases of longer-dated Treasury securities, increasing buyback operations to approximately $4 billion per round.

The purpose is officially to improve liquidity by purchasing older, less actively traded Treasury securities, rather than directly attempting to suppress interest rates.

But the timing is significant.

The announcement came after a powerful selloff pushed long-term government borrowing costs sharply higher. The U.S. 30-year Treasury yield had reached approximately 5.34%, its highest level in nearly two decades.

The announcement immediately changed market conditions.

Long-term Treasury yields fell, the dollar weakened and gold surged.

That is an important market reaction because it demonstrates how sensitive global markets have become to changes in the Treasury's management of the U.S. debt market.

• The Fed minutes reveal a very different problem

The Treasury is attempting to improve liquidity in the bond market while the Federal Reserve is still wrestling with inflation.

Minutes from the July 28–29 FOMC meeting showed significant disagreement among policymakers.

Three Fed presidents dissented in favor of a 25-basis-point rate increase at the meeting, while other participants indicated that additional tightening could eventually be necessary if inflation remains elevated.

That creates an unusual situation:

The Treasury wants an orderly and liquid government bond market while the Federal Reserve cannot simply guarantee lower interest rates.

The bond market ultimately determines long-term borrowing costs.

That distinction is becoming increasingly important.

• Gold immediately responded

Gold jumped approximately 3.6% to $4,487.91 per ounce, briefly reaching $4,499.20, its highest level since June 4.

The move came as Treasury yields fell and the dollar weakened following the Treasury announcement.

This is significant for the broader financial story because gold is increasingly being treated by investors as a hedge against monetary, fiscal and geopolitical uncertainty.

It also reinforces an important theme for foreign-currency and precious-metals holders:

Capital is responding not just to interest rates, but to confidence in the financial system behind those rates.

Why It Matters

Today's Treasury action does not mean the United States is monetizing its debt or that the Federal Reserve has restarted quantitative easing.

The distinction is important.

Treasury buybacks are being described as a liquidity-management operation, purchasing older securities to improve market functioning.

But the larger significance is that Washington is now responding directly to stress that has developed in the long end of the Treasury market.

The bond market had already been signaling concern about:

Federal deficits + enormous debt issuance + inflation risk + high long-term borrowing costs.

Now the Treasury is taking a more active role in managing the market's liquidity.

That doesn't eliminate the underlying fiscal problem.

It potentially buys time while the larger problem remains.

The Bigger Global Financial Reset Story

This is where today's development becomes particularly important for Recaps.

The global financial system is increasingly showing signs of repricing sovereign risk.

Yesterday's story was that long-term yields were rising around the world.

This morning's story was that higher yields, oil and a weaker dollar were colliding with central-bank policy.

Now we have the next development:

The U.S. Treasury is responding.

That progression matters.

The sequence is:

Debt increases → bond investors demand higher yields → borrowing costs rise → financial conditions tighten → Treasury intervenes to improve liquidity → markets reassess the dollar and gold.

That is a much more consequential story than simply saying Treasury yields moved lower today.

Why This Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

The dollar's reaction deserves particular attention.

Following the Treasury announcement, the dollar index fell approximately 0.8%, while the euro rose to its highest level since late May.

Normally, higher U.S. yields can support the dollar by making dollar assets more attractive.

But today's reaction illustrates that yield levels are only one part of the currency equation.

Investors are also evaluating:

• U.S. fiscal sustainability

• Inflation

• Federal Reserve policy

• Treasury supply

• Geopolitical risk

• The relative attractiveness of other currencies and assets

If this pattern continues, foreign-currency markets could become increasingly sensitive to changes in U.S. fiscal policy and Treasury-market conditions, not simply Federal Reserve rate decisions.

Implications for the Global Financial Reset

1. The Treasury market is becoming a central part of the reset story.

The Treasury market is the foundation upon which much of the global financial system is priced.

When long-term Treasury yields move sharply, the consequences extend into mortgages, corporate borrowing, equities, currencies and international capital flows.

2. Washington is managing the symptoms while the fiscal problem remains.

Today's buyback announcement can improve liquidity and calm disorderly trading.

But it does not eliminate the government's underlying need to finance enormous deficits.

That means investors will continue watching who buys U.S. debt, at what yield and with what level of confidence.

3. Gold is signaling that investors are looking beyond traditional safe-haven assets.

The sharp rise in gold following the Treasury announcement is particularly notable.

It suggests that some investors are responding to the combination of debt concerns, currency uncertainty and geopolitical risk by increasing exposure to an asset outside the sovereign-debt system.

That does not mean gold replaces Treasuries.

It means the definition of a "safe haven" is becoming more diversified.

What to Watch Next

The next developments could be especially important:

1. Whether Treasury buybacks remain sufficient to stabilize long-term yields.

2. Whether the 30-year Treasury yield moves back above 5.25% or begins a sustained decline.

3. Whether the dollar continues weakening despite elevated U.S. yields.

4. Whether gold can sustain today's sharp move toward $4,500.

5. How the Federal Reserve responds if inflation remains elevated while long-term borrowing costs remain high.

6. Whether foreign demand for U.S. Treasury securities changes as investors reassess fiscal and currency risk.

Bottom Line

This afternoon's development changes the story.

The bond market was sending Washington a warning. Now Washington is responding.

The Treasury's decision to substantially increase long-term bond buybacks shows that the stability and liquidity of the government bond market have become important enough to warrant a more aggressive response.

But the Fed minutes reveal the other side of the equation: inflation has not disappeared, and some policymakers still see the possibility of higher rates.

That leaves Washington facing a difficult financial balancing act.

The next phase of the global financial reset may not be triggered by a single currency event. It may emerge from the growing tension between sovereign debt, bond-market demand, inflation, central-bank policy and confidence in the currencies that sit at the center of the global system.

Sources

• Reuters — Gold surges as U.S. Treasury announcement knocks down yields and dollar

• Reuters — Dollar weakens after Treasury boosts long-dated bond repurchases

• Associated Press — An alarmed bond market gets the Trump administration to act again

~~~~~~~~~~

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More Iraq News Posted by Tishwash at TNT 8-19-2026

TNT:

Tishwash:  Two million barrels since the beginning of August... Iraq opens alternative routes for its oil exports

Anbar Alliance leader Mohammed al-Dhari al-Dulaimi revealed on Wednesday that Iraq has exported approximately two million barrels of oil since the beginning of August via the Ceyhan pipeline in Turkey and by tanker trucks to Syria and Jordan.

Al-Dulaimi told the Information Agency that “crude oil exports via the Ceyhan pipeline and by tanker trucks through the Trebil border crossing with Jordan and the al-Walid crossing in western Anbar have reached unprecedented levels, exceeding two million barrels since the beginning of August.

These quantities are roughly equivalent to what Iraq previously exported through the Strait of Hormuz, and it is hoped that the pace of refined oil exports to Turkey, Jordan, and Syria will increase in the coming days.”

He added that “the central government’s plan is to find an alternative to exporting oil through the Strait of Hormuz, replacing it with the Ceyhan pipeline and tanker trucks to Jordan and Syria, to compensate for the near-complete halt of Iraq’s oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz.”

toHe affirmed that “increasing the pace of Iraqi oil exports to neighboring countries would secure salaries for employees and retirees, social welfare payments, and allow for the utilization of Iraq’s non-oil revenues in various sectors.”  link

Tishwash:   The Iraqi treasury is looking for a way out... Borrowing, oil bonds, and the digital dinar are on the table for discussion.

Experts favor traditional tools in the short term but warn of legislative challenges.

The pressures facing the Iraqi treasury are prompting a range of proposals to address the liquidity crisis, from diversifying revenues and borrowing to restructuring spending, and even ideas like a digital dinar and using oil as a financing tool. Experts believe that implementing these new tools requires legislation and financial and economic arrangements, making traditional solutions the most feasible in the short term.

These pressures come amidst the continued application of the 1/12 spending limit, which allows the public finances to manage spending and finance essential obligations until the budget is approved. Meanwhile, the government is discussing measures aimed at rationalizing spending, diversifying revenues, and reducing dependence on oil.

Hussain Al-Daraji, a member of the parliamentary finance committee, told Al-Mada, "The current approach should focus on diversifying revenues and capitalizing on the current crisis to create an additional resource for the state, rather than treating the liquidity problem as a temporary crisis that will end as soon as oil prices improve or exports return to their previous levels."

Al-Daraji added that “previous financial policies have caused disasters in the Iraqi economy due to continued reliance on oil and the failure to build stable resources from other sectors. Therefore, the current stage requires genuine measures to rearrange spending priorities and enhance non-oil revenues, while seeking financing tools that will not increase the state’s burdens in the future.”

In this context, the proposal to adopt a digital Iraqi dinar has resurfaced, after being presented as a means that could help reduce reliance on paper currency and facilitate salary payments through electronic wallets and accounts. However, according to experts, this proposal does not represent a solution to the deficit problem or the lack of resources, as addressing the liquidity crisis requires first securing financial sources capable of covering government spending, while digital transformation represents a tool for managing and circulating money more efficiently.

Economic expert Dirgham Muhammad told Al-Mada that “the digital dinar proposals, as well as oil bonds, are difficult to implement at present because they require time, arrangements, and legislation, especially since oil represents the primary resource of the Iraqi state, and any transaction involving it outside the traditional framework of sale requires a law that allows its use as collateral for loans or to obtain financing.”

Mohammed added that “a digital dinar also requires legislation and financial and economic arrangements that are not currently available. Therefore, the immediate solutions will remain within the traditional framework, including domestic borrowing, attempting to market oil through unconventional means and opening new markets, as well as increasing export volumes through alternative outlets, whether through regional agreements or land routes via Turkey and Syria.”

Among the proposals put forward by experts to address the liquidity crisis is the sale of a portion of future oil through bonds or financial instruments, whereby the government would receive payment in advance from citizens or banks at a fixed price, in exchange for settling these bonds later according to an agreed-upon pricing mechanism.

This proposal faces objections related to the need for clear legislation regulating the mechanism for selling oil in this way and determining the quantities that can be offered. There are also concerns about the risks of volatile crude oil prices in global markets and the potential losses that could result from fixing the selling price in advance if prices rise later. Furthermore, it is essential to identify the entity that will manage these bonds, the mechanism for their settlement, and how to guarantee the rights of the state and the parties involved.

Economists believe that the liquidity issue has shifted from a crisis related to the timing of salary payments to a broader test of the state's ability to manage its resources. Traditional tools, such as borrowing, restructuring spending, and increasing exports, appear to be the most feasible in the short term. Conversely, resorting to tools like the digital dinar and oil bonds requires more mature legislation and a more robust financial and banking infrastructure to address the repercussions of the current situation.  link

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Tishwash:  Economist: Removing zeros will reduce inflation and withdraw money from corrupt officials.

Economic researcher Haitham al-Khazali believes that removing zeros from the currency will reduce inflation in the financial markets and markets. He added that it will also draw cash held by citizens, merchants, and investors into banks, and compel corrupt individuals to surrender their illicit funds.

Al-Khazali told Al-Maalouma, "The government's move to remove zeros from the currency would be a step in the right direction if it proceeds with such a transformation, as it would restore the Iraqi currency's strength and reduce the inflation rate."
He added, "Removing zeros opens the door to the reintroduction of smaller denominations, such as dirhams and fils, which were previously in circulation. Furthermore, it will force those holding cash, including merchants and investors, to deposit it in banks."

He explained that "removing zeros will reveal the size of the cash held by citizens and will also recover funds acquired by corrupt individuals, ensuring their return to the state."  link

Tishwash:  Removing zeros: A currency restructuring or a step to boost confidence in the dinar?

The issue of removing zeros from the Iraqi currency has resurfaced, amid economic debate about the feasibility of this step and its implications for the value of the dinar and the purchasing power of the citizen, as well as the readiness of the banking and financial sectors to implement it.

Economic experts believe that removing zeros, if implemented within a comprehensive study and a clear plan, could contribute to restructuring the currency and simplifying financial and banking transactions, while emphasizing that the measure itself does not mean an increase or decrease in the purchasing power of the dinar, as long as prices, salaries and savings are transformed at the same rate.

 Strengthening the value of the dinar

Economic expert Haider Al-Sheikh told Al-Sabah newspaper: “Changing the Iraqi currency and removing zeros will enhance the value of the Iraqi dinar against foreign currencies,” explaining that “changing the currency will contribute to reviving the economy and providing cash liquidity to the government.”

The sheikh explained that the currency change process, according to the study, requires several months to print specific denominations in batches, in preparation for replacing them with the current currency. He pointed out that this process could contribute to strengthening the balances of government and private banks in Iraqi dinars and providing liquidity. 

The necessary cash.

He added that another benefit of the process is “knowing the amount of currency held by the government and banks, as well as knowing the volume of currency circulating in the market.”

The sheikh pointed out that Iraq, after 2003, printed more than 100 trillion dinars, indicating that about 70 percent of the printed cash is outside the government's control and stored in homes. And it is traded on the market.

 Renaming the monetary unit

For his part, economist Mustafa Faraj said that "removing zeros from the Iraqi currency, if implemented according to a comprehensive study and plan, represents a positive step towards restructuring the currency and simplifying financial and banking transactions," stressing that "the process itself does not necessarily mean an increase or decrease in value." 

The purchasing power of the dinar.

Faraj explained that removing three zeros, for example, means changing prices, salaries, and balances by the same percentage, and therefore the citizen's purchasing power does not change as a result of the removal alone.

He added that the main economic benefit is “reducing the volume of circulating figures, facilitating accounting and banking operations, supporting electronic payment systems, and making dealing in dinars more efficient and transparent,” stressing that the success of the step is linked to monetary stability, price control, and broad public awareness.

He explained that removing zeros could be part of a “broader monetary and banking reform package that enhances confidence in the dinar and supports economic stability.” 

It is not a single, formal procedure.

Risks of the conversion phase

In contrast, economic researcher Ahmed Eid warned that the most prominent risks that may accompany the removal of zeros are not related to the accounting removal process itself, but rather to the conversion phase and what may accompany it in terms of confusion in the markets and exploitation by some traders, especially in rounding prices upwards.

He explained that goods with small prices may be more likely to increase when converted to the new monetary unit, which, if this is repeated on a large scale, may lead to citizens feeling an actual increase in the cost of living, even though the process of removing zeros is theoretically supposed not to change purchasing power.

Eid pointed to other risks, including the weak financial literacy of some citizens, particularly with regard to converting cash savings, pricing goods and services, contracts and debts, as well as the possibility of speculation and rumors spreading about the value of the dinar.

He stressed that these risks become greater if the operation is carried out during an economic period suffering from financial pressures and problems related to liquidity and confidence.

 Dual pricing and oversight

To protect the purchasing power of citizens, Eid called for the adoption of a sufficient transitional period preceding and accompanying the change process, during which dual pricing in the old and new dinars would be adopted, and precise rules would be put in place to prevent arbitrary rounding of prices, in addition to tightening control over markets and implementing a broad awareness campaign.

 He stressed the need for the central bank to ensure that all bank accounts, savings, debts, salaries and contracts are converted in the same proportion, with the new currency being made available in an organized manner, and a period of simultaneous circulation of the two currencies being maintained.

He stressed that “the most important thing is that the removal of zeros should be preceded by real financial and monetary stability,” explaining that protecting purchasing power is not achieved by changing the form of the currency, but rather by controlling inflation, stabilizing the exchange rate and addressing financial and economic imbalances.  link

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Tishwash:  Prime Minister's Advisor: Digital Dinar a promising project to enhance the efficiency of monetary policy

 The Prime Minister's advisor, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, confirmed on Monday that the digital dinar is a promising strategic project and not an independent solution to the liquidity crisis. While he pointed out that paying salaries digitally enhances the speed of payments and reduces cash transactions, he indicated that the success of the digital dinar depends on expanding banking services and infrastructure.

 Saleh told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): “The proposal to launch the digital Iraqi dinar is one of the ideas that deserves to be studied within the framework of Iraq’s move towards digital transformation and the development of the financial system. If the digital dinar is meant to be a digital currency issued by the Central Bank of Iraq and enjoys the same legal force as the paper dinar, then it could represent a modern tool to enhance the efficiency of monetary policy, improve liquidity management, and develop the government payments system, which is what most central banks in the world are working on today.”

He added that “a sovereign digital currency does not mean creating a new currency, but rather issuing a digital form of the Iraqi dinar, so that it becomes available for electronic trading through digital wallets and bank accounts, while its value remains equal to the paper dinar,” explaining that “the importance of the digital currency lies in reducing reliance on cash, lowering printing, transportation and protection costs, speeding up payment processes, enhancing financial inclusion, as well as reducing the unregulated cash economy and its associated tax evasion, money laundering and corruption.”

Saleh pointed out that “the digital dinar should not be blamed for addressing the cash liquidity crisis, as the crisis, if it exists, is primarily linked to structural economic and financial factors, including the structure of the general budget, the level of government spending, citizens’ confidence in the banking sector, the size of deposits, and monetary policy,” stressing that “the digital dinar is a means to improve the efficiency of cash management, and not an independent cure for macroeconomic imbalances.”

He continued: “The Central Bank of Iraq has made significant progress in the digital transformation process by expanding electronic payment systems, digital wallets, point-of-sale devices, and linking banks to modern settlement systems.” He pointed out that “these measures represent the foundation upon which future decisions can be made to issue a sovereign digital currency, but this requires completing the legal and legislative frameworks, strengthening cybersecurity, and providing a technological infrastructure capable of accommodating this transformation.”

He explained that “disbursing salaries to employees and retirees in digital form is technically possible, especially since a large segment of salaries are currently disbursed via bank cards linked to the localization of government salaries and pensions,” noting that “in the future, the possibility of depositing salaries directly into digital wallets or accounts linked to the digital dinar can be studied, which reduces the need for cash transactions, enhances the speed of payment execution, and limits the risks of transferring and handling money in cash.”

Saleh explained that "the success of this transformation depends on several requirements, most notably expanding the spread of banking services in all governorates, increasing the number of electronic payment devices and ATMs, improving the quality of communications and internet services, and raising the level of digital financial literacy among citizens, in order to ensure that society accepts these modern methods and uses them with confidence and security."

The Prime Minister’s advisor pointed out that “the launch of the digital Iraqi dinar represents a promising strategic project, but it is not a substitute for economic and financial reforms, rather it is part of them. Its success requires a more diversified economy, a more efficient banking sector, and disciplined financial policies, in addition to an integrated legal and technical framework.

When these elements are available, the digital dinar can contribute to enhancing financial stability, improving liquidity management, and supporting the transition towards a more efficient and transparent digital economy, in line with modern global trends in managing monetary systems link

Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Wednesday Morning 8-19-26

"Reform or monetary gamble?" The National: Fears that removing zeros will disrupt markets and shake confidence in the dinar

Baghdad - One News A report by The National has brought the issue of removing zeros from the Iraqi dinar back to the forefront, amid what officials described as serious discussions within the Central Bank, at a time when Iraq is facing increasing pressure on the budget and a decline in oil revenues.

The website quoted Ahmed Rashid, a member of the parliamentary finance committee, as saying that the project is still in the discussion phase and has not yet turned into a draft law or reached the House of Representatives, but he stressed that the current discussions are more serious than previous phases due to the economic and financial conditions that the country is going through.

According to the report, one of the main motives of the project is to try to address the huge amount of liquidity outside the banking system, as estimates indicate that there are about 70 trillion dinars outside the control of the monetary authority, out of about 125 trillion dinars in circulation.

Supporters of the project believe that replacing the old currency with a new one may encourage people with hoarded money to take it out of their homes and safes and return it to the banking system, thus allowing for an expansion of the amount of money passing through the formal financial system.

However, the report also pointed to concerns that the process of removing zeros could become a costly and confusing step for markets if it is not preceded by broader reforms in the banking sector, addressing the heavy reliance on the dollar, corruption, and weak confidence in financial institutions.

The National also pointed out that Iraq remains a largely cash-based society, with millions of citizens keeping their savings outside banks as a result of decades of wars, sanctions, crises and banking scandals, making any large-scale currency replacement extremely sensitive.

The project comes at a time of severe financial pressure, as oil exports, which had reached about 3.4 million barrels per day after the outbreak of war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, have declined, before returning since the beginning of August to an average of nearly two million barrels per day.

This was reflected in oil revenues, which represent at least 90% of the federal budget, as they decreased from about $6.8 billion in February to about $2.3 billion in May and June, at a time when Iraq needs about $6.5 billion per month to cover salaries, pensions and social welfare.

The report noted a conflict in official positions regarding the stage the project has reached, as Communications Minister Mustafa Sand said that the decision to remove zeros and change the currency had been made, suggesting the possibility of starting implementation in 2027 and the replacement process continuing for three years or more.

In contrast, government spokesman Haider al-Aboudi denied that the cabinet had made a decision on this matter, stressing that the file falls within the powers of the Central Bank and needs to go through the legislative process and be approved by the House of Representatives, while no detailed position was issued by the Central Bank regarding the mechanisms of the project or its timing.

The report indicates that the experiment, if approved, may include a transitional period during which the old and new currency will circulate together before the old banknotes are gradually withdrawn, similar to the experiences of countries that have previously removed zeros from their currencies.

The National concludes that the real dispute is not about removing three zeros per se, but whether Iraq can transform the process into a broader monetary reform that returns hoarded funds to banks and strengthens confidence in the dinar, or whether it will remain a cosmetic step with high costs and risks for the market if it does not address the structural problems of the economy. https://1news-iq.net/إصلاح-أم-مغامرة-نقدية؟-ذا-ناشيونال/

The Central Bank Of Iraq Concludes A Training Course On OFAC Sanctions Compliance Requirements.

The Compliance Office at the Central Bank of Iraq concluded a specialized training course titled "Compliance Requirements for OFAC Sanctions," held from August 9 to 11, 2026.

The course aimed to enhance the knowledge of staff in compliance and anti-money laundering/counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT) reporting departments regarding the requirements and mandate of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), sanctions programs, and implementation mechanisms. It also covered the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List, name verification procedures, and protocols for screening customers and transactions.

This course reflects the Central Bank of Iraq’s commitment to raising awareness of compliance requirements and enhancing the competence of banking sector personnel, thereby contributing to the improvement of oversight procedures and adherence to standards related to combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

Central Bank of Iraq  Media Office   August 18, 2026    https://cbi.iq/news/view/3292

Iraq Revives Debate Over Removing Three Zeros From The Dinar

2026-08-18 12:21 Shafaq News- Baghdad   Debate has resurfaced in Iraq over a long-discussed plan to remove three zeros from the dinar, with lawmakers considering whether to include a “currency redenomination law” in a package of economic measures.

The proposal has remained under study for years as the government faces liquidity pressures and difficulties financing public spending and salaries.

Supporters argue that redenominating the currency could simplify transactions and streamline cash circulation. Economists interviewed by Shafaq News, however, caution against treating the measure as a solution to underlying financial problems that cannot be resolved by changing the currency’s denomination.

The debate intensified after Communications Minister Mustafa Sanad announced on Saturday that the government had decided to remove zeros or change the currency, linking the move to stolen public funds. He estimated the value of those funds at about 8 trillion dinars ($6.1B) and suggested that a new currency could render them unusable after the transition.

The Central Bank of Iraq began studying the proposal in 2007. In 2024, former Central Bank Governor Ali Al-Alaq confirmed that the project was “still in place,” although no implementation date was set.

Economic researcher Ahmed Eid considers the timing “economically inappropriate,” given Iraq’s financial pressures, liquidity shortages and rising government obligations. Speaking to Shafaq News, he argued that the priority should be addressing the causes of the financial crisis rather than changing the currency’s nominal value.

“Removing zeros does not provide new liquidity, finance salaries, or reduce the deficit and public debt,” Eid explained, adding that the measure would neither increase citizens’ purchasing power nor raise the dinar’s real value.

Under a three-zero redenomination, 1,000 old dinars would become one new dinar. Salaries, prices, savings, debts and contracts would all be converted at the same rate, leaving people’s real wealth unchanged.

Eid also warned that introducing the reform at a time when Iraq relies heavily on cash transactions, while financial literacy and market oversight remain limited, could create additional risks. Price increases, speculation and confusion over contracts, savings and other transactions could follow if the transition were poorly managed.

His objection, he stressed, was not to removing zeros as a monetary tool, but to linking the measure to the current financial crisis. Changing the numbers on banknotes, he maintained, would not address the economy’s underlying imbalances.

Economic journalist Salam Zidan views the primary function of redenomination as reducing the number of digits and simplifying calculations. Government budgets currently expressed in trillions of dinars, for instance, would be stated in billions under a three-zero change.

A salary of 1 million dinars ($763) would become 1,000 new dinars if three zeros were removed, while a one-zero reduction would turn it into 100,000 new dinars, Zidan explained.

The measure would not, however, resolve economic distortions. Zidan pointed out that people holding illicit funds could convert their money into gold, silver, real estate, or US dollars before a currency exchange, limiting the ability of changing banknotes alone to uncover illicit wealth.

Any redenomination would also require new banknotes, updated banking systems, ATMs, electronic payment platforms, government and corporate accounts, and a transition period during which the old and new currencies could circulate simultaneously. Authorities would need to clarify the new values of prices, contracts and salaries to the public.

Financial and banking specialist Mustafa Hantoush explained that current spending is being managed under the 1/12 rule, based on the previous year’s actual expenditure. Using 2025 figures, this permits spending of up to about 152 trillion dinars ($116 billion), although reaching that level would be difficult under current revenue conditions.

Hantoush told Shafaq News that the government is seeking to contain expenditure by restricting outlays to essential priorities while relying on borrowing through the Central Bank and discounting treasury bills to cover a deficit estimated at 6 trillion dinars ($4.6B) a month.

The pressure has been compounded by a sharp decline in oil revenues linked to disruptions following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Iraq relies on oil for the majority of its budget revenues, leaving its public finances highly exposed to changes in oil exports and prices.

Against that backdrop, experts argue that spending reforms, revenue diversification and stronger productive and financial sectors would do more to support the dinar’s stability than changing its denomination.

Economic expert Karim Al-Hilu noted that the three zeros have come to be associated with periods of war and sanctions. The idea has been raised repeatedly over the years, including during Nouri Al-Maliki’s premiership, but has never been implemented.

Al-Hilu sees a new currency as potentially giving the dinar “new strength” while bringing some cash circulating outside the banking system back into circulation through formal channels.

At the same time, he acknowledged that a significant share of funds linked to people accused of theft may already be held in gold, dollars and real estate rather than Iraqi currency.

He cautioned that requiring citizens to prove the source of their funds when exchanging old banknotes could cause widespread disruption without clear procedures. An abrupt implementation, he warned, could bring parts of the market to a standstill.

Despite those risks, Al-Hilu believes the reform could eventually become necessary and, if properly implemented, could strengthen the dinar.

The discussion also coincides with proposals to bring cash held outside banks back into the financial system. One proposal estimated the total cash supply at about 113 trillion dinars ($86.3B), including roughly 106 trillion dinars ($80.9B) outside banks, and called for efforts to return about 10 trillion dinars ($7.6B) to the banking system.

In 2024 and 2025, experts warned that removing zeros would require months of preparation, tighter banking and security controls, monitoring at borders and airports, and scrutiny of the sources of funds, stressing the need for exchange-rate and political stability before undertaking the reform.

They also warned of the costs of printing new banknotes, counterfeiting, money laundering and social disruption. Calling for stronger productive sectors, they argued that the strength of a currency depends not on the number of zeros but on an economy capable of producing goods and services.

https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Iraq-revives-debate-over-removing-three-zeros-from-the-dinar