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Here's the latest updates from the Gulf region...Iran buys time, hunkers down...calls Trump all threats, then backs down... Iran Shifts To Political Warfare, 'Playing To The Edge' To Test Trump, Expert Warns. ARTICLE: Iran is ramping up political pressure on the US in a bid to gain leverage, a leading Iran analyst warned Tuesday. "This is a regime that knows it cannot win an outright battle of conventional capability," Foundation for Defense of Democracies Iran Program Senior Director Behnam Ben Taleblu said on Fox News' "America Reports." "They're even fighting a battle of wills right now against the Trump administration, both on the battlefield & diplomatically," he added. "Clearly they have some steel, but this is a regime that has shown us, in word & deed, over the past 47 years, that it will play to the edge & that it will gamble. Unfortunately, we're in a very tough situation right now," Taleblu said. Taleblu also said no US president has inflicted more damage on the Iranian regime than President Donald Trump, but argued that the administration has recently pulled back from several earlier threats. "I think eight or nine & even a newspaper run by Tehran's municipality basically said all of Trump's threats are watered down & that the US is a Paper Tiger," he said." So this is a tough position for US deterrence to be in right now, despite the good track record that the president has had." Taleblu's remarks came as Qatar said Tuesday that mediators were making progress toward ending the war, although Tehran denied Trump's assertion that talks were already underway. WHAT TO KNOW: -As President Donald Trump seeks another deal with Iran, some analysts estimate the US has used more than half of its stockpiles of certain key munitions in the conflict. Though experts say current inventories remain sufficient, they warn the bigger risk is reduced readiness as replenishing stockpiles could take years. -The US continues to enforce a naval blockade on Iranian ports, while fighting in & around the Strait of Hormuz has sharply reduced shipping through one of the world's busiest energy corridors. -Bloomberg reports that Iran is weighing a proposal to allow European countries to help clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz, though no final decision has been made. -Trump and other administration officials are saying a deal to open the Strait of Hormuz could be as close as today or tomorrow. -Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, has fallen more than 8% from its recent high to about $80 per barrel. Trump Predicts Gas Prices Will Go Down $2.50 Per Gal If Strait of Hormuz Is Reopened. ARTICLE: In an interview with Fox News on Tuesday night, President Donald Trump said he believes gas prices will sink to around $2.50 per gallon in the US if the Strait of Hormuz can be fully reopened. "If we have no friction, then oil will go down to—I think it'll go down to two-&-a-half dollars a gallon," Trump said. According to AAA, the average price for regular gasoline across the US currently sits at $4.08 per gallon. Trump also told Fox News the U.S. held an "all-day negotiation" with Iran on Tuesday that went very well. Later that same day, the president told reporters before he left Los Angeles on Air Force One that a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz could be reached on Wednesday or Thursday. "They want to talk," Trump said of his counterparts in Iran. "We've been talking. They want to make a deal. They do not want to be hit."

Here's some articles of Dinarian interests... Direct From The SANDBOX Report. The top story is: Iraq downplays Saudi Arabia attacks from it's territory. Treat as rumors. Not verified. Your opine. FROM IRAQI SOURCES: Mediation Clears Way For Al-Zaidi's Saudi Visit. ARTICLE: Iraqi PM Ali Al-Zaidi is expected to visit Saudi Arabia next weekfollowing mediation int'l & domestic efforts that eased tensions between Baghdad & Riyadh, a source told Shafaq News on Monday. During the visit the two sides are expected to discuss security cooperation, economic ties & investment. Saudi Arabia intends to present Al-Zaidi with evidence that allergy shows attacks against the Kingdom were launched from Iraqi territory. Last week, Al-Zaidi announced the formation of a joint security committee to address threat against neighboring countries originating from Iraq. Iraqi PM on July 29 canceled a planned visit to Riyash hours after US & Saudi warplanes carried out strikes on Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) positions across seven Iraqi provinces. A government source told Shafaq News that the decision was made in response to the rapidly evolving security situation. The Government Is Moving Towards Borrowing 3 Trillion Dinars & The Internal Debt Is "Exploding" ARTICLE: The Iraqi government is entering a financial phase that is considered one of the most sensitive in years, after the salaries of millions of employees & retirees turned into the biggest challenge facing the public treasury. With shrinking liquidity & declining oil revenues, pressure on public finances has increased & the government is increasingly resorting to exceptional financing tools to provide the necessary liquidity to cover its monthly obligations, primarily salaries, which account for the largest share of public spending. These indicators come at a time when financial pressures are expected to increase in the coming months, with the expansion of government obligations & a decline in the margin of financial maneuvering, due to the disruption of oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz to global markets, which in turn is witnessing military tensions that may extend for months to come. Shafaq News Agency learned from three high-ranking sources in the Ministry of Finance & a source close to Iraqi PM Ali al-Zaidi, that the Iraqi government is facing increasing financial pressures that may prevent it from securing the salaries of state employees for the month of August from the currently available liquidity. According to the sources, the government is moving towards resorting to internal borrowing during this month from a number of private banks, confirming that it will borrow more than three trillion Dinars, with the aim of providing the necessary funds to pay the salaries of employees during this month. Al-Mada: The Value Of Selling 1,000 Of Saddam Hussein's Palaces & Part Of State Properties Reaches $150 Billion. ARTICLE: One News - Al-Mada newspaper reported that the estimated number of palaces & presidential facilities built during the previous regime was about one thousand palaces & facilities, including about 200 within the capital, Baghdad. The newspaper noted that the functions of these palaces changed after 2003, as some of them were converted into government HQ, others were used for political or partisan purposes, while some of them were converted into resorts & tourist sites. Al-Mada stated that the pressures related to securing salaries have revived the option of selling part of these assets, within a broader plan presented by PM Ali Faleh al-Zaidi last June to the forces of the Coordination Framework under the title “Exiting Socialism.”

Here's some articles of Dinarian interests... Zaidi-Trump Talks centered on the Iraqi economy, inventments & security. Treat as rumors. Not verified. Your opine. TNT via Tishwash: Iraqi PM Ali Faleh al-Zaidi To Visit Washington With High-Level Delegation For Economic & Security Talks. ARTICLE: Iraqi PM Ali Faleh al-Zaidi will travel to Washington this week accompanied by a high-level ministerial & business delegation for talks aimed at strengthening economic, financial, energy & security cooperation between Iraq and the US. High-Level Iraqi Delegation: Ali Faleh al-Zaidi will be accompanied by the ministers of Foreign Affairs, Oil, Finance & Electricity, as well as the Gov of the CBI. The Minister of Communications, Mustafa Sanad, may also join the visit. The delegation also includes investors & representatives from companies operating in the energy, electricity & banking sectors. Focus Of Talks With Washington: The Iraqi delegation is expected to discuss several key issues with US officials, including security, the economy, trade, finance & banking sector development. Energy will be a central focus of the talks, covering oil, electricity & natural gas, with discussions aimed at encouraging greater investment by US companies in Iraq. Meeting With Trump & Planned Agreements: According to the visit agenda, al-Zaidi is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump & other senior American officials. The Iraqi government has expressed its readiness to expand investment opportunities for US companies & several new agreements & strategic understandings in the energy & financial sectors are expected to be signed during the visit. Kurdistan Region Representation: Bayan Sami Abdul Rahman, Advisor to Masrour Barzani, will participate in part of the meetings between the Iraqi delegation & US officials. Her participation is intended to coordinate discussions on issues related to the Kurdistan Region & the future of its relations with Washington. Tishwash: Washington Sets A Condition For Its Partnership With Baghdad: Ending The Presence Of Weapons Outside State Control. ARTICLE: The US renewed its support for the Iraqi government's efforts to restrict weapons to the state, stressing that the involvement of entities that Washington classifies as "terrorist" in state institutions is inconsistent with the nature of the partnership it seeks to build with Iraq, coinciding with warnings that the US-Iranian escalation could push Iraq back into the circle of conflict. In an interview monitored by Al-Mada, the US Chargé d'Affaires in Baghdad, Joshua Harris, said that Washington believes that achieving full sovereignty for Iraq requires disarming all armed groups outside the authority of the state, considering that their existence contradicts the aspirations of Iraqis for stability & peace. He added that the US supports the Iraqi government's vision regarding the restriction of weapons & looks forward to its full & rapid implementation, stressing that the continued activity of illegal armed groups undermines the chances of security & stability in Iraq & the region. In contrast, security expert Saif Raad Talib told Al-Mada that Iraq is still threatened with becoming an arena for exchanging messages between Washington & Tehran, in light of the escalating military confrontation between them, noting that the presence of armed factions, the continued violation of Iraqi airspace & the weakness of air defense systems are the most prominent factors that increase this possibility. He added that any new escalation, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz, could put Iraq in front of a major economic crisis, due to its oil exports being mainly dependent on Gulf ports, which could directly affect public revenues & Budget financing. In this context, the spokesman for the Iraqi government, Haider al-Aboudi, confirmed that September 30 will be the date for the end of the mission of the int'l coalition in Iraq, noting that the relationship will then turn into an economic & developmental partnership. Al-Aboudi explained, in statements followed by (Al-Mada), that the government is proceeding with the implementation of the weapons control file in accordance with the constitution & the law, indicating that three parties have responded so far to the procedures for handing over weapons, while two other factions are preparing to complete the procedures, stressing that the disarmament process includes all types of weapons without exception or discrimination. Tishwash: The CBI Gov Under The Dome Of Parliament: Crucial Questions Awaiting Answers. ARTICLE: All eyes will be on the Iraqi Parliament in the coming days, after the Parliamentary Finance Committee announced its intention to host the Gov of the CBI to discuss a number of financial & monetary issues, most notably the mechanism for distributing Dollars to travelers & the repercussions of the recent measures related to the cash Dollar quota. The head of the parliamentary finance committee, Uday Awad, said that the committee will ask questions during the meeting about the reasons for reducing the traveler's share of Dollars from $3,000 to $2,000, stressing that there are observations on the mechanism for distributing Dollars to travelers, which he described as having problems related to complexity, corruption, extortion & favoritism. This hosting comes at a time when the monetary file in Iraq is witnessing widespread discussion, especially with the continued debate about the mechanisms for selling Dollars, the CBI’s procedures for regulating the market & the impact of this on ER, trade & import activity. Well-informed political sources indicated that the hosting session may witness the raising of sensitive issues related to the performance of the CBI during the past period, the mechanism for managing monetary policy, in addition to evaluating the measures taken to address the Dollar market disturbances. According to the sources, some parties within Parliament are considering the possibility of taking political steps if they are not convinced by the answers provided, amid talk of the possibility of raising the issue of changing the management of the CBI, but this remains linked to the results of the hosting & the political positions during the coming period. Observers believe that the Dollar issue has become one of the most prominent economic issues facing the government & parliament, as it is directly linked to prices, market activity & citizens' confidence in the banking sector. The next stage may reveal whether hosting the CBI Gov will be just an oversight session, or the beginning of larger moves that may affect the management of the monetary file in Iraq. Tishwash: Following The "Al-Zaidi Crackdown," The Government Is Diverting Recovered Funds To Support The Economy In The Largest Repurposing Of Corruption Money. ARTICLE: The government of PM Ali Faleh al-Zaidi is pursuing reform measures aimed at strengthening public financial management & enhancing the efficiency of financial institutions. This is being achieved through the adoption of new procedures based on the principles of transparency, good governance & the sound investment of state resources. Within this framework, the government's move to regulate the management of confiscated & recovered funds & assets by establishing a unified account is seen as a step towards transforming these resources from frozen or scattered funds into effective tools that can contribute to supporting the economy & financing development projects. Observers believe these measures represent a shift in the way public resources are managed, moving towards a more organized & sustainable approach. This will enhance the confidence of citizens & investors & support the government's efforts in economic reform, combating waste & maximizing non-oil revenues. In this regard, the PM's financial advisor, Mazhar Muhammad Saleh, affirms that establishing a unified account for managing confiscated & recovered funds and assets is a crucial step in strengthening the state's financial management. He points out that this step will contribute to centralizing and managing these resources within a more efficient & transparent institutional framework. Saleh told Iraq Observer that “establishing the unified account allows for the organized management of recovered funds, enhancing their utilization in supporting the nat'l economy.” He explained that this initiative is part of the government’s efforts to regulate the management of confiscated & recovered assets & improve the efficiency of their utilization. He added that the strategic use of these funds can yield greater economic returns, whether through their inclusion in development plans or investment in strategic projects that contribute to growth & job creation. Saleh clarified that these resources represent an additional opportunity to strengthen public finances, emphasizing the importance of managing them according to the principles of governance, transparency & efficiency. This will make them a source of funding for infrastructure projects & productive sectors, helping to diversify income sources & reduce dependence on oil revenues in the medium & long term. The PM’s financial advisor pointed out that having additional financial resources gives the state greater flexibility in facing economic & regional challenges & helps it maintain financial stability & continue implementing its development programs. He explained that the success of this step would enhance citizens' & investors' confidence in the state's financial management, especially given the importance of regularly announcing the amount of recovered funds and assets, their management mechanisms & their uses, thus reinforcing the principles of transparency & accountability. Saleh pointed out that the initiative's importance extends beyond simply recovering funds; it also encompasses building an institutional environment based on integrity & good governance. He noted that combating corruption contributes to reducing financial waste, lowering project costs & improving the efficiency of public spending. Saleh emphasized that strengthening governance & reducing corruption levels lead to increased efficiency in managing public projects & improved quality of services and infrastructure. He clarified that the true return on integrity lies not only in recovering funds but also in improving the performance of the nat'l economy. He concluded by saying that the initiative's success will not be measured solely by the amount of recovered funds but also by the state's ability to transform these resources, along with the savings resulting from curbing corruption, into productive investments & sustainable development projects. He affirmed that combating corruption represents an economic choice that impacts growth, financial stability, attracting investments & improving the level of services. On June 28, 2026, the Iraqi government, through its official spokesperson Haider al-Aboudi, announced the launch of Operation Dawn Charge, emphasizing that the operation would not cease & that it represented a radical shift in the state's policy toward corruption. He stressed that the pursuit of those involved would continue regardless of their positions or influence. The 1st phase of the operation resulted in the arrest of dozens of officials & prominent political figures, including current & former members of parliament & included raids in various parts of Iraq, including the heavily fortified Green Zone in Baghdad. PM Ali Faleh al-Zubaidi also directed the Ministry of Finance to establish a special account for depositing recovered funds, with the aim of protecting public money & enhancing transparency in resource management. Al-Zaydi affirmed that the current campaign represents "the 1st phase," to be followed by others, emphasizing that the government is tasked with protecting the interests of the Iraqi people & will not compromise on this responsibility. He also instructed oversight bodies to receive any reports concerning government performance or the performance of ministries in order to uncover cases of corruption or negligence.

Here's some articles of Dinarian interests... Iraq Reveals The Topics Of US-Iraqi Talks. Treat as rumors. Not verified. Your opine. KTFA via Clare: Iraqi Deputy PM & FM Fuad Hussein in Washington Today. ARTICLE: WASHINGTON DC, United States: Iraq’s Foreign Minister & Deputy PM Fuad Hussein is in Washington & he will meet later today with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Hussein became Iraqi Foreign Minister in 2020, after two years as Finance Minister. A Kurd, Hussein was the long-time Chief of Staff to Masoud Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region, until his retirement from that position in 2017. Hussein was most recently in Washington in March 2024, in the last year of the Biden administration, to prepare for the first visit to Washington of Iraq’s then newly-elected PM, Mohammed Shi’a al-Sudani. The purpose of Hussein’s current visit is less clear, but it comes as the Trump administration has held a series of high-level meetings and discussions with its Middle Eastern allies. Indeed, one of those first exchanges was a phone call between Rubio and Sudani in late February. Their discussion appeared to have been quite friendly, while they agreed on the need to resume Kurdish oil exports through the Iraq-Turkish pipeline, even as that has yet to happen. Other meetings & phone calls between Washington & its allies in the Middle East followed. They include an April 11 telephone conversation between Rubio & Masrour Barzani, PM of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region. The next day, Sudani paid a rare visit to Erbil. In the meeting between the Kurdish & Iraqi PMs, almost certainly, Barzani’s exchange with Rubio was among the issues they discussed. Issues On The Agenda Between The U.S. &Iraq: Asked at a press briefing yesterday about Hussein’s visit to Washington, State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce confirmed that he “will be here at the State Department tomorrow for various meetings,” and “I will be in one of those meetings.” However, in a post to X, Hussein provided a bit more information. But “as far as to the specifics of what will happen, I have nothing to preview for you at this time,” she added. “We will hold a series of bilateral meetings to strengthen Iraqi-American relations & coordinate efforts on regional & international issues,” Hussein wrote. “We will also discuss ways to enhance mutual security & cooperation in various fields.” Presumably, that will include Syria & Iran, as well as the status of the campaign against ISIS. In addition, it will be quite interesting to see if there is any significant progress in resuming Kurdish oil exports.

Here's some articles of Dinarian interests... -The Int'l Development Bank Is The Official Sponsor Of The Iraqi Business Summit. -Erbil & Washington Agree On The Need To Resume The Region's Oil Exports. -Iraq & Iran Agree To Activate Coordination In Dealing With Regional & Int'l Developments. -Beirut Is Banking On Its Telations With Baghdad & Opening Its Doors To Iraqi Investors. Treat as rumors. Not verified. Your opine. TNT via Tishwash: To Boost The Economy, The Int'l Development Bank Is The Official Sponsor Of The Iraqi Business Summit. ARTICLE: The International Development Bank announced its official sponsorship of the Iraqi Business Summit (IBS). The summit will be held on Saturday, April 12, 2025, inCelebration Square-stageAl-MansourDowntownBaghdad. The summit will be held with broad participation from local and international economic institutions and investment companies. Tishwash: Erbil & Washington Agree On The Need To Resume The Region's Oil Exports. Kurdistan Regional Government PM Masrour Barzani discussed the latest developments in the region in a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stressing the importance of strengthening bilateral relations. During the phone call, the two sides agreed, according to a statement from the Kurdistan Regional Government, on the importance of strengthening & consolidating the bonds of friendship and alliance between the Kurdistan Region & the US. In another part of the phone call, the PM & the US Secretary of State agreed on the necessity & importance of resuming the export of Kurdistan Region oil through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline, according to the statement. For his part, the US Secretary of State expressed deep appreciation for the role played by the Kurdistan Region as a safe haven for all ethnic & religious components, praising its essential contribution to maintaining the stability & security of the region. The two sides also agreed on the importance of maintaining consultation & coordination between them, to preserve common interests. Tishwash: Iraq & Iran Agree To Activate Coordination In Dealing With Regional & Int'l Developments. President Abdellatif Rachid and his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, agreed on Friday to enhance coordination in dealing with regional & inte'l developments. The Presidency of the Republic stated, in a statement received by (Mawazine News), that “President of the Republic, Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid, discussed, in a phone call today, with the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries & ways to develop cooperation in various fields of mutual interest, in a way that serves the interests of the two peoples & enhances security & stability in the region.” According to the statement, “The two sides discussed a number of regional & int'l issues during the call, where the importance of continuing cooperation between the two countries & intensifying constructive dialogue to confront challenges & enhance the foundations of development & stability was emphasized.” He continued: “It was also agreed to activate coordination in dealing with regional & int'l developments, in a way that contributes to supporting political stability & reducing tensions in the region.” Tishwash: Beirut Is Banking On Its Telations With Baghdad & Opening Its Doors To Iraqi Investors. Lebanese Labor Minister Mohammed Haidar affirmed on Saturday that the relationship between Beirut & Baghdad is solid, noting the Lebanese government's efforts to facilitate the work of Iraqi investors. The Lebanese Minister of Labor said in a press statement that "the relationship between the new Lebanese government & the Iraqi government is solid & strong & the fraternal bond between the Lebanese & Iraqis goes back a long history. This bond was evident during the Zionist war on Lebanon & the Iraqis' embrace of the Lebanese who were forced to flee to Baghdad." He added that "PM Nawaf Salam's opinion on developing the relationship with Baghdad expresses the government's direction & the demands of the Lebanese people." Haidar addressed "the visit of the Director General of Lebanese General Security, Major General Hassan Choucair, to Iraq this week, which aims to enhance communication at the security level & discuss the exchange of services & the import of oil from Iraq," pointing to "positive results that will be built upon in the coming period regarding Iraq's contribution to improving the operation of Lebanese power plants & supplying them with fuel." He pointed out that "President General Joseph Aoun announced an Arab tour that he will undertake & that one of his priorities is to visit Iraq & thus represent Lebanon at the Arab Summit in Baghdad with the participation of an official Lebanese delegation to meet with Iraqi officials there." He indicated that "Iraq's support for Lebanon in establishing security is fundamental, as is helping to expel the Zionist enemy from Lebanese territory & asking our Arab brothers, specifically the Iraqis, to return to investing in Beirut, so that Lebanon can regain its leading role in the region." The minister stressed the "continuation of work on the memoranda of understanding signed by the previous government with the Iraqi Ministry of Labor & the amendment of any amendments that can be made, in coordination with his Iraqi counterpart, Ahmed Al-Asadi, whom he will meet in Egypt next week & with whom he will address the issue of improving opportunities for Lebanese workers in Iraq & Iraqi workers in Lebanon, & opening up new areas of work." He pointed out that "foreign workers in Lebanon only benefit from a portion of the health benefits, but based on the principle of reciprocity, if the ministry finds that a Lebanese worker in Iraq receives comprehensive insurance, the Iraqi worker in Lebanon will be granted comprehensive insurance. This matter is currently under investigation & will be resolved soon." He stated that "the labor market & the need for foreign workers, including Iraqis, were studied to determine the actual need & Iraqi workers were informed of the sectors with vacancies so they could employ their expertise. The government is also working to attract Iraqi investors, provide them with full facilities & initiate investment projects in Lebanon, especially since the period of security instability will soon end." This bond was evident during the Zionist war on Lebanon & the Iraqis' embrace of the Lebanese who were forced to flee to Baghdad." He added that "PM Nawaf Salam's opinion on developing the relationship with Baghdad expresses the government's direction & the demands of the Lebanese people." Haidar addressed "the visit of the Director General of Lebanese General Security, Major General Hassan Choucair, to Iraq this week, which aims to enhance communication at the security level & discuss the exchange of services and the import of oil from Iraq," pointing to "positive results that will be built upon in the coming period regarding Iraq's contribution to improving the operation of Lebanese power plants & supplying them with fuel." He pointed out that "President General Joseph Aoun announced an Arab tour that he will undertake & that one of his priorities is to visit Iraq & thus represent Lebanon at the Arab Summit in Baghdad with the participation of an official Lebanese delegation to meet with Iraqi officials there." He indicated that "Iraq's support for Lebanon in establishing security is fundamental, as is helping to expel the Zionist enemy from Lebanese territory & asking our Arab brothers, specifically the Iraqis, to return to investing in Beirut, so that Lebanon can regain its leading role in the region." The minister stressed the "continuation of work on the memoranda of understanding signed by the previous government with the Iraqi Ministry of Labor & the amendment of any amendments that can be made, in coordination with his Iraqi counterpart, Ahmed Al-Asadi, whom he will meet in Egypt next week & with whom he will address the issue of improving opportunities for Lebanese workers in Iraq and Iraqi workers in Lebanon & opening up new areas of work." He pointed out that "foreign workers in Lebanon only benefit from a portion of the health benefits, but based on the principle of reciprocity, if the ministry finds that a Lebanese worker in Iraq receives comprehensive insurance, the Iraqi worker in Lebanon will be granted comprehensive insurance. This matter is currently under investigation & will be resolved soon." He stated that "the labor market & the need for foreign workers, including Iraqis, were studied to determine the actual need & Iraqi workers were informed of the sectors with vacancies so they could employ their expertise. The government is also working to attract Iraqi investors, provide them with full facilities & initiate investment projects in Lebanon, especially since the period of security instability will soon end."

Here's some article of Dinarian interests... Treat as rumors. Not verified. Your opine. TNT viaTishwash: CBI Announces Details Of Its Meetings With UST & The Federal Reserve. ARTICLE: The CBI announced the end of the 1st quarterly meetings for the year 2025 with the UST & the US Federal Reserve, which were held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates with the participation of international auditing & consulting firms (EY, K2 Integrity, Oliver Wyman). The meetings culminated in praise for the steps taken by the CBI & the Iraqi government in reforming the banking sector, the most important of which were: The development of the USD cash distribution system in Iraq, which they considered the most controlled & monitored system in the world, which limits manipulation & smuggling of the USD. The qualitative shift in foreign transfer operations & the steps taken by the CBI to address the risks arising from these operations, which have now risen to the levels of transfer operations carried out by international banks. The consulting firms (EY & Oliver Wyman) reviewed the plans to reform & upgrade the public & private banking sectors in line with int'l standards & to facilitate the involvement of Iraqi banks in the int'l financial relations network. Since the operations carried out by banks operating in Iraq depend largely on the trust of int'l correspondent banks in the Iraqi banking sector, we emphasize the need to ensure that the official channels of this bank are adopted to know the latest news & not to transmit incorrect news such as some Iraqi banks being subject to int'l sanctions & others. -Tishwash: Al-Sudani Discusses With Airbus Aircraft Company Modernizing The Air Fleet. PM Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani confirmed to Airbus today, Saturday, the acceleration of the implementation of the contract to equip Iraq with combat helicopters . Al-Sudani's media office stated in a statement received by "Mil" that "the latter received, at his residence in Munich, the Executive Vice President of Airbus Helicopters, Stefan Thomme, and during the meeting, discussions were held on developing joint cooperation in the fields of training, maintenance & modernization of the air fleet, in light of the bilateral contract to equip Iraq with combat helicopters, with an emphasis on accelerating the procedures for implementing the terms of the contract ." According to the statement, Al-Sudani stressed "the government's keenness and efforts to cooperate & partner with reputable international companies & to provide all the necessary facilities to provide the appropriate ground for their work in Iraq ." -Tishwash: Al-Sudani Discusses With An American Senator Enhancing Cooperation Between Iraq & The US. PM Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani discussed, today, Saturday, with an American senator enhancing cooperation between Iraq & the US. A statement from Al-Sudani's office, received by "Mil", stated that the latter "received at his residence in Munich, the US Senator from the Democratic Party, Senator Elissa Slotkin." The statement added, "The meeting discussed relations & ways to enhance cooperation between Iraq & the US, in various fields in light of the joint agreements & understandings, for a long-term strategic relationship that serves the interests of both parties ." For her part, Senator Slotkin affirmed "her country's support for Iraq, its aspirations & its positions aimed at achieving security & stability in the region, in a way that secures the interests of the countries of the region & enhances sustainable stability ." -Tishwash: Advisor to the PM: The Principle Of Partnership With The Private Sector Will Strengthen The Digital Bond In Its Best Form. Advisor to the PM for Financial Affairs, Mazhar Mohammed Saleh, confirmed today, Sunday, that the principle of partnership between the state & the private sector will strengthen the digital bond in its best form, indicating that digital industrial licenses facilitate obtaining industrial investment licenses through electronic platforms & he stressed that entering into electronic governance will provide a high level of disclosure & transparency & a high level of information for the flow of trademarks. Saleh said, in an interview with the Iraqi News Agency, followed by "Al-Eqtisad News", that "the Iraqi government seeks, according to the government program, to transform the processes of registering trademarks through digital platforms that facilitate the registration & protection of their trademarks for merchants & industrialists according to high governance & speed, in addition to digital industrial licenses that lead to facilitating the obtaining of industrial investment licenses through electronic platforms." He added, "Industrial analysis and data services are a mechanism for providing industrial data & statistics via digital systems to facilitate decision-making related to the industry, as well as digital training & consulting, development & capacity building, such as organizing training courses on digital transformation tools and participating in online consulting programs at the same time." Saleh explained that "entering into e-governance will provide a high level of disclosure & transparency & a high level of information for the flow of important brands that are consistent with the development of industrial development activity in the country & interaction with technology sources in the world reflected by brands of global companies that are important in technological development," noting that "this in turn leads to accelerating the encouragement of research & development projects to enhance national industrial innovation in a renewed digital industrial age for Iraq." He stressed that "the principle of partnership between the state & the private sector will strengthen the digital bond in its best form," explaining that "the objectives of the private sector development strategy also aim to have its contribution to the gross domestic product reach approximately 53 percent within a decade instead of its current status of 37 percent through diversifying investment in fields with industry at the forefront to generate diverse national production, which will lead to accelerating the reduction of unemployment to one decimal place & making it at the natural limit & not exceeding 4 percent of the total workforce." He pointed out that "the industrial cities that will be built on the development path will represent the highest types of industrial modernization by taking advantage of the digital platforms that are being built for this purpose to accelerate obtaining the relevant industrial & commercial licenses.

Here's an article of Dinarian interests... Treat as a rumor. Not verified. Your opine. FROM IRAQI SOURCES: New Outcomes From The Talks Of The PM & The US Deputy Secretary Of The Treasury. ARTICLE: Revealed, today, new details on the talks between the PM Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani & US Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meetings two days ago. He says source A government source told Sumaria News that “the discussions that took place between the PM Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani & US Deputy Treasury Secretary Wali Adeyemo on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meetings two days ago & the resulting statements & declarations, clearly reflect the Iraqi government’s ongoing efforts in the field of financial & banking reform as a vital & central goal within the program that the government has sought to implement during the past two years. He added, “The Iraqi government has previously contracted with…a company Ernst & Young Global to restructure some government banks, including two banks Mesopotamia & Rashid & work on this has begun. Mission For several months, the CBI has contracted with a company Oliver Wyman Global Banking Development Al-Ahly The contract will be implemented in the coming period.” Regarding the remaining points discussed in the meeting, such as strengthening financial relations with USE fforts to combat money laundering & terrorist financing, the source confirms that “Iraq communicates regularly with countries & international financial organizations to implement compliance standards & systems to combat money laundering & terrorist financing & it continues its efforts in this field through its cooperation & continuous coordination with both MENAFATF & FATF organizations concerned with combating money laundering & terrorist financing, in addition to holding Iraq for agreements & memoranda of understanding with other countries to implement the latest standards in this field. He points out the “importance of some points referred to in the statement of the UST that followed the meeting, including in particular: 1- The commitment shown by the UST regarding supporting the CBI as well as the reform plans that the PM seeks in the financial & banking field. 2- The UST statement clearly focused on the 6.0 percent growth in Iraq’s non-oil economy, in light of the efforts made by the Iraqi government to diversify the economy & not rely exclusively on the oil sector. The source states that “the UST statement Reflects Clearly, the positive view adopted by international bodies, banks, investors, & economic experts, regarding the efforts made by the Iraqi government & the PM in the economic field in general & the financial & banking field in particular.

Here's an article of Dinarian interests... -Baghdad & Washington Are Discussing The Stability Of The Dinar’s ER Against The Dollar. Treat as a rumor. Not verified. Your opine. FROM OTHER SOURCES: Baghdad & Washington Are Discussing The Stability Of The Dinar’s ER Against The Dollar. ARTICLE: Deputy PM & Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein discussed with the Undersecretary of the US Treasury for Terrorism & Money Laundering the issue of stabilizing the Dinar’s ER against the Dollar. A statement from the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported to Al-Sumaria News, “The Deputy PM & Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chairman of the Ministerial Council for the Economy, Fuad Hussein, met on Friday, July 12, 2024, with the Under Secretary of the US Treasury for Terrorism & Money Laundering, Brian Nelson, in the presence of the two accompanying delegations at the headquarters. The ministry was in Washington, D.C. & discussed the issues that the two parties are working on in accordance with their previous reform agreements. Hussein stressed “the Iraqi government’s commitment to moving forward with its reform & economic measures related to the Iraqi banking system and the energy sector.” He explained that “the government’s policy seeks to achieve Iraqi energy independence through associated gas investment projects & to develop the working mechanism of Iraqi banks in line with international standards to ensure transparency & provide open data, so that banks can provide the services that the Iraqi people need,” calling on the American side to reconsider the plan. Sanctions imposed on about 32 Iraqi banks, as they engaged in the structural reform process.” Hussein pointed out that “the stability of the ER of the Iraqi Dinar against the US Dollar represents a fundamental pillar for achieving economic, social & political stability in Iraq, which is what the government seeks to achieve, calling on the relevant American institutions to review it and build on it.” For his part, Nelson praised the steps taken by the Iraqi government to support the Iraqi economy & address the challenges facing it. He stressed that the relevant American institutions understand the seriousness of the Iraqi government in modernizing the work mechanisms in Iraqi institutions, expressing the readiness of the American side to help Iraq in addressing the obstacles to its reforms. This will reflect positively on the Iraqi economy.”

Here's an article of Dinarian interests... UST Praises CBI Actions in Washington. Treat as a rumor. Not verified. Your opine. FROM OTHER SOURCES: The US Treasury Praises The Actions Of The Iraqi Government & The CBI In The Washington Meetings. ARTICLE: Samir Al-Nusairi: During the visit of the PM to Washington d his meeting, in the presence of the Governor of the CBI, with the UST delegation, & the negotiations that took place regarding the financial & banking reform strategy implemented by the government and the CBI, the American side emphasized its praise of the reform measures & steps, which resulted in organizing foreign trade financing & complying with international standards in 2023 & the past months of 2024 & to bridge part of the gap between the official price & the price equivalent to the Dinar exchange rate against the USD. This refutes the criticisms, allegations & media exaggerations of some satellite channels by insulting the CBI & the banking sector & pointing out some violations in the issue of controlling the monetary Dollar, which were addressed at the time of the beginning of the application of the electronic platform. What is important & what must be confirmed now is that 100% of the external transfers that were made were in accordance with the relationship. What is new between our banks & international correspondent banks, in accordance with the instructions & mechanisms of the electronic platform, are sound & transparent transfers in accordance with international standards, and that the window for selling foreign currency is an economic indicator that achieves one of the objectives of monetary policy. “Accusing the CBI & banks of wasting foreign currency without evidence proving the existence of suspicions of corruption, money laundering, or currency smuggling & the proposition that says selling currency is a waste of public money is a description that has nothing to do with the economic process.” It must be noted that “the process of the currency sale window began to be implemented by the CBI on 10/4/2004 in implementation of Article 28 of the CBI Law No. 56 of 2004, which allows the CBI to buy & sell foreign currency & this process has continued to meet the needs of the Ministry of Finance for currency.” The local government, for the purposes of the operating budget, purchased the Dinar from the public for the purpose of controlling liquidity levels, which is known as the monetary sterilization process on the one hand & to recycle the Dinar and resell it to the Ministry of Finance for the purposes of paying salaries & wages, securing government expenditures, as well as meeting & covering imports, & maintaining the stability of the exchange rate targeted by the CBI. “The foreign currency selling window is considered one of the largest open market operations in controlling local liquidity levels & putting the cash surplus on its proper paths. It is a good economic indicator & achieves one of the goals of monetary policy & this is consistent with the multi-dimensional functions that the CBI performs, as it is concerned with financial stability.” It manages the payments system, manages foreign reserves, licenses & monitors banks & financial institutions & sets preventive controls, in addition to other tasks related to monetary issuance & publishing economic data, indicators & forecasts. “The basic tasks carried out by & achieve monetary stability.”

Luigi found these articles of Dinarian interests... Treat as rumors. Not verified. Your opine. Bondlady’s Corner: The Government Comments On The Possibility Of Restoring The Dollar Exchange Rate And Ending The Currency Auction. Article: Sotaliraq Today, Monday, the government's economic advisor, Haitham al-Jubouri, ruled out taking any decision regarding the dollar's exchange rate, indicating that the best solution lies in strengthening the national currency against the dollar. Al-Jubouri said in a televised statement that "the issuance of a decision regarding the exchange rate of the dollar to decrease or raise is excluded at the present time." KTFA: Samson: Zebari Warns Of A Civil War In Iraq: Shiite Tension Has Reached It's Peak. Article: The leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Hoshyar Zebari, warned on Monday of a civil war that may occur in Iraq unless it is prevented, while indicating that the political tension between Shiite forces has reached its peak. Zebari wrote in a tweet he posted on his Twitter account, "Civil wars do not happen by leadership decisions. The Kurdish war in 1994 did not start with a decision by Messrs. Massoud Barzani and Jalal Talabani, but isolated and sporadic incidents of violence by field leaders were the cause." He added that "the current political tension between the Shiite forces, the framework and the current, has reached its peak and must be prevented, and let us benefit from history." The leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, Hoshyar Zebari, warned on Monday of a civil war that may occur in Iraq unless it is prevented, while indicating that the political tension between Shiite forces has reached its peak. Zebari wrote in a tweet he posted on his Twitter account, "Civil wars do not happen by leadership decisions. The Kurdish war in 1994 did not start with a decision by Messrs. Massoud Barzani and Jalal Talabani, but isolated and sporadic incidents of violence by field leaders were the cause." He added that "the current political tension between the Shiite forces, the framework and the current, has reached its peak and must be prevented, and let us benefit from history."