News, Rumors and Opinions Tuesday 8-18-2026

Rob Cunningham: All in or No Level Playing Field

8-17-2026

ALL IN or NO Level Playing Field

Q: Could a globally interoperable DLT (distributed ledger technology)  monetary system meeting ISO20022 and GENUIS ACT standards function as designed with fiat issued currencies lacking verifiable, sound, 1:1 collateral and be fair to all parties involved?

A: No.

A globally interoperable DLT monetary system cannot be fair to all parties if fiat lacking verified collateral is exchanged through atomic settlement.

Atomic settlement can guarantee that both sides exchange simultaneously. It cannot guarantee that the assets exchanged are honestly represented, equivalently sound, or fairly valued.

Unverified collateral breaks the fairness condition.

For the system to be fair, the value backing each monetary instrument must be transparent and verifiable so every participant knows what they are receiving and can freely price and accept – or reject – the exchange.

Atomic settlement guarantees execution.
Verified collateral enables truthful valuation.
Both are required for a fair monetary system.

Source(s):
• https://x.com/KuwlShow/status/2089151868446421317

https://dinarchronicles.com/2026/08/17/rob-cunningham-all-in-or-no-level-playing-field/

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Courtesy of Dinar Guru:  https://www.dinarguru.com/

Militia Man   They're talking about strengthening  the position of the Iraqi dinar.  If you're going to remove zeros, you're not strengthening anything - it's a redenomination.  It's like a reverse split in stock.  But when you add a Real Effective Exchange Rate to it, now we're talking about strengthening the position of the Iraqi dinar.

Reset Intelligence   Saturday night in Baghdad, Iraq's Minister of Communications, Mustafa Sanad, went on the iNews channel and told the country that the decision has been issued. The currency is changing, and the zeros are coming off...Iraqi ministers do not freelance monetary policy on live television and keep their jobs.  A statement like that only survives if the thing behind it is real, and nobody in Baghdad has walked it back. The economists on Iraqi airwaves spent Sunday arguing about how and when to do it, not about whether it exists. The formal announcement, when it comes, belongs to the Central Bank, and that is the piece we wait for...

Omar The decision has been made. The currency will change and the zeros removed...The new currency began arriving in Baghdad 10 days ago after it had been contracted for printing long ago.  The surprise isn't in the removal of the zeros, but in the speed, suddenness and mechanism of the switch so that no time is left to convert trillions of hoarded dinar into real estate, gold or smuggling them out of our banking system...When they come to our banks we are trained to ask them where did you get this 3 zero notes from?  And to prove to us the source of those 3-zero notes, then we will turn them into colored papers.

Washington Quietly Puts Gold Back on Table , its Secret Plan

Daniela Cambone:  8-17-2026

“Gold is back in the conversation in ways it hasn’t been for decades.” With Washington openly talking about gold again, could a gold-backed currency be on the table?

Graham Summers breaks down the signals, and what they could mean for your money.

Chapters:

00:00 Wall Street becomes wary of gold

04:32 Link currency with gold?

06:29 Why hesitate to say gold is critical mineral

08:03 Can we catch up to China?

11:34 Why AI is critical

13:57 Thoughts on gold / silver movement

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zd3CMexY3Uo

THE MEASURE: Rob Cunningham

THE MEASURE : Rob Cunningham

8-18-2026

What if the biggest breakthrough of 2026 isn’t AI, quantum computing, blockchain or digital currency? What if those are just tools?

What if the breakthrough is an idea humanity understood thousands of years ago:

HONEST MEASURES.

What does a waitress earning $200 in tips have in common with a Wall Street executive moving $20 million? We all need the same thing: A measure of value we can trust.

Imagine combining that ancient principle with AI, quantum computing, digital assets and transparent global ledgers.

What happens when true value move as easily as information?

When technology removes friction instead of adding fees?

When machines handle complexity while humans retain agency?

When billions of people can create, exchange and collaborate far more freely?

And humanity discovers our greatest untapped resource isn’t gold, oil, money or even AI? What if it’s 7+ billion human imaginations? Builders. Dreamers. Inventors. Artists. Parents. Farmers. Entrepreneurs. Problem-solvers.

What happens when our financial technology becomes better at unleashing their creativity instead of constraining it? Maybe the future of money… isn’t really about money.

Maybe it’s about creating better ways to measure and exchange human value.

The principle is ancient.

The technology is extraordinary.

The possibilities are breathtaking.

I made THE MEASURE for the waitress and the Wall Street CEO and everyone between them. Watch with one question in mind:

What becomes possible when the measure finally tells the truth?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgKZjnQ78Ls

Seeds of Wisdom RV and Economics Updates Tuesday Morning 8-18-26

Good Morning Dinar Recaps,

Oil Shock Meets the Global Financial System: Bonds, Currencies and Central Banks Reprice Risk

August 18, 2026

The Iran conflict is no longer only an energy story. Rising oil prices are now colliding with elevated government debt, higher long-term bond yields and changing expectations for central-bank policy—creating a new test for the global financial architecture.

Brent crude has moved above $90 a barrel, while the U.S. 30-year Treasury yield has climbed above 5.3%, its highest level since 2007. At the same time, investors have reduced expectations for additional Federal Reserve rate increases. The unusual combination is forcing markets to reconsider how inflation, debt and geopolitical risk interact.

Overview

• Oil is rising as uncertainty surrounding the Iran conflict and the Strait of Hormuz persists, increasing the risk that an energy shock could keep inflation elevated.

• Long-term government bond yields are surging internationally, with U.S., Japanese and European borrowing costs reaching multi-year or multi-decade highs.

• Central banks face an increasingly difficult policy environment: weaker economic signals argue against aggressive tightening, while higher oil prices and rising long-term yields argue for caution.

Key Developments

1. Oil has become a financial-market problem

Brent crude moved above $90 a barrel as hopes for a near-term resolution involving Iran and the Strait of Hormuz weakened.

The significance goes beyond the price of gasoline.

Oil is an input into transportation, manufacturing, agriculture and virtually every major supply chain. A prolonged increase therefore has the potential to push inflation higher at precisely the moment central banks are trying to determine whether monetary policy can become less restrictive.

The energy market is once again becoming a transmission mechanism for global inflation.

2. The bond market is responding with higher long-term yields

The U.S. 30-year Treasury yield reached approximately 5.327% on August 18, its highest level since 2007.

This is particularly significant because we covered the Treasury's 5.216% 30-year auction yield yesterday.

The move above 5.3% means the bond market has continued repricing even after that auction.

Investors are demanding greater compensation for the combination of inflation risk, fiscal deficits, heavy government borrowing and geopolitical uncertainty.

This is no longer simply a Federal Reserve story. It is a sovereign-debt story.

3. The repricing is spreading around the world

The U.S. is not alone.

Long-term borrowing costs have been rising in Japan, Germany, Britain and other major markets, with several reaching levels not seen in years or even decades.

Japan's bond market is particularly significant because the country spent decades operating in an extremely low-rate environment.

The simultaneous movement across major sovereign markets suggests that investors are reassessing the cost of long-term government financing on a global rather than purely American basis.

4. Central banks face a difficult contradiction

The most important question may be what happens next with monetary policy.

Normally, weaker economic data can increase expectations for lower interest rates. But an oil shock creates the opposite problem because higher energy prices can reignite inflation.

That leaves central banks caught between two competing forces:

• Slower economic growth → pressure to ease

• Higher oil prices → pressure to remain restrictive

• Higher long-term bond yields → tighter financial conditions regardless of short-term policy

• This means a central bank could eventually lower its policy rate while households, businesses and governments still face relatively high long-term borrowing costs.

That is a very different environment from the post-2008 era of ultra-cheap money.

5. The dollar is showing that higher Treasury yields do not automatically mean a stronger dollar

Another important development is the behavior of the U.S. dollar.

The dollar remained near multi-month lows on Tuesday even as Treasury yields rose, while traders reduced expectations for additional Fed tightening.

That is worth watching.

It demonstrates that currency markets are responding to more than interest-rate differentials. Fiscal concerns, geopolitical risk, expectations for monetary policy and confidence in future economic conditions can all influence capital flows.

For foreign-currency holders, this is an important distinction.

Why It Matters

The emerging story is not simply "oil is going up."

It is the interaction between several markets:

• Oil → inflation

• Inflation → central-bank policy

• Central-bank policy → bond yields

• Bond yields → government financing costs

• Debt costs → fiscal pressure

• Fiscal pressure → currencies and capital flows

That creates a feedback system in which a geopolitical event in the Middle East can eventually influence borrowing costs, currencies and investment decisions around the world.

Why It Matters to Foreign Currency Holders

Foreign-currency markets are particularly sensitive to changes in interest-rate expectations and international capital flows.

If U.S. yields remain elevated, dollar assets can continue attracting global capital. But if investors simultaneously become concerned about U.S. fiscal sustainability or expect the Fed to ease, the dollar can behave differently from what a simple yield comparison would suggest.

Today's weaker dollar despite elevated Treasury yields is therefore an important signal.

Currency values are increasingly being shaped by the interaction of debt, monetary policy, energy and geopolitical risk—not by interest rates alone.

Implications for the Global Financial Reset

1. Debt

Higher long-term yields increase the cost of financing government debt. The longer yields remain elevated, the greater the pressure on governments to manage deficits and future borrowing requirements.

2. Central Banks

Central banks may have less freedom to respond to economic weakness if an energy shock keeps inflation elevated.

3. Currencies

Currency markets are being forced to price the competing effects of higher yields, geopolitical uncertainty, inflation and changing expectations for central-bank policy.

4. Trade Architecture

A prolonged disruption around the Strait of Hormuz demonstrates how physical trade routes and financial markets are interconnected. Energy security is becoming an increasingly important component of economic and monetary security.

5. Global Finance

The financial system is being tested by a combination of high sovereign debt, elevated borrowing costs and geopolitical fragmentation. The resulting repricing could influence where global capital flows and how countries manage reserves, currencies and trade.

What to Watch

• Brent crude and whether oil remains above $90.

• The U.S. 30-year Treasury yield and whether it remains above 5.3%.

• Developments involving the Strait of Hormuz and U.S.-Iran negotiations.

• Federal Reserve communications and changing expectations for September policy.

• The U.S. dollar's response to rising Treasury yields.

• Japanese and European sovereign bond yields for evidence that the repricing remains global.

• Whether higher energy prices begin appearing more clearly in inflation expectations.

Bottom Line

The significance of today's market action is not that oil has risen or that Treasury yields have reached another high.

It is the collision between the two.

The world is confronting an energy shock at a time when governments are already carrying historically large debt loads and investors are demanding higher returns to finance them.

That creates a difficult environment for central banks.

They may want to support economic growth, but higher oil prices can keep inflation elevated. They may want to reduce interest rates, but the bond market can independently push long-term borrowing costs higher.

And governments cannot simply ignore those higher borrowing costs when they must continually refinance and issue new debt.

Why This Could Be a Global Financial Reset Signal

A financial reset does not necessarily begin with the introduction of a new currency or the collapse of an existing system.

It can begin with a repricing of risk.

The world is moving away from the assumption that governments can borrow indefinitely at exceptionally low rates while central banks can easily stabilize every shock.

At the same time, geopolitical fragmentation is encouraging countries to reconsider energy security, reserve diversification, trade settlement and dependence on any single financial system.

The result is not yet a replacement for the existing global financial architecture.

It is something more subtle: the underlying economics that support that architecture are changing.

Closing Perspective

The next major phase of the global financial reset may not come from a new currency—it may emerge from the collision between energy, sovereign debt and the limits of central-bank policy.

Seeds of Wisdom Team
Newshounds News™ Exclusive

Sources

• Reuters — U.S. 30-year yields hit highest level since 2007 as war, oil worries fester

• Reuters — Selling grips bond markets from U.S. to Japan as inflation, fiscal worries take hold

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🌱 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 Monday Evening 8-17-26

Telecom Minister Claims Dinar Redenomination Finalized, Drawing Criticism

Iraq   Jawad Al-Samarraie    August 16, 2026   Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) — Minister of Communications Mustafa Sanad stated in a televised broadcast that the government decision to redenominate the Iraqi Dinar and delete three zeros from the national currency is officially finalized.

Sanad asserted that replacing the current banknotes will force hoarded cash back into formal banking channels while eliminating an estimated 8 trillion IQD ($6.1 billion) in unexchanged currency tied to illicit gains, corruption, and lost funds.

However, the minister’s pronouncements have triggered backlash from economic monitors over fiscal messaging and central bank authority.

Key Statements & Fiscal Arguments

• Finalized Redenomination: Sanad stated the decision to remove zeros and issue a restructured currency is fully resolved.

• Tackling Hoarded & Illicit Liquidity: Replacing existing currency will compel citizens to deposit hoarded cash into formal banking institutions, bringing idle liquidity back into the national economic cycle.

• Projected 8T IQD Money Supply Contraction: An estimated 8 trillion IQD in physical banknotes may never be submitted for exchange due to illicit origins, criminal gains, or deceased/unclaimed holdings.

• State Balance Sheet Relief: Sanad argued that unexchanged legacy banknotes will permanently exit circulation, meaning the state will not be required to issue equivalent replacement notes, reducing the overall money supply.

Sanad’s declarations prompted criticism from economic monitoring group Eco Iraq Observatory, which rebuked cabinet ministers for announcing sensitive monetary policies outside official central banking channels.

The observatory warned that broadcasting national currency reforms through ad-hoc political interviews rather than institutional communiqués undermines market confidence, fuels currency speculation, and signals fragmented inter-agency coordination. Eco Iraq formally urged the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) and the Ministry of Finance to issue an official clarification detailing the veracity, operational mechanics, and statutory timeline of any currency restructuring plan.

https://www.iraqinews.com/iraq/sanad-dinar-redenomination-delete-zeros-eco-iraq-reaction-2026/

Iraq Has Finalized Its Decision To Redenominate The Iraqi Dinar By Removing Three Zeros From The National Currency.

raqi News @IraqiNews_com    The move is meant to force hoarded cash back into formal banking channels while eliminating an estimated 8 trillion IQD, about $6.1 billion, in unexchanged currency tied to illicit gains, corruption, and lost funds.

Since old banknotes that are never exchanged will permanently exit circulation, the state won't need to issue equivalent replacement notes, effectively shrinking the overall money supply.  

The announcement has drawn criticism from economic monitoring group Eco Iraq Observatory, which warned that announcing sensitive currency reforms through ad hoc interviews rather than official channels risks undermining market confidence and fueling speculation.  

The group has called on the Central Bank of Iraq and Ministry of Finance to issue an official clarification on the plan's details and timeline.  https://iraqinews.com/iraq/sanad-din

https://x.com/IraqiNews_com/status/2089232903687540927

The Parliamentary Finance Committee Responds To Statements About Removing Zeros And Sets A Condition For Raising The Value Of The Dinar.

Baghdad Today - Baghdad   Member of Parliament’s Finance Committee, Bassem Al-Gharabi, commented on the statements and news circulating regarding the project to change the currency and remove zeros, stressing the need to deal very cautiously with this issue because of its direct repercussions on economic stability and capital.

Al-Gharabi said in a post followed by Baghdad that “changing the currency is not ordinary news that can be released without considering its repercussions. It is a highly sensitive monetary issue that can affect citizens’ expectations, the movement of money, and the dollar and gold markets,” stressing that he is waiting for an official and clear position from the Central Bank of Iraq and the competent authorities that clarifies the reality of the project, its legal basis, its economic feasibility, and the timing of its implementation.

The member of the Finance Committee added that removing zeros in itself does not raise the value of the dinar or increase purchasing power, but rather shortens the numbers and facilitates some transactions, noting that real economic reform begins with stabilizing public finances, reforming the banking sector, controlling revenues, and strengthening confidence in the national currency.

Al-Gharabi raised a fundamental legal question about the powers of implementation, saying: Can the Central Bank implement the project within its current powers, or do the implications for contracts, debts, fines, court rulings, taxes and fees require special legislation from the House of Representatives? He called for official and accurate answers to be provided before any final decisions are issued in order to preserve market stability and the rights of citizens.

https://baghdadtoday.news/304832-.html

The Central Bank Remains Silent On The Removal Of Zeros Amid Market Confusion.

August 17, 2026Last updated: August 17, 2026  Independent/Report/ - The silence of the Central Bank of Iraq regarding the escalating news about changing the currency and removing three zeros from the dinar has left an information gap in one of the most sensitive monetary files, at a time when conflicting statements continue to come from officials, deputies and experts regarding a decision that the body authorized to issue the currency has not yet announced whether it has actually been taken, or is still under study, or what its implementation mechanisms are.

The silence surrounding the issue has become even more sensitive after Communications Minister Mustafa Sand stated in a televised interview that the decision to change the currency and remove zeros had been "issued," just days after a member of the parliamentary finance committee spoke of a discussion regarding the proposal to remove zeros during a meeting that included the prime minister, the finance minister, and the central bank governor. The government spokesperson had denied on June 22 the existence of any official decision or proposal in this regard.

Despite the Central Bank continuing to publish its usual news and announcements, including announcements of financial auctions on Sunday, August 16, no clarification regarding the currency change or the removal of zeros appeared in its official data list until Monday morning.

Three economic experts, who spoke to Al-Mustaqila and asked not to be named, said that the absence of a clear statement from the bank left markets and citizens with questions that the monetary authority is supposed to answer before any decision of this magnitude is made.

The first expert said that the problem is no longer about agreeing or disagreeing about the feasibility of removing zeros, but rather about the “irresponsible statements” that preceded any official announcement, considering that they confused the market and left basic questions unanswered, including whether the designs of the new currency were completed, the size of the amounts that can be exchanged, whether the exchange will be in cash or through bank accounts, and how large sums of money will be dealt with.

He added that the uncertainty may push some savers to increase their demand for dollars, especially in a country where large amounts of money are still outside the banking system, and where a segment of the public does not trust banks to the degree that would allow them to suddenly transfer their cash savings to them.

The second expert said that the currency restructuring project is not new, and that it went through study phases within the Central Bank years ago, but he added that moving from study to implementation requires extensive arrangements that include designing the new denominations, contracting with international printing houses, preparing sites to receive, sort and destroy the old currency, preparing banks to open accounts and deal with exchange operations, as well as setting rules for funds that require disclosure of their source.

This is supported by what the Central Bank officially announced in 2022, when it said that restructuring the currency and removing zeros requires a law to be enacted by the House of Representatives, and that a draft law had been prepared years ago and needed amendments.

The Central Bank Law also stipulates that the bank alone has the right to issue currency, determine its denominations, standards, and designs, and make arrangements for its issuance, which makes the absence of its direct position more important than statements issued by other government entities.

The third expert said that dealing with funds of unknown origin does not necessarily require removing zeros, and suggested instead subjecting large cash blocks when they are introduced into the banking system to source verification procedures, and linking the purchase or transfer of ownership of large assets, such as real estate and cars, to anti-money laundering controls when transactions raise suspicious indicators.

The three experts, despite their disagreement on the feasibility of changing the currency, believe that the issue cannot tolerate fragmented media management, because removing zeros does not automatically increase the purchasing power of the dinar, but rather it is a renaming of the monetary unit that requires changing prices, salaries, debts and contracts in the same proportion if it is implemented properly.

The question that needs answering from the central bank remains simpler than the ongoing debate: **Was the decision to remove zeros actually made?**

If a change has been made, the market expects the entity responsible for the currency, not ministers, members of parliament, or social media platforms, to announce its timing, the mechanism of the exchange, its limits, the fate of funds outside banks, and the guarantees that prevent market disruption or harm to citizens' savings.

https://mustaqila.com/البنك-المركزي-يلتزم-الصمت-حول-حذف-الأص/

Tuesday Iraq News Posted by Tishwash at TNT 8-18-2026

TNT:

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

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Tishwash:  Iraq to Drop Zeros From Its Currency as Dinar Redenomination Returns?

Iraq's Communications Minister Mustafa Sanad says Iraq has decided to remove zeros from the dinar and reprint the currency, but the Central Bank remains the country's monetary authority and has not publicly confirmed a timetable.

Is Iraq preparing to remove zeros from its currency after years of discussion over a possible dinar redenomination?

The question returned to the forefront Sunday after Communications Minister Mustafa Sanad said the decision had been made and that Iraq's currency would soon undergo changes and be reprinted.

"The decision to remove the zeros from the Iraqi currency has been made; the Iraqi currency will soon undergo changes and be reprinted," Sanad said in an interview with INews Iraq.

The statement would represent a major development in a monetary reform proposal discussed in Iraq for more than a decade.

But it also raises questions over timing and implementation because the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI), rather than the Communications Ministry, is the country's monetary authority.

The CBI has not, in the material reviewed for this report, announced a specific timetable for removing zeros. In June, the bank stressed its commitment to supporting the dinar and maintaining monetary and economic stability, while warning against inaccurate reporting about currency-related measures.

What Would Removing Zeros Mean?

Removing zeros, commonly referred to as redenomination, would change the numerical denominations of Iraq's banknotes without necessarily changing the currency's real purchasing power.

For example, under a hypothetical three-zero adjustment, 1,000 old dinars could become one new dinar, with prices, wages, bank balances, contracts and other financial values adjusted proportionally.

The policy would therefore be fundamentally different from a devaluation or revaluation of the dinar.

Earlier discussions by the Central Bank have presented deleting zeros as a technical and administrative reform intended to simplify accounting, reduce the volume of cash in circulation and make financial transactions more efficient.

The CBI's broader reform agenda has also focused on strengthening the banking sector and expanding international banking relationships.

In July, Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zaidi said seven Iraqi banks had been prepared to return to international correspondent-banking channels after meeting compliance and governance requirements.

Why Is the Idea Returning Now?

The proposal comes as Iraq attempts to modernize a heavily cash-dependent economy while managing significant fiscal and monetary pressures.

The country remains highly dependent on oil revenues, leaving government finances sensitive to fluctuations in crude prices and production.

At the same time, the amount of currency circulating in the economy has grown substantially, making the physical handling of large-denomination dinar payments increasingly cumbersome.

A redenomination could make everyday accounting and financial reporting more straightforward.

It could also complement efforts to move transactions into the formal banking system, particularly if the replacement of banknotes encourages citizens and businesses to deposit large cash holdings rather than keeping them outside financial institutions.

Not a Shortcut to a Stronger Dinar

A critical distinction is that removing zeros would not automatically make the dinar more valuable.

If the conversion were purely proportional, an item costing 50,000 old dinars could simply be priced at 50 new dinars after three zeros were removed.

Salaries and bank deposits would undergo the same mathematical adjustment.

The reform would therefore simplify the currency rather than instantly increase Iraqis' purchasing power.

The CBI has previously emphasized the importance of monetary stability, and in June it rejected misleading claims surrounding currency and state financing operations.

The bank said its strategy remained focused on supporting the dinar and maintaining financial and economic stability.

A Reform With Political and Practical Risks

Any decision to redenominate the currency would require extensive preparation.

The government and central bank would need to coordinate the printing of new notes, establish a conversion period, adjust accounting and payment systems, update contracts and financial records, and conduct a large public information campaign.

Businesses, banks and government institutions would also need sufficient time to adapt.

The transition could be particularly sensitive in Iraq because of the size of the informal cash economy.

Authorities would need to ensure that counterfeit notes, unregistered wealth and illicit funds do not enter the financial system during the exchange process.

At the same time, political agreement would be needed across Baghdad's fragmented political landscape, including coordination between the Central Bank, Finance Ministry, Parliament and other state institutions.

Banking Reform Moves in Parallel

The currency debate comes as Iraq's financial sector is already undergoing a broader reform process.

The CBI said in February that Iraqi commercial and Islamic banks and branches of foreign banks had completed a major stage of a comprehensive reform program, with institutions choosing among paths including remaining independent, merging or exiting the market.

The bank said further work would focus on addressing identified deficiencies and achieving full compliance.

The bank has also been working to expand the ability of compliant Iraqi banks to conduct international transactions in currencies including the euro, UAE dirham, Chinese yuan and Jordanian dinar.

Those reforms are relevant to a potential redenomination because changing the physical currency without strengthening the banking infrastructure would address only part of the problem.

What Happens Next?

Sanad's statement has revived a proposal that has circulated through Iraqi economic policy debates for years.

But the key question now is whether the statement represents a finalized government decision ready for implementation or a political announcement ahead of formal action by the country's monetary authorities.

The Central Bank will ultimately be central to determining how, and whether, the reform proceeds.

For Iraqis, the practical significance will depend less on the number of zeros printed on a banknote than on what accompanies the change: monetary stability, functioning banks, transparent conversion rules and confidence that the new currency will retain its purchasing power.

Until those elements are established, the prospect remains best framed as a major policy signal rather than an immediate change in the value of the Iraqi dinar.  link

Tishwash:  New changes in financial and development institutions... Al-Zaydi appoints new leaders

 Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi made new changes today, Tuesday, to a number of leadership positions within financial and development institutions, in a move that the government said comes within its directions to enhance efficiency and support the path of administrative and economic reform.

The changes included appointing Ali Abdul-Ridha Alwan as Chairman of the Trade Bank of Iraq (TBI), while Bilal Al-Hamdani was appointed Executive Director of the Iraq Development Fund, in a decision that places two new figures in front of important responsibilities in one of the most sensitive sectors of the Iraqi economy.

The importance of this step stems from the nature of the institutions that were included in the changes. The Iraqi Trade Bank is one of the most prominent government banking arms, while the Iraq Development Fund is linked to investment files, programs and development projects, which makes management efficiency a key factor in achieving the desired results.

According to official explanations, the aim of the changes is to raise the level of institutional performance and accelerate the implementation of development programs and plans, in addition to supporting administrative and economic reform.

But the success of this step will not be measured by simply changing names and positions, but rather by the tangible results that the new administrations will deliver, especially in light of the challenges facing the Iraqi economy and the banking sector, and the need for more efficient, transparent institutions capable of keeping pace with financial and digital transformations.

The new management of the Iraqi Trade Bank faces important issues, including developing banking services, strengthening governance, improving performance, and supporting confidence in the Iraqi banking system. Meanwhile, the Iraq Development Fund will have a greater responsibility to transform plans and allocations into real development projects that contribute to creating job opportunities and stimulating the economy.

In conclusion, the recent changes appear to be part of a governmental trend to restructure financial and development institutions, and the real test remains during the next phase: Will the new leadership succeed in transforming administrative change decisions into economic and developmental results that are felt by the citizen and the Iraqi economy? link

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

Tishwash:  Exclusive: Iraq nears agreement with German company to transport its oil through the Strait of Hormuz with Iranian approval

An Iraqi government source revealed on Monday that the State Oil Marketing Company (SOMO) is conducting intensive negotiations with American and German oil transport companies in an attempt to secure the passage of Iraqi crude through the Strait of Hormuz, taking advantage of Iranian approval for the passage of tankers flying the Iraqi flag amid the disruptions to shipping in the waterway.

The source told Shafaq News Agency that "Iraq is seeking to capitalize on Iran's approval for Iraqi-flagged oil tankers to cross the border to deliver crude oil to global markets," indicating that "SOMO has held talks with two companies specializing in global oil transport, one American and the other German."

He explained that "the American company refused to raise the Iraqi flag on its tankers, which is a basic condition set by Baghdad to ensure the safe passage of oil through the strait, and therefore no agreement has been reached with it so far."

According to the source, "the German company has agreed to raise the Iraqi flag on its tankers while transporting crude oil from Iraqi ports and passing through Hormuz to global markets," noting that "Iraqi oil will not be subject, according to understandings with the Iranian side, to any financial fees for passage."

However, the source pointed to another obstacle related to the American side, saying that Baghdad “needs American approval or authorization to complete the transit arrangements,” predicting that it would be obtained soon, in light of the American sanctions imposed on parties linked to Iranian navigation and insurance mechanisms in the Strait of Hormuz.

The United States imposed sanctions on July 29 on companies and tankers linked to Iran, including entities that Washington said were using insurance and shipping services to collect revenue from ships crossing the strait, further complicating insurance and financial transactions related to transit.

The government source pointed out that the deadline set by Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi for the Ministry of Oil to find solutions to the crude oil export crisis "may be extended for a second week," explaining that reaching final arrangements with shipping companies "is not easy," as the companies are demanding higher transportation fees and additional insurance guarantees commensurate with the level of risks in the strait.

On Monday, Al-Zaidi gave the Ministry of Oil a week to show tangible results in addressing the export crisis, and directed it to contract with international companies to market and sell oil, and to develop alternative export outlets, in light of the decline in exports due to the Hormuz crisis.

The new negotiations come after an official Iraqi move towards Washington and Tehran to obtain arrangements that would ensure the continuous passage of oil tankers, while Iraq's exports in July amounted to about 49 million barrels, more than 30 million barrels of which passed through the Strait of Hormuz, according to data from the Ministry of Oil.

Security risks and high insurance costs remain major obstacles to restoring Iraqi exports to normal levels. Shipping companies have refrained from sending tankers to Basra ports despite the significant discounts offered by SOMO to buyers. Ship tracking data from earlier in August showed a sharp decline in shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, as ship owners remained hesitant to enter the region due to the risk of being targeted.

In a sign of the difficult situation, Totsa, the trading arm of Total Energies, recently offered Basra crude for loading from locations outside the Strait of Hormuz, as buyers continue to be reluctant to send tankers to Iraq’s southern ports because of security risks.  link

FRANK26….8-17-26….CODE BOOK/WRONG COLORS !!!

KTFA

Monday Night Video

FRANK26….8-17-26….CODE BOOK/WRONG COLORS !!!

This video is in Frank’s and his team’s opinion only

Frank’s team is Walkingstick, Eddie and Omar in Iraq and guests

Playback Number: 605-313-5163   PIN: 156996#

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Q-Ny1rK3G8

Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Monday Evening 8-17-26

Iraqi PM Advisor: Digital Dinar a ‘Promising Strategic Project’

Daban Mohammed   At a Glance 

• The Iraqi PM advisor described the digital dinar as a strategic initiative designed to enhance monetary policy and improve liquidity management.

• The advisor clarified the digital currency is a legal tender extension of the paper dinar.

• The official cautioned the project is not a direct remedy for structural macroeconomic imbalances.

• Lawmakers proposed distributing state salaries directly into citizen digital wallets.

Mudher Muhammad Salih, advisor to the Iraqi Prime Minister, identified the proposed digital Iraqi dinar as a strategic initiative to boost monetary policy efficiency, enhance liquidity management, and modernize government payment systems.

Key Statement and Focus Area

• The PM advisor noted, "The proposal to launch the digital Iraqi dinar is one of the ideas worth studying within the framework of Iraq's orientation towards digital transformation and developing the financial system."
  

• Salih stressed 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 a part of them."
  

• "The Central Bank of Iraq has made significant strides in the digital transformation path by expanding electronic payment systems, digital wallets, and point-of-sale (POS) devices, as well as linking banks to modern settlement systems," he added.

Speaking to state media, the Iraqi News Agency (INA), Salih said a digital dinar issued by the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) with legal tender status could enhance monetary policy and liquidity management.

Salih explained that the initiative introduces a "digital version of the Iraqi dinar" for electronic trading while maintaining a value "equal to the paper dinar."

He clarified that the sovereign digital currency does not introduce a new currency, but rather creates a "digital version of the Iraqi dinar" available for electronic trading via digital wallets and bank accounts while remaining "equal to the paper dinar."

The digital currency aims to reduce cash reliance, cut operational costs, and counter financial corruption like tax evasion. However, Salih cautioned against viewing the digital dinar as a direct solution to Iraq's structural liquidity crisis.

He emphasized that the project serves to improve cash management efficiency rather than remedy broader macroeconomic imbalances.

The advisor highlighted that these measures form the foundation for a future sovereign digital currency. However, he noted that the transition requires completing legal frameworks, strengthening cybersecurity, and upgrading technical infrastructure.

Salih mentioned that paying employee and retiree salaries digitally is already "technically possible" due to existing widespread bank card enrollment. In the future, the government can study depositing funds directly into accounts linked to the digital dinar to limit the risks of "handling funds in cash."

He underlined that success depends on nationwide banking expansion, more payment devices, improved internet services, and higher "digital financial literacy" to ensure "community acceptance" and security.

FYI

The proposed digital Iraqi dinar aims to modernize capital movement and address a severe, structural liquidity paradox in the country. 

To combat the hoarding of an estimated 70% to 80% of currency outside the banking system, legislators suggestsd to distribute government salaries directly via the digital dinar, bypassing the physical cash gridlock.

On Friday, August 7, lawmaker Saad al-Awadi formally proposed launching the digital Iraqi dinar to secure and distribute state employee and retiree salaries directly into digital wallets. 

The explicit intent of this legislative push is to bypass the physical cash bottleneck and secure immediate purchasing power for citizens. https://channel8.com/english/news/63999

Raq’s Government Has Not Decided To Remove Zeros From The Currency,

Zoom News @zoomnewskrd   #BREAKING: Iraq’s government has not decided to remove zeros from the currency, spokesperson Haider Al-Aboudi says, adding that any such move would require legislation from Parliament.

https://x.com/zoomnewskrd/status/2089427732572557349

Iraq: Increased Demand For The Dollar Following Leaks About Changing The Dinar.

Demand for the dollar is high in the Iraqi market amid expectations of currency change and a rising exchange rate.

August 17, 2026Last updated: August 17, 2026

Al-Mustaqilla - An informed source revealed to Al-Mustaqilla that there has been a noticeable increase in demand for the dollar in the Iraqi market in recent hours, coinciding with escalating talk and leaks regarding a government plan to make changes to the Iraqi currency in the coming period.

The source said that the increased demand for the dollar is mainly due to the anxiety caused by the statements and leaks circulating about the project to change the Iraqi dinar, and the new monetary and financial measures that may accompany it.

According to the source, some market participants are converting part of their savings from dinars to dollars, in anticipation of any possible changes in the currency trading mechanism or exchange rates, which may increase demand for foreign currency and increase pressure on the dollar exchange rate in the parallel market.

The source indicated that there are expectations of a rise in the dollar exchange rate against the dinar during the next period if the demand for the dollar continues, stressing at the same time that the size and extent of the rise are linked to the measures that may be taken by the government and the Central Bank of Iraq, as well as the level of supply and demand in the market.

These developments come at a time when controversy is growing over the restructuring of the Iraqi currency and the removal of zeros, amid information circulating about preparations to issue a new currency and replace the current currency according to specific timeframes.

Conversely, any official change to the currency or exchange rate requires decisions and procedures announced by the competent authorities, and leaks circulating alone cannot be considered evidence of the project's implementation.

Iraqi markets are awaiting the position of the Central Bank and the government regarding this information in the coming days, especially since any official announcement regarding the currency or exchange rate would directly affect the movement of the dollar and local markets.

Iraq: Increased demand for the dollar following leaks about changing the dinar.

"A Sick Currency" In New Clothes... Will Removing Zeros Save The Dinar Or Just Beautify The Crisis?

Information / Report...   From time to time, the proposal to remove zeros from the currency and replace them as a solution to end inflation and simplify accounting transactions is raised in Iraqi economic and political circles.

With fluctuating exchange rates, the current cash liquidity crisis, and the pressures of public debt, the Iraqi citizen finds himself torn between government promises of stability and the very real fears of inflation.

Will changing the local currency and removing its zeros represent a genuine lifeline for the ailing economy, or is it merely a cosmetic measure for a sick currency that will not address the root causes of the structural financial crisis plaguing the country? 

Supporters of this measure believe it offers significant organizational and psychological benefits, most notably facilitating accounting transactions and reducing the astronomical figures in public budgets, bank accounts, and daily sales and purchase statements.

Moreover, it would restore confidence in the Iraqi dinar by giving it an appearance of strength and high value against foreign currencies like the dollar, thus improving investor confidence.

Additionally, it would alleviate logistical burdens by reducing the volume of circulating cash and saving on printing, transporting, and storing it, and would compel citizens to bring hoarded cash at home into the formal banking system to combat the shadow economy. 

Conversely, economists warn that removing zeros from the currency could become a mere illusion with potentially disastrous consequences, as it fails to address the root causes of the structural crisis linked to Iraq's total dependence on oil.

Furthermore, the process of withdrawing the old currency and printing and distributing the new denominations would be prohibitively expensive, and could potentially cause market instability, driving citizens to seek refuge in dollars or gold out of fear of economic collapse. 

In this context, economist Abdul Rahman al-Mashhadani emphasized on Monday that the decision to remove zeros and change the local currency falls exclusively under the purview of the Central Bank of Iraq. He cautioned against taking this step amidst the current financial crisis, given its potentially negative repercussions on the market.

Al-Mashhadani told Al-Maalouma News Agency, “The idea of removing zeros and changing the currency is not new; work on it and a comprehensive study on it have been underway since 2012.” He added that the justifications recently put forward, claiming the move aims to control the funds of corrupt individuals, are illogical and impractical.

He pointed out that "changing the currency will not have a direct impact on the big corrupt figures and those hoarding ill-gotten gains, as they have many ways to circumvent the decision, including distributing the funds to relatives and close associates or recruiting people to transfer them in exchange for financial commissions."

He added that "the currency replacement process will take at least seven months at best, and requires the Central Bank to develop a new structure and designs, which will be subject to in-depth discussions." He explained that "the printing process is not local but is linked to a British company, and the denominations are printed in four countries: France, Britain, Spain, and India."

Al-Mashhadani clarified that “the replacement process needs specific and well-regulated banking outlets to prevent overcrowding, chaos, and exploitation by unscrewulous individuals.” He revealed that "the amount of money hoarded outside the banking system is enormous and estimated to be Approximately 92 trillion dinars."

For his part, Murtadha al-A'ajibi, a member of the Iraqi Foundation Coalition, confirmed on Monday that talk of removing zeros from the Iraqi currency is actually a proposal being discussed, indicating that there are no current government efforts or plans to implement it.

Al-A'ajibi told Al-Ma'louma news agency, "The talk about removing zeros from the Iraqi currency is just a proposal being discussed, and there are currently no government efforts or actual plans to implement this step," explaining that "the matter has not yet reached the stage of implementation procedures."

He added that "removing zeros does not represent a solution to the financial crisis that Iraq is suffering from, nor can it address the root of the economic problem," noting that "addressing the financial situation requires real and well-considered measures that target the causes of the crisis, rather than resorting to superficial solutions."

Al-A'ajibi pointed out that "such steps do not contribute to addressing the financial crisis, but rather are merely stopgap solutions that do not fundamentally address the economic problems." He stressed the necessity of "focusing on economic and financial reforms that would address the root causes of the imbalances and enhance the stability of the Iraqi economy". End/25

https://almaalomah-me.translate.goog/news/141463/report/عملة-مريضة-بأثواب-جديدة-حذف-الأصفار-هل-ينقذ-الدينار-أم-يجمل?_x_tr_sl=ar&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc

The Monetary System Is in “Huge Trouble” | Frank Giustra & Michelle Makori

The Monetary System Is in “Huge Trouble” | Frank Giustra & Michelle Makori

Miles Franklin Media:  8-16-2026

Michelle Makori, President & Editor-in-Chief of Miles Franklin Media, interviews Frank Giustra, CEO of the Fiore Group, mining financier and founder of Lionsgate Entertainment.

Following Senator Rand Paul’s visit to Fort Knox, Giustra explains why seeing the gold is not the same as independently verifying its quantity, ownership and possible encumbrances.

Giustra also examines mounting pressure on the U.S. dollar and Treasury market, central bank gold buying, de-dollarization, the petrodollar and the yen carry trade. He explains why he expects quantitative easing to return and how the policy response to the next crisis could drive gold significantly higher.

Giustra also warns that the AI-driven equity boom is an unsustainable bubble and explains why a recession could initially pull down stocks, cryptocurrencies and gold.

He closes with his long-term outlook for copper amid rising demand and a deepening supply deficit.

In this episode of The Real Story with Michelle Makori:

What Senator Rand Paul’s Fort Knox visit did and did not confirm

Why Giustra is calling for an independent audit of U.S. gold reserves

Whether America could be quietly accumulating additional gold

Central bank gold buying and the acceleration of de-dollarization

The petrodollar, Iran and the Strait of Hormuz

Japan, the yen carry trade and risks to U.S. Treasuries

Why Giustra expects quantitative easing to return

The AI bubble, recession risk and implications for financial markets

Why gold could fall initially during a liquidity crisis

Copper shortages, critical minerals and the global supply deficit

Why owning physical gold remains Giustra’s highest-conviction position

00:00 Coming Up

02:38 Introduction

04:15 Fort Knox Timeline

06:10 Clips And Reactions

08:27 Why No Real Audit

11:53 Audit Motives And Doubts

16:46 Hidden Gold Theories

19:11 Covert US Gold Buying

25:05 China Gold And Paper Market

29:11 How Gold Reenters System

31:09 Five Year Reset Forecast

34:37 Petrodollar And War

37:52 Petrodollar Police Examples

40:02 Bessent Clip And Pushback

43:39 Iran War Endgame

44:36 War Fallout Grows

45:52 Inflation Oil And Gold

49:27 Japan Yen Carry Trade

53:24 Treasury Selloff To QE

56:35 Default Or Debase

59:38 Next QE Ends Dollar

01:02:09 Dollar Crisis Repression

01:05:51 Hard Asset Reset Path

01:08:52 AI Bubble Rate Cuts

01:15:41 Copper Supply Cliff

01:19:53 Own Physical Gold

01:21:29 Closing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyuLLGhI7To

Ariel: You all are in for Some Historical Times (and more)

‍ ‍

Ariel:  You all are in for Some Historical Times

8-17-2026

From The Back Channels

3.22 USD is the calibrated settlement rate the figure built into the back-end reconciliation architecture across CBI contingency contracts, cross-border oil pricing templates, and the tokenized asset framework established under Section 10505 of the Clarity Act.

This is the rate the system executes against. It was chosen because it absorbs legacy obligations, satisfies IMF Article IV parity thresholds, and aligns with the gold-backed recalibration without fracturing Iraq’s internal debt servicing capacity.

Every interbank handshake currently sitting in escrow is denominated against 3.22. That was something I wanted to share.

Because you all know I have always said 1:1 was a starting exchange rate. Not the final rate.

I Also Wanted To Address This Small Discrepancy

3.37 USD the 2guch reference represents the projected open-market float ceiling post-launch. This is where the currency is expected to settle once it hits unrestricted forex markets and speculative demand compounds against limited float supply.

The delta between 3.22 (calibrated floor/settlement) and 3.37 (market ceiling) is not a discrepancy. It is a designed corridor a controlled spread that allows the CBI to.

Whatever. Tomato/Tamata Right?

Channel 8 English:  Channel8 has learned that decades of geopolitical conflict, sanctions, and market resistance have left Iraq unable to bridge the gap between its official 1,320 IQD peg and parallel market rates exceeding 1,530 IQD, cementing a historic decline from its four-dollar peak in the 1970s. This modern volatility persists despite official interventions like the 2021 devaluation to 1,460 IQD and the 2023 revaluation, with street prices still occasionally spiking to 1,700 IQD.

Read more:https://channel8.com/english/news/63882

Source(s):
• https://x.com/Prolotario1/status/2089079465649570270

https://dinarchronicles.com/2026/08/17/prolotario-you-all-are-in-for-some-historical-times/

Ariel:  The Sudden Rate Change has a Base Reasoning

8-17-2026

The Sudden Rate Change Has A Base Reasoning:

1. Iraqi parliament conducting first reading of the 2027 budget next week, with agreement to pass “as soon as possible”.

2. Digital dinar deployed nationwide meaning the infrastructure to support a new valuation already exists on the ground.

3. KRG and Baghdad reaching full consensus on ASYCUDA at all border points with a 50-50 revenue split the exact condition Iraqi financial officials previously stated would trigger the dinar’s rise.

4. September 1 tax adjustments in Iraq creating additional fiscal pressure for reconciliation.

Here Is One Thing You Need To Note

The Iraqi government is preparing to submit the 2027 federal budget to the Council of Representatives, with the bill expected by late September or early October. This is not routine. A budget submitted with the old exchange rate baked into its revenue projections would be fiscal malpractice if a revaluation is imminent because every line item, every public sector salary, every oil revenue projection, every dinar-denominated expenditure would be calculated on a pre-revaluation basis, meaning the moment the rate changes, the entire budget becomes instantly inaccurate and must be recalculated and resubmitted.

So What Would Be The Next Best Move?

They won’t submit a budget they know will be obsolete in weeks. The 2027 budget submission is the fiscal wall. The rate has to move before the budget bill arrives at parliament, because the budget itself has to be written in the new currency’s value. Late September is the deadline for the budget. That means the rate change has to happen before late September. September 1 is the earliest date the enforcement infrastructure is in place. The window is September 1 through roughly September 20-25. That’s the operational corridor.

The New Currency Is Already In The Country

The new currency began arriving in Baghdad ten days ago. That places physical arrival at approximately August 6. It was contracted for printing long ago meaning the design, the security features, the denomination structure, all of it was finalized and sent to the printer months back. This isn’t a decision being made. This is a decision that was made, e******d, and is now sitting in a vault waiting for deployment.

Why This Matters More Than You Think

Physical currency doesn’t get printed, shipped across borders, transported to Baghdad under security, and then sit in a warehouse indefinitely. The logistics of securing newly printed currency in transit and storage are enormous armed transport, secure facilities, insurance, chain-of-custody documentation.

Every day that currency sits in Baghdad without being deployed is a day of operational risk. Someone talks. Someone photographs a crate. The element of surprise degrades. The longer the new notes sit, the higher the probability of a leak that would allow the corrupt to begin converting hoarded dinars before the switch.

The Bottom Line

The currency arrived August 6. It’s now August 16. That’s ten days of degradation on the element of surprise. They cannot hold this much longer. Every day past this point increases the risk that someone with access to the storage facility informs a network, and that network begins moving hoarded wealth into real estate, gold, or foreign accounts. The switch has to happen within days, not weeks.

Source(s):
• https://x.com/Prolotario1/status/2089055747942605021

https://dinarchronicles.com/2026/08/16/prolotario-the-sudden-rate-change-has-a-base-reasoning/

Iraq Economic News and Points To Ponder Monday Afternoon 8-17-26

Tehran To Tackle Iranian Business Hurdles In Iraq

2026-08-16 Shafaq News- Baghdad  Central Bank of Iran Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati pledged to address obstacles facing Iranian businesses in Iraq, Iranian media reported on Sunday.  During a meeting with Iranian business representatives in Baghdad, Hemmati said he would follow up on export revenues, customs tariffs, and unpaid dues to Iranian contractors.

Hemmati arrived in Baghdad on Sunday with an economic delegation and met Iraqi Trade Minister Mustafa Nizar al-Ani to discuss strengthening bilateral trade, facilitating the movement of goods, and implementing existing agreements.

https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Tehran-to-tackle-Iranian-business-hurdles-in-Iraq

Oil Prices Climb On Hormuz Shipping Disruptions

2026-08-17 Shafaq News Oil prices rose on Monday as fading expectations of a U.S.-Iran peace breakthrough and slower tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz reinforced geopolitical risk concerns in the market.

Brent crude futures rose as much as 1% to $89.40 per barrel and were last trading up 72 cents at $89.20 by 0229 GMT. The U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures ⁠rose 44 cents to $82.83 a barrel.

Both contracts gained more than 5% last week following attacks on tankers operated by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company in the Hormuz strait and on a Saudi Aramco refinery.

Over the weekend, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Iran had not decided to resume talks with the U.S. while U.S. President Donald Trump urged Americans to accept slightly higher gasoline prices while the conflict continues.

"Oil prices have now rebounded almost completely from the lows seen in early August, as hopes for a more permanent resolution between the U.S. ⁠and Iran have faded and geopolitical risk premiums have returned to the market," said Priyanka Sachdeva, head of market insights for Phillip Nova in Singapore.

"However, I see limited upside from here unless we get clear evidence of renewed aggression in the Strait of Hormuz, particularly material damage ⁠to tankers or oil infrastructure," she said.

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz slowed over the weekend, data showed on Monday, following attacks on tankers. Five commodity vessels transited the strait on Saturday, with none ⁠registered for Sunday, ship-tracking data from Kpler showed, versus 31 for the prior weekend.

The United Arab Emirates accused Iran of attacking a third vessel operated by ADNOC that was ⁠transiting the strait on Friday, the Emirati state news agency WAM reported, after blaming it for two other incidents involving ADNOC vessels in the strait on Thursday evening. https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Oil-prices-climb-on-Hormuz-shipping-disruptions

PM Al-Zaidi Orders Round-The-Clock Oil Operations

2026-08-17 Shafaq News- Baghdad (Updated at 18:35)  Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi on Monday ordered oil companies to operate around the clock to sustain production and boost exports as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz continues to restrict crude shipments, demanding tangible results within one week.

At an Oil Ministry meeting, Al-Zaidi called for faster pipeline upgrades, alternative routes, and contracts with international companies to market Iraqi oil, according to his office. He also pressed officials to use the crisis to accelerate infrastructure projects and reduce dependence on Hormuz.

Every barrel of oil left unsold meant a delay in salaries or public services and a loss to the state treasury, Al-Zaidi stated, insisting that officials deliver solutions rather than explanations.

https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/PM-Al-Zaidi-orders-round-the-clock-oil-operations

Gold Nears $4,400 As Rate Hike Bets Fade

2026-08-17   Shafaq News   Gold ​drifted higher on Monday, supported by a weaker dollar and recent ‌soft economic data that reduced expectations for a U.S. interest rate hike next month.

Spot gold rose 0.4% to $4,391.49 per ounce by 0520 GMT. Prices hit a more-than-two-month high ​last week.

U.S. gold futures for December delivery edged 0.3% higher to $4,448.40.

The U.S. ​dollar index (.DXY) was down 0.2%, making greenback-priced metals more affordable for ⁠other currency holders.

"Gold has taken the ball and run with it ​to start the week, with soft inflation numbers keeping the U.S. dollar under ​pressure and giving gold extra headroom to push towards the $4,400 level," said Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade.

"A sustained move above $4,500 would likely need additional dollar ​weakness or a clearer pullback in energy prices."

An unexpected decline in ​U.S. nonfarm payrolls in July, coupled with data showing only mild consumer price inflation, has reduced ‌expectations ⁠that the U.S. Federal Reserve will raise interest rates next month.

Traders are now pricing in a 30% chance of a September rate hike, down from 47% a month earlier, CME's FedWatch Tool showed.

Lower interest rates reduce ​the opportunity cost ​of holding non-yielding ⁠bullion, enhancing its appeal to investors.

Markets are now awaiting minutes of the Fed's July meeting, due on Wednesday, ​for further clues on policymakers' monetary stance.

On the geopolitical ​front, U.S. ⁠President Donald Trump's envoys met with Egyptian, Qatari and Turkish mediators in Cairo on Sunday, a diplomatic source said, aiming to advance his Gaza peace plan, ⁠even as ​Israel pressed on with airstrikes in the ​enclave.

Among other metals, spot silver rose 1.4% to $65.57 per ounce. Platinum fell 0.1% to $1,746.43, while palladium gained 1.4% ​to $1,331.10.  (Reuters) https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Gold-nears-4-400-as-rate-hike-bets-fade

USD/IQD Edges Higher In Baghdad, Erbil

2026-08-17 Shafaq News- Baghdad/ Erbil  The US dollar opened higher in Iraq on Monday, trading above 153,900 dinars per 100 dollars.

According to a Shafaq News market survey, the dollar traded in Baghdad’s Al-Kifah and Al-Harithiya exchanges at 154,000 dinars per 100 dollars, up from the previous session’s 153,100 dinars.

In the Iraqi capital, exchange shops sold the dollar at 154,500 dinars and bought it at 153,500 dinars, while in Erbil, selling prices stood at 154,000 dinars and buying prices at 153,900 dinars.

https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/USD-IQD-edges-higher-in-Baghdad-Erbil

Gold Prices Increase Across Baghdad And Erbil

2026-08-17    Shafaq News- Baghdad/ Erbil   On Monday, gold prices hovered around 970,000 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 960,000 IQD per mithqal (equivalent to five grams) for 21-carat gold, including Gulf, Turkish, and European varieties, with a buying price of 956,000 IQD. The same gold sold for 950,000 IQD on Sunday.

The selling price for 21-carat Iraqi gold stood at 930,000 IQD, while the buying price reached 926,000 IQD.

In jewelry stores, the selling price per mithqal of 21-carat Gulf gold ranged between 960,000 and 970,000 IQD, while Iraqi gold sold for between 930,000 and 940,000 IQD.

In Erbil, 22-carat gold was sold at 994,000 IQD per mithqal, 21-carat gold at 951,000 IQD, and 18-carat gold at 814,000 IQD.

https://www.shafaq.com/en/Economy/Gold-prices-increase-across-Baghdad-and-Erbil

We Left Gold in 1971... Now the World Is Leaving the Dollar

We Left Gold in 1971... Now the World Is Leaving the Dollar

Peter Schiff: 8-17-2026

Peter Schiff on plunging retail sales, sticky inflation, the Fed's stealth QE, and why the world is now leaving the dollar standard.

Retail sales just plunged, producer prices are still rising, and the Fed is quietly expanding its balance sheet again.

The July data tells the story the markets keep ignoring. Retail sales fell 0.6 percent, the biggest drop in over a year, and since those numbers are not adjusted for inflation, real spending fell even further.

Consumer sentiment sank to 51 as households braced for 4.3 percent inflation, more than double the Fed's 2 percent target. Producer prices rose 4.7 percent year over year, and instead of rallying on the weak data, the bond market sold off to its lowest weekly close of the year, with the 30-year at 5.27 percent.

 Meanwhile the Fed expanded its balance sheet by more than 21 billion dollars in two weeks, with the national debt about 80 billion dollars away from 40 trillion.

Peter marks 55 years since Nixon closed the gold window and calls it what it was: a 100 percent default on America's creditors.

His father Irwin testified against removing gold backing in 1968, and the 1970s proved him right. Now the sequel is underway.

The world is going off the dollar standard the way America went off gold, and the next leg down in the American standard of living has already started. Gold near 4,400 dollars and silver above 66 are the market's verdict.

Chapters:

00:00 Middle Class Squeeze

01:01 PPI Breakdown

04:08 Fed Balance Sheet Surge

05:23 Stagflation Signals

08:28 Bond Market Warning

11:39 Greenspan and 1987 Echoes

14:48 Stocks vs Bonds Diverge

15:33 Gold Shines Bitcoin Slips

18:16 Bitcoin Bear Case

21:08 Iran Sanctions and Oil

26:30 Nixon Gold Standard Legacy

28:52 Inflation Math Reality

29:30 Video Plug Fiat Failure

30:19 Electric Catamaran Tour

34:30 Cruising Plans Tax Credit

37:02 Gold Standard Break Explained

48:09 Dollar Standard Ending

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_2WGJuaBY8