A mysterious loan and international conditions: The World Bank proposes “financing” Iraq in exchange for three years of economic reform.
Economic expert Ziad Al-Hashemi announced (Thursday, November 12, 2026) that the Iraqi Ministry of Finance, during its discussions with the World Bank aimed at obtaining “urgent financing loans” for the Iraqi economy, “has made progress in the discussions.”
Al-Hashemi said, according to a post, that the Iraqi government, which is seeking funding from the World Bank, faced “international conditions” including “implementing a three-year economic reform program in cooperation with the World Bank.”
He continued, “The discussions moved from discussing financial problems in general to developing a medium-term reform framework extending from 2027 to 2029,” adding, “The World Bank has developed a framework for four main priorities: public financial management, private and government banks, controlling money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism, in addition to the energy sector and anti-corruption efforts.”
He added, “So far, the Iraqi Ministry of Finance has not explicitly announced the value of the loans or provided explanations for the conditions requested by the World Bank in return,” stressing, “Until now, the value of the loan and the areas in which it will be spent have not been announced.”
The economist expressed doubt about the Iraqi government’s ability to implement the economic reform program requested by the World Bank, stressing that “implementing such programs will deprive the political class of its financial privileges, which can only be maintained by keeping the current economic situation without reforms,” as he described it.
Burathanews.com