Iraq’s oil exports to America fell to zero

Shafaq News / The US Energy Information Administration announced on Sunday that Iraq did not export any quantity of oil to America during the past week.

The administration said in a table seen by Shafaq News Agency, “The average US imports of crude oil during the past week from 7 major countries amounted to 5.459 million barrels per day, an increase of 519 thousand barrels per day compared to the previous week, which amounted to 4.940 million barrels per day.”

Shafaq.com

Hajj and Umrah in Iraqi dinars.. Kurdistan companies stop working in dollars

Erbil – 964… The Hajj and Umrah Authority in the Kurdistan Region decided, on Saturday, to collect pilgrims’ travel costs exclusively in Iraqi dinars, instead of dollars, like the rest of Iraq’s cities, with the value of the cost determined at the Central Bank’s exchange rate (1,320 dinars per dollar), while giving registrants one week to pay the costs and update. Passport data.

This decision comes after Niyaz Naqshbandi, Director General of Hajj and Umrah in the Kurdistan Region, chaired a meeting with the owners of Hajj and Umrah offices in the provinces and autonomous administrations of the region.

Karzan Stoney – Media of the Umrah and Jujj Authority in Kurdistan, Network 964 :
We directed the Hajj and Umrah offices to receive the amounts from pilgrims for a period of one week from 11 to 18 February of this year, and whoever does not pay the costs during this period will lose the right to Hajj this year.

Hajj and Umrah companies have alerted all registrants who do not have passports, or which have expired, to visit the Passport Department to update their data within a week.

The cost of Hajj for the people of the Kurdistan Region is no different from their counterparts in the rest of the cities of Iraq.

964media.com

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq calls for the removal of coalition forces by force

Friday, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq called for the removal of the coalition forces by force and extended an invitation to the rest of the forces to participate in removing them.

The Islamic Resistance said in a statement, “What the Islamic Resistance granted today in terms of an opportunity for the occupation forces to leave the holy land as a lifeline, it did not obtain yesterday, despite their mediations and pleas before they were defeated by their fate in 2011. At that time, the resistance mujahideen were driving the occupation soldiers to the blazing fire.” And they turn its foundations into ruins and rubble.”

She added: “The opportunity of the past days revealed with certainty to the Iraqi people, friends and responsible authorities, that the occupying enemy does not abandon its meanness and treachery, and does not understand anything other than the language of weapons, and this is clearly demonstrated in its recent targeting of the Mujahideen of the Popular Mobilization Forces in Al-Qaim, Akashat and other locations, and it has increased its crimes.” His assassination of the great leader Abu Baqir al-Saadi in Baghdad, thus violating all the rules of engagement, which increases the Islamic resistance, with its declared factions, in adhering to its responsibilities towards its people, country, and nation under any circumstances.”

The Islamic Resistance noted, “At a time when we look to those we trust to excuse us, as we know better than others about the malice of our enemy, the areas of confronting him, and the mechanism for subjugating him, with painful strikes and widespread attacks, so that he is forced to submit and be defeated in the service of the interests of our people and the issues of our nation, we call on our brothers.” In jihad to join the ranks of the resistance, to be determined to participate effectively in expelling the occupation at this historical stage in Iraq and the region.

Burathanews.com

Barzani: We still need more American aid

The Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Masrour Barzani, confirmed that the region still needs American aid, while noting that the increase in missile and drone attacks is a clear sign that a new war has begun in the region.

Barzani said in an interview with the American channel “NBC”, “We need more American aid. Here we do not mean that we need more forces. Rather, we need more military capabilities . ”

He pointed out that “the increase in attacks using missiles and drones is a clear sign that a new war has begun in the region, and the Kurdistan region is not exempt from the flames of this war, even though the Kurdistan region has never posed a threat to neighboring countries. Rather, it has always been a factor of stability in the region.” Region” .

He explained, “The need for more American aid does not mean that we need more forces. Rather, we need more military capabilities to raise the level of military capabilities of the Peshmerga forces, not only to defend our people, but to defend everyone who lives in the Kurdistan region . ”

Dijlah.tv

The CBI Cancels The Operation Of The Largest Iranian Bank In The Country

The CBI has canceled the operating license of the largest Iranian bank in Iraq, the National Bank of Iran (Milli), due to international sanctions and the bank’s limited operations in Iraq, according to what Reuters reported on Thursday.

Reuters said that this decision was contained in a document of the Central Bank of Iraq dated January 31, 2024.

The document stated, “In light of the losses incurred by your branch in Iraq, its limited activities, its inability to implement or expand banking activities, and…its inclusion in international sanctions, it has been decided to cancel your license.”

In 2018, the US Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Bank Melli, claiming that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard is using it to “distribute funds to Iraqi Shiite armed groups, and that Bank Melli’s presence in Iraq is part of this scheme.”

Iraq, which has reserves of more than $100 billion in the United States, is counting heavily on Washington’s goodwill to ensure that its access to oil revenues and money is not blocked.

Iraq recently banned eight local commercial banks from conducting transactions in US dollars and took measures to reduce fraud, money laundering and other illegal uses of the US currency in a move welcomed by the US Treasury Department.

According to Iraqi and American officials, Iraq prevented 14 banks in July 2023 from conducting dollar transactions as part of a broader campaign aimed at reducing the smuggling of dollars into Iran through the Iraqi banking system after a request from Washington, according to Reuters.

Earthiq.news

Leader of Al-Fatah: America is pressing to ensure the survival of its forces in Iraq

Information/Baghdad… The leader of the Al-Fatah Alliance, Ali Hussein, confirmed on Thursday that America is trying to impose pressure on Iraq to ensure that its forces remain in the country.

Hussein told Al-Ma’louma, “The government is determined to end the American presence in Iraqi territory, at a time when Washington is making attempts to impose pressure to ensure the survival of its forces.”

He added, “Iraq does not submit to the desires and pressures exerted by America, as it considers whoever opposes it to be a terrorist and is working to liquidate him.”

He stated that “the American presence in Iraq is rejected, indicating that” the American occupier is on his way out of Iraq, with great Iraqi rejection of this presence.

Almaalomah.me

Directing criticism at the Iraqi Central Bank…an economist shows the numbers of banks sanctioned by America

Information/private… The economic expert, Dhia Al-Mohsen, counted the number of banks that were affected by the US Treasury Department’s sanctions, while confirming that the Central Bank of Iraq is in one valley, and the sanctions are “in another valley.”

Al-Mohsen said, in an interview with the Maalouma Agency, that “the banking system, managed by the Central Bank, should have directed sanctions on private banks by itself, and not by the US Federal Reserve.”

He added, “The banks that succeeded the Americans, the management of the Central Bank, has information about them, which operates in violation of the system and instructions of the Iraqi Central Bank regarding private transactions with customers, whether inside or outside the country.”

The economic expert explained, “If the central bank has information about these banks, and the sanctions come from abroad, it seems that the bank’s management is not worthy of managing this important file at the internal or external level of the country, given that the banking system has foreign dealings.”

Al-Mohsen stated, “Since the tenth month of 2023, the American sanctions have affected 14 banks, in addition to the 8 new banks,” pointing out that “these banks represent more than 40%, considering the presence of 72 banks, and this is a large percentage.”

The economist stressed, “This percentage gives an indication that the management of the Central Bank is not concerned with what is happening around it, as if it is in one valley, and the sanctions imposed on private banks are in another valley.”

Earlier today, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken discussed the sanctions imposed by the US Treasury on Iraqi banks.

The US Treasury Department recently imposed economic sanctions on seven Iraqi banks, which were preceded by sanctions on fourteen Iraqi banks, preventing them from dealing in dollars, as the reasons behind imposing such sanctions were not explained.

Almaalomah.me

What should the Central Bank do to avoid further sanctions?

Economist Mustafa Akram Hantoush explained the practical steps that the Central Bank must take to avoid further US sanctions.

Hantoush told “ Jarida ”, “The first step is the platform between Iran and Syria, for the transfer to them to be made through a third country with the approval of the Federal Reserve, and for the traveler to the sanctioned countries to be given money in the currency of those countries, and the borders with the Kurdistan region must be controlled, and transfers must be linked to customs.” and ports (automation).”

He added, “Also, creating a platform for all travelers and making reservations through the Central Bank and not at money exchangers and banks. There are also items such as alcohol, detergents, etc., for which Kurdistan takes a small percentage tax, while Baghdad takes a high percentage, especially gold, which has many problems in Baghdad.” In Kurdistan, it grants licenses easily, so it should be resolved so that the merchant can enter a real platform.”

He stressed, “These steps will address the issue and serve as an argument for the Americans, as the Iraqi banking sector may end within a few months in favor of foreign banks.”

Jaredaiq.net

Observer: Ending the mission of the United Nations office in Iraq takes Iraq out of Chapter Seven!!

Information / Baghdad… Political observer Sabah Al-Ugaili called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shia Al-Sudani to end the work of the United Nations representation in Iraq, indicating that “if this matter were achieved, it would remove Iraq from Chapter Seven.”

Al-Ugaili told Al-Maalouma, “The time is right for Sudanese to ask the Secretary-General of the United Nations to end the work of its representation in Iraq, especially after Plasschaert announced the end of its mission in Iraq.”

He added, “Plasschaert’s request to end its mission and the Chinese representative’s recognition of the existence of a state of political and economic stability in Iraq gives Al-Sudani the opportunity to ask the Secretary-General of the United Nations to end the work of the United Nations office in Iraq, or at least reduce it, and then Iraq will exit Chapter Seven.”

The representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Jeanine Plasschaert, had asked the Secretary-General of the United Nations that it was her mission in Iraq during her periodic briefing at the UN Security Council yesterday, Tuesday.

It is noteworthy that Iraq has been subject since 1990 to Chapter Seven of the United Nations Charter, which was imposed on it after Saddam’s regime invaded the State of Kuwait in August of the same year. This clause allows the use of force against Iraq as it constitutes a threat to international security, in addition to freezing large amounts of its financial assets in Iraq. International banks to pay compensation to those affected by the invasion.

Almaalomah.me

The talk of buying the dollar with a “fake dinar” is repeated in Iraq.. What makes it possible or impossible?

Al-Sumaria News – Exclusive – Over the past years, talk about submitting forged or counterfeit invoices to the Central Bank of Iraq for the purpose of buying the dollar under the pretext of import, was a common thing and was recognized by successive Iraqi governments and all parties concerned with this file. Therefore, but talk about “providing money or an Iraqi dinar Counterfeit” to buy the dollar, something that began to be talked about during the past year only, to be documented in the recent statement of the US Treasury Department.

The US Treasury Department, in its decision published on its official website, regarding the inclusion of the Iraqi Al-Huda Bank in the sanctions list, stated that the bank has been subject, since its establishment, to the control of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, and allows it access to the American financial system using fraudulent documents, fake deposits, identity documents for deceased persons, fake companies, and the Iraqi dinar. Counterfeit, which provides opportunities to hide the identities of the counterparties in the transaction to correspondents, providers of banking relationships, while also indicating that the bank, since its establishment, has smuggled $6 billion from Iraq with fake import documents.

Talk about submitting false documents or invoices for goods and commodities to the Central Bank to buy the dollar from it, and then transferring the dollar abroad without bringing in the corresponding goods, was common and well-known, but the accusation of using counterfeit or counterfeit money to buy the dollar is something worth thinking about and discussing, especially after… It was stated in the US Treasury decision.

What is the reason for talking about the counterfeit dinar?

During the past year, talk emerged from representatives and economic experts about the existence of a counterfeit Iraqi dinar that some parties use to buy the dollar, but the story may be somewhat “unbelievable,” so how does the counterfeit Iraqi dinar pass through the central bank or the black market offices to buy the dollar?

As for the reason for talking about this matter, it appeared when the dollar began to rise significantly in the parallel market, and when the Central Bank no longer sold the dollar to any party, as before, or by approving any questionable invoices. Therefore, these parties went to buy the dollar in a large and multiplied manner from the parallel market, which led to… Due to the rise in the price of the dollar in the market, testimonies emerged from office owners and money exchangers that entities and people come carrying very large sums of Iraqi dinars, all of them in a “new edition,” and buy huge amounts of dollars from the market.

Talking about a new edition, and talking about very huge amounts of money from the dinar, prompted specialists to say that this money is counterfeit, or at least printed for this specific purpose, or printed in Iran, according to some opinions, for the purpose of buying the dollar from the Iraqi market, otherwise where do these entities come from? With this large amount of money (the new Iraqi dinar) and constantly buying huge amounts of dollars every day?

A previous report by Al-Sumaria: 30% of goods were imported in parallel market dollars.

Earlier and a few days ago, Al-Sumaria News published a report comparing the Central Bank’s sales of dollars for the purpose of remittances and imports in 2023, and global data on Iraq’s actual imports, as the bank’s data indicate. The Central Bank said it sold more than $25 billion in remittances in 2023 for the purpose of import, but global data indicate that Iraq imported goods in 2023 worth more than $36 billion.

This leads to the fact that approximately 11 billion dollars went out as remittances outside Iraq for the purpose of import, but not from the Central Bank, but rather were obtained from the parallel market. Here, the huge amount of money or Iraqi dinars through which the dollar was purchased from the parallel market becomes very clear, as it is approximately 17. One trillion dinars went to the parallel market in 2023 for the purpose of purchasing more than 11 billion dollars away from the Central Bank, and this is one of the reasons behind doubt and the logicality of the existence of counterfeit money or dinars through which the dollar is purchased.

Alsumaria.tv