Iraq plans to export its surplus wheat crop abroad.

Iraqi Trade Minister Mustafa Nizar Al-Ani announced on Friday a government plan to export surplus wheat crops abroad, while reassuring farmers that their outstanding financial dues from last year would soon be disbursed.

Al-Ani said in a press conference held on the sidelines of his visit to the grain storage silo in Erbil that the Ministry of Trade has introduced an advanced electronic mechanism for marketing wheat, which relies on registering the data of farmers and trucks in advance, in order to avoid routine and bureaucracy and to avoid the long waiting lines that used to extend for several days when delivering the crop.

Regarding the financial file, the minister acknowledged that there are outstanding payments owed to farmers since last year, stressing that the Prime Minister is paying close attention to settling this file.

Al-Ani indicated that a batch of these delayed entitlements has been released to include all governorates, and that new batches will follow in the coming days to complete the file completely.

Regarding production expectations for the current season, the minister predicted an outstanding production plan, indicating that the areas planted with wheat – including the Kurdistan Region – far exceeded the plan approved by the Council of Ministers.

Al-Ani addressed the farmers, saying: “I assure you that your efforts will not be in vain, and there is a comprehensive plan to receive the entire crop and export what exceeds the country’s actual needs,” stressing that the ministry’s main goal is to establish sustainable food security.

Shafaq.com

Comprising 14 points… Key features of the memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran

Bloomberg News reported on Friday that Washington and Tehran will sign a memorandum of understanding in Geneva next Sunday, noting that the signing will be limited to a preliminary memorandum of understanding and not a final agreement.

The agency, quoting a G7 official, indicated “the possibility of the signing being completed on the sidelines of the group’s meeting next week.”

In this context, the Iranian news agency Mehr revealed new details of a draft 14-point memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States, as reported by a source close to the Iranian negotiating team.

According to the agency, the draft includes a permanent and immediate cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon, an American pledge not to interfere in Iranian internal affairs and to respect Iran’s sovereignty, in addition to the complete lifting of the naval blockade within 30 days, an American commitment to withdraw its forces from the vicinity of Iran, as well as the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz within 30 days according to Iranian arrangements.

The draft also includes “suspending sanctions on exports of oil, petrochemical products and their derivatives, ensuring Iran’s full access to its financial resources, and providing plans for the reconstruction of Iran worth no less than $300 billion by the United States and its allies, in addition to a 60-day deadline for negotiations to reach a final agreement based on the nuclear file and the complete lifting of primary and secondary US sanctions, as well as the resolutions of the UN Security Council and the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency.”

According to the Iranian news agency Mehr, the draft indicates that its provisions include “renewing Iran’s commitment to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) not to produce a nuclear weapon, an American pledge during the negotiation period not to strengthen its forces in the region and not to impose any new sanctions, as well as releasing $24 billion of frozen Iranian assets during the final 60-day negotiation period, with half of this amount to be made available to Iran before the start of negotiations, in addition to establishing a monitoring mechanism to implement the agreement, and adopting the final agreement under a resolution of the UN Security Council.”

The draft adds other provisions, including “the final negotiations will not begin before half of the frozen Iranian assets are released, oil sanctions are suspended, and the naval blockade is lifted, with the final agreement being limited to the fate of enriched materials, the enrichment process, lifting sanctions, and the program to rebuild the Iranian economy. Any discussion of the Iranian missile program or Tehran’s support for resistance groups will be removed from the agenda entirely.”

Earlier on Friday, the American website Axios revealed that the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran includes the full opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and stipulates the extension of the ceasefire for 60 days, including Lebanon, with the resumption of nuclear negotiations during this period, and the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to international navigation without fees.

For his part, a US official said that “one of the options on the table is to reduce the level of uranium enrichment inside Iran under the supervision of UN inspectors.”

According to Axios, the mediators reached the current formula after talks between the Qatari mediator and the Iranian foreign minister, with ongoing contacts with US envoys Steve Wittkopf and Jared Kushner.

The website noted that the text has received high-level approvals within Iran, but has not yet received final approval from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, while mediators continue to work on finalizing it and setting a date for the signing ceremony.

Last night, US President Donald Trump announced that a “settlement” to the war with Iran had been reached, indicating that the agreement was in its final stages, with the last arrangements to be completed in the next few days.

Shafaq.com

The government: Salaries for employees and retirees are guaranteed and there is no printing of currency.

The spokesman for the Prime Minister, Haider Al-Aboudi, confirmed today, Wednesday, that the Prime Minister, Ali Falih Al-Zaidi, will not hesitate to expose the corrupt, while he indicated that the salaries of employees and retirees are secured and there is no printing of currency.

Al-Aboudi said in a press conference held at the Council of Ministers that “the government decided, based on the directive of the Prime Minister, Ali Falih Al-Zaidi, to adopt a program budget in coordination with the World Bank,” noting that “the Prime Minister adopted the development fund project through effective international contributions.”

He added that “the Prime Minister has adopted a policy of restricting weapons to the state within a specific timeframe, in addition to adopting the development fund project,” noting that “the Prime Minister will not hesitate to announce those involved in stealing public funds.”

Al-Aboudi pointed out that “the government is committed to paying the dues of contracts and workers, and their transfer to the budget is left to the Ministry of Finance,” indicating that “the salaries of employees and retirees are secured and there is no printing of currency.”

He explained that “the Development Fund is an investment vehicle that receives international contributions from Iraq’s friends, and this contribution covers the requirements of the development situation. The Ministry of Finance is working on preparing a program budget, and the Prime Minister has decided to adopt a program budget to promote economic reforms.”

Al-Aboudi stressed that “the government is looking forward to completing the ministerial cabinet to complete its tools, but currently the House of Representatives is in legislative recess, and if the political consensus is completed, it is possible to hold a session to vote on what remains of the ministerial cabinet,” noting that “Iraq will not accept being a launching pad for targeting any country, and it will also not accept any country’s interference in Iraqi affairs.”

Alforatnews.iq

Al-Zidi is preparing for a visit to Washington with several key issues on his agenda, most notably attracting major companies to Iraq.

A government source reported on Wednesday that Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi’s upcoming visit to Washington will include several topics, including opening partnerships with giant American companies and raising the rate of oil exports to the United States to about half a million barrels per day.

The source told Shafaq News Agency that “Al-Zidi will carry with him important files that address intractable problems in the country, which he will discuss with the American administration, including exporting 500,000 barrels per day to America in exchange for entering into important partnerships with giant companies to solve complex problems in Iraq, including electricity, in addition to the industrial and agricultural sectors and others.”

He pointed out that “these partnerships are conducted according to a known time and financial ceiling and binding controls for both sides, whereby the oil revenues referred to will be used to finance projects to improve the economic, service and even tourism situation.”

He explained that “these economic partnerships will positively impact the political and economic direction of the government, by achieving sustainable interests that meet the country’s needs and enhance the implementation of the government program promised by Al-Zidi, which focuses on prioritizing public interests over private ones.”

The source indicated that “the measures that the government will adopt to achieve an investment, reconstruction and service revolution will be with the approval of all partners in the political process without discrimination.”

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi announced last Saturday an official visit to the United States accompanied by businessmen to expand mutual and joint investment opportunities, noting at the same time that the development fund is for the private sector and will absorb a contribution from the Central Bank worth $10 billion.

Al-Zaydi stressed that the government is counting on cooperation with the private sector to make its reform efforts in the economy and development a success, and that it will adopt an open-door policy towards the proposals, requests and problems that businessmen put forward that require intervention and resolution.

Al-Zaydi added: “We have an upcoming official visit to the United States, and we will be taking a number of businessmen with us to expand mutual and joint investment opportunities.”

Shafaq.com

Political agreements to expedite the passage of the remaining cabinet positions

Abdul Rahman al-Jazaeri, head of the political body of the National Tribal Movement, confirmed the possibility of replacing rejected candidates in the cabinet and bringing in other figures to be voted on in parliament to complete al-Zaidi’s government.
Al-Jazaeri told Al-Maalouma, “It is clear and natural that there will be objections to some candidates for the cabinet, which has already happened recently, but today there is a genuine move to proceed with completing the cabinet.”

He added, “There are discussions and agreements among the political parties to prioritize professionalism over sectarian quotas in selecting candidates for Ali al-Zaidi’s cabinet, with the aim of forming a strong government.”

He explained that “any candidate who does not receive support from the political blocs in parliament will be replaced by another candidate from the same bloc, who will then be presented to the House of Representatives for a vote, thus finalizing all remaining cabinet positions.”

Almaalomah.me

An economist calls on Al-Zaidi to bring specialized ministers to Washington to prevent businessmen from taking “commissions”.

Economic expert Hashim al-Haboubi criticized on Wednesday Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s intention to take groups of businessmen and investors with him on his upcoming visit to Washington, D.C., describing the move as “unfortunate” and a repetition of previous scenarios.

Al-Haboubi told the Information Agency, “Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s announcement of his intention to take businessmen and investors to Washington, similar to what al-Sudani did previously, is not at all in the public interest.” He pointed out that “these individuals will not invest in America, but rather seek to act as intermediaries between the government and American companies to obtain commissions.”

He added, “Preserving public funds requires taking ministers specializing in the financial and economic sectors, along with a very limited number of advisors. This is the correct approach to ensure that contracts and economic activities are concluded directly between the state and companies without any intermediaries, thus avoiding suspicions of corruption.”

Almaalomah.me

Al-Marsoumi reveals the conditions set by foreign companies for resuming oil production in Kurdistan.

Economic expert Nabil al-Marsoumi explained on Wednesday that foreign companies operating in the oil sector have set a number of conditions before resuming production and exports in the Kurdistan Region.

Al-Marsoumi stated in a Facebook post that “these conditions include, firstly, the necessity of protecting oil fields and wells from drone and missile attacks to ensure the safety of facilities, workers, and foreign technical staff.”

He added that “the second condition is the establishment of a clear and regular mechanism to guarantee the payment of current financial dues upon the resumption of exports, in accordance with the amendments to the federal budget law.”

He pointed out that “the third condition pertains to the necessity of settling outstanding debts and previous dues owed by the companies, including those owed to the Norwegian oil company DNO, which previously announced the cessation of production and exports via pipelines in the region due to delayed payments estimated at approximately one billion dollars.”

Al-Marsoumi emphasized that “resolving these issues is essential for the normal resumption of oil activity in the region.”

Almaalomah.me

A decisive move without fanfare: a strategic step to remove the protective umbrellas from the corrupt.

It appears that serious action has recently begun between the executive and legislative branches, taking a different approach from the usual media channels. This involves moving beyond empty slogans and grandiose press releases towards intensive, practical steps aimed at dismantling financial and administrative corruption networks at their roots.

These quiet yet serious moves are being undertaken through joint coordination between the executive and legislative branches, activating high-level investigative committees with broad powers and conducting a comprehensive review of legal loopholes in investment contracts and major projects that have drained the state treasury for years.

This strategic shift, agreed upon during an extensive meeting between the Integrity Commission and the Parliamentary Integrity Committee, reflects a genuine desire to build a rigorous oversight environment based on forensic evidence and professional financial auditing, free from politicization or defamation. This paves the way for recovering embezzled funds and restoring the prestige of state oversight institutions, amidst public anticipation of the tangible results of these measures.

In this context, a parliamentary source within the Integrity Committee revealed on Wednesday details of an extensive meeting held with the Federal Integrity Commission, which resulted in a strategic agreement to resolve current and past major corruption cases and refer them to the judiciary, free from political interference.

The source told Al-Maalomah News Agency that “the meeting resulted in a bilateral agreement to proceed with resolving the cases without any pressure,” emphasizing that “if any party is subjected to political pressure to protect corrupt individuals, the parties involved will be immediately exposed to the public through the media.”
He added that “this step includes opening massive and serious corruption cases valued at tens of billions of dollars, related to suspicious government contracts and encroachments on state properties.”

The source, who preferred to remain anonymous, explained that “the agreement also included imposing complete confidentiality and preventing the leaking of details of the cases to the media before their final resolution, to ensure they are not delayed and to expedite legal procedures and bring those involved to justice.”

Member of Parliament’s Integrity Committee, Ahmed al-Shammari, revealed the committee’s continued pursuit of corruption cases, the recovery of stolen funds, and the prosecution of fugitives involved both inside and outside Iraq. He emphasized that the amount of embezzled funds has doubled in recent years.

Al-Shammari told the Al-Maalomah news agency, “The Integrity Committee continues to pursue cases of recovering stolen funds and prosecuting those accused of corruption inside and outside Iraq, in coordination with the relevant authorities.”

He added, “The amount of embezzled funds has doubled in recent years, necessitating more effective measures to recover public funds and hold those involved accountable.”
He indicated that “the coming period will witness the opening of major and serious corruption cases concerning various state institutions, as part of efforts to combat corruption and enhance transparency.”

He affirmed that “combating corruption and recovering stolen funds are national priorities due to their role in protecting public funds and strengthening citizens’ trust in state institutions.”

Almaalomah.me

The Ministry of Finance announces the launch of the third phase of the ASYCUDA project.

he Ministry of Finance directed the launch of the third phase of the ASYCUDA project at the beginning of July. In a statement received by Al-Maalomah News Agency, the ministry said, “The Minister directed the launch of the third phase of the ASYCUDA project at the beginning of next month, which supports efforts to develop customs operations and enhance digital transformation at border crossings and customs centers.”

The statement emphasized that “the ASYCUDA project represents one of the fundamental pillars in modernizing customs administration, as it provides tools that contribute to simplifying procedures, enhancing transparency and oversight, and raising performance efficiency, which will positively impact non-oil revenues and improve the business environment.”

It added that “the Customs Authority has completed a significant portion of the technical and procedural requirements for the project,” noting that “the third phase will constitute a qualitative leap in managing customs operations by expanding the scope of automation and strengthening electronic monitoring at border crossings.”

Almaalomah.me

Abdul Qader: The million-dollar bribery allegations necessitate revealing the big names to the public.

Former MP Abdul Qader Mohammed confirmed that talk of a $200 million bribe offer is a dangerous indicator of the extent of corruption permeating state institutions, indicating that the current stage requires moving from general statements to revealing the facts to the public.

Abdul Qadir told Al-Maalomah News Agency that “any information related to attempts to offer bribes of this magnitude must be accompanied by clear judicial and public procedures, because the citizen is waiting to know the parties and figures involved, and not just to point out the existence of corruption files without resolving them.”

He added that “combating corruption is not achieved by statements alone, but by referring those involved to the judiciary and revealing names and facts to the public, especially if the case involves huge sums that affect public funds and the prestige of the state.”

He pointed out that “the Iraqi street is looking forward to opening the major files that wasted billions of dollars during the past years and holding all those involved accountable, regardless of their positions or political affiliations,” stressing that “establishing trust between the citizen and state institutions begins with transparency and publicly revealing the results of investigations.”

It should be noted that corruption remains one of the most prominent challenges facing the state, amidst ongoing demands to open major cases, disclose the results of investigations to the public, and hold those involved accountable within the legal framework, free from any political considerations.

Almaalomah.me