Iran is losing the “Iraq axis.” The Economist: Factions are no longer sacrificing themselves for Tehran.

A British report confirmed that the Iranian regime’s hegemony over Iraq is declining, pointing to the Iraqi government’s avoidance of involvement in the 12-day war between Iran and Israel. It also provided evidence of Tehran’s declining influence and credibility among Iraqis.

A report by the British magazine “The Economist,” reviewed by Shafaq News Agency, highlighted three main reasons for the decline of Iranian influence in Iraq, the most important of which is the emergence of a new generation of politicians in Iraq “who emerged from the anti-government protests of 2020 and oppose the Iranian-backed militias more vocally than before.”

According to the report, following the killing of Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force, in January 2020, Iran’s control over the militias and proxy groups it supports in Iraq has diminished, with many of them shifting their focus to internal Iraqi affairs.

The Economist magazine quoted a senior Iraqi official as saying that Esmail Qaani, Soleimani’s successor and current commander of the Quds Force, “does not possess Soleimani’s skill in managing the conflicting interests of Iraq’s various factions.”

The report pointed to another factor cited as contributing to the decline of the Iranian regime’s influence in Iraq: “The transformation of militias into political forces and their dissolution into the Iraqi bureaucracy and economy.”

He explained that Iran, in order to expand and deepen its influence in Iraq, paved the way for militia members to enter the Iraqi political and economic system.

Currently, members of these groups have extensive economic interests and control important ministries, including those related to oil and mineral exports. Until recently, they even wielded significant influence within Iraq’s Supreme Court, according to The Economist.

According to the report, former members of Iran-affiliated groups, who are now wealthy political forces in the Iraqi government and economy, unlike in the past, “have much to lose if their country enters into a war with the United States or Israel, which is why they are increasingly angry about Iraq’s role as a client state of the Iranian government.”

Based on this evidence, the Economist report concluded that the weakness of the meaning of “resistance” became apparent during Iran’s war with Israel and the United States, when even the Iranian government’s closest allies in Iraq offered little assistance to the Islamic Republic for fear of retaliation from the United States or Israel.

Shafaq.com

For the third consecutive month, the Central Bank of Iraq saw a significant decline in dollar sales.

The head of the Iraq Future Foundation, Manar al-Obaidi, revealed on Monday that the Central Bank of Iraq’s foreign currency sales declined during the month of June.

Al-Obaidi said in a post on his Facebook page, followed by Shafaq News Agency, that “the Central Bank’s foreign currency sales decreased for the third consecutive month, reaching $5.7 billion in June of this year, a decrease of 15.5% compared to May, when sales recorded $6.5 billion. Thus, the Central Bank’s foreign currency sales in the first six months of the year reached $37.2 billion, a decrease of 2.2% compared to the same period last year, which recorded $38.1 billion.”

He added that “cash sales of foreign currency also fell to their lowest level, reaching only $99 million in June, the lowest monthly sales value since the introduction of cash sales. Thus, the Central Bank’s total foreign currency sales through cash sales in the first six months of the year amounted to $1.4 billion, a 21% decline compared to the same period last year, which amounted to $1.76 billion.”

According to Al-Obaidi, foreign currency sales through the balance enhancement mechanism reached $5.6 billion in June of this year, a 35% increase compared to June of last year. Thus, foreign currency sales through the balance enhancement mechanism in the first six months of the year reached $35.8 billion, a 37% increase compared to the same period last year, which amounted to $26 billion.

He continued, “The international settlement mechanism through the Central Bank has also been completely halted, as has the transfer mechanism through the Central Bank. Foreign currency sales are now limited to balance-building and cash sales to travelers. Despite the decline in cash sales and the halt in international settlements, the dollar exchange rate has remained stable and unaffected by this decline.”

The central bank’s sales this year are expected to reach around $70 billion, down from last year’s sales of more than $80 billion, according to Al-Abidi.

He pointed out that “the decline in foreign currency sales, coupled with the stability of the dollar price on the parallel market and the decline in inflation levels, calls for a careful review to determine the reasons behind this decline. This could be related to the possibility of most traders entering the official market, which reduces the need for hard currency on the parallel market, or to a decline in demand for goods, which could reflect a state of economic stagnation in the Iraqi market.”

Shafaq.com

Tomorrow, the Sudanese government will receive a “final recommendation” regarding oil and salaries for Kurdistan employees.

A Kurdish political source confirmed on Monday that the federal government will receive recommendations from the ministerial committee it formed last week on Tuesday regarding salaries and benefits for employees in the Kurdistan Region and the handover of the region’s oil to the state-owned oil company SOMO .

The source told Shafaq News Agency, “The ministerial committee formed by Baghdad last week regarding the salaries and benefits of Kurdistan Region employees and the region’s oil will submit its report to the Council of Ministers in a session tomorrow, Tuesday .”

He added, “The committee will read its report during the cabinet session, and based on the report, the proposals and solutions presented will be considered to reach an agreement and a final formula for releasing salaries for the region’s employees and handing over Kurdistan’s oil to the national oil company, SOMO .”

On July 8, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani ordered the formation of a ministerial committee to discuss the provisions of the budget law and Federal Supreme Court rulings regarding financial obligations between Baghdad and Erbil .

According to the government announcement, the committee is headed by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Planning, and includes the Ministers of Construction and Housing, Higher Education, Justice, and Health .

Shafaq.com

Al-Mashhadani’s statements shake the political scene. Demands for an apology follow an urgent meeting.

On Monday, parliamentarians attacked Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani over statements he made warning of demonstrations that would destabilize Iraq. He also spoke of US pressure to dissolve the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). The MPs threatened to remove al-Mashhadani from his post .

Independent MP Alaa Al-Haidari told Shafaq News Agency, “The suspicious statements issued by Parliament Speaker Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani, who represents the highest authority in the Iraqi state and has made more than one media appearance, constitute a failure on his part .”

He added: “We demanded that the Speaker of the Council offer a public apology to the Iraqi people for insulting the Iraqi identity, which is more than 5,000 years old. This identity has been tainted by the blood of Imam Hussein and the martyrs. We will not accept insulting this identity. Al-Mashhadani must immediately apologize to the Iraqi people. If he does not, we will collect signatures to remove him from his position .”

In a related development, independent MP Yousef Al-Kalabi told the agency, “Parliament Speaker Mahmoud Al-Mashhadani, First Deputy Speaker Mohsen Al-Mandalawi, and Second Deputy Speaker Shakhwan Abdullah are currently holding a meeting regarding what happened in today’s session .”

Al-Kalabi added, “Those currently meeting are keen to manage the legislative authority, keep it away from external conflicts, and reconvene sessions to read and legislate laws .”

Earlier on Monday, a parliamentary source revealed that a verbal altercation broke out inside the House of Representatives between Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, First Deputy Speaker Mohsen al-Mandalawi, and a number of Coordination Framework MPs, leading to the postponement of today’s session .

The source told Shafaq News Agency that the dispute erupted over Al-Mashhadani’s recent statements regarding the political process and elections .

Prior to that, al-Mashhadani said in a televised interview on Dijlah TV that Iraq was set to witness demonstrations next month, and that we might resort to an “emergency government” if security turmoil occurred in Iraq. He also confirmed that the US had sent messages to all political leaders regarding the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), indicating that the US approach was to integrate the PMF into the security forces, not restructure it .

Shafaq.com

Behind the scenes of the parliament session: A verbal altercation between Al-Mashhadani and the Framework deputies led to its postponement.

A parliamentary source revealed on Monday that a verbal altercation broke out inside the House of Representatives between Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, First Deputy Speaker Mohsen al-Mandalawi, and a number of Coordination Framework MPs, leading to the postponement of today’s session.

The source told Shafaq News Agency that the dispute erupted over Al-Mashhadani’s recent statements regarding the political process and elections.

He added, “The number of MPs present at today’s session exceeded 180, but the dispute led to Al-Mashhadani leaving the session hall and the postponement of the session until further notice.”

The source indicated that members of Parliament are currently holding a meeting in the parliament’s cafeteria to discuss collecting signatures from MPs to remove Al-Mashhadani from his position.

A short while ago, the House of Representatives Presidency issued a brief statement confirming the postponement of the parliamentary session until further notice due to a lack of quorum.

Al-Mashhadani appeared in a televised interview yesterday, saying that the coming period could witness demonstrations leading to an emergency government. He also described the Iraqi identity as “ridiculous.”

Shafaq.com

Oil Minister informs Parliament: We have not reached an agreement with Kurdistan

A member of the parliamentary oil committee, Bahaa al-Din Nouri, revealed on Monday that federal oil minister Hayan Abdul Ghani confirmed that the Kurdistan Region would not abide by the agreement regarding exports via the Turkish-Ceyhan pipeline. Nouri also indicated that a delegation from the region would arrive in Baghdad.

Nouri told Shafaq News Agency, “The committee held a meeting today in the House of Representatives and hosted the Minister of Oil and senior staff from the ministry to inquire and discuss a number of important laws.”

He added, “The meeting discussed the Kurdistan Region’s oil file and the status of negotiations between the central government and the region. According to the minister, there are points of disagreement in the negotiations, and no conclusion has been reached, including local consumption and the transfer of financial revenues to the federal government.”

He stressed that ” the Ministry of Oil has completed all procedures and the region’s oil can be exported via the Turkish-Ceyhan pipeline, but the region has not complied with what was agreed upon in Article 12 of the budget law, especially since the consulting company is ready, but the region has also refused its entry.”

He added, ” A delegation from the regional government will visit Baghdad within the next 24 hours to reach an agreement in accordance with the proposed proposals.”

The Iraqi Parliament’s Oil, Gas, and Natural Resources Committee announced that it would host the Minister of Oil and a number of senior ministry officials on Monday to discuss issues described as “serious.”

“The meeting will focus on what he described as a structural collapse within the Ministry of Oil, amid indications of the influence of external parties, including a figure called ‘Omid,’ who has come to control sensitive areas within the ministry,” the committee’s spokesman, MP Ali Shaddad, told Shafaq News Agency.

Shaddad pointed out that “Iraq faces the risk of US sanctions being imposed on the Ministry of Oil due to violations and mismanagement that could be interpreted as a breach of international obligations,” warning that this “could lead to widespread economic paralysis and a collapse in the country’s financial revenue stream.”

The US Treasury Department had previously imposed a package of sanctions on individuals and entities involved in fuel smuggling and illicit gains that fund armed groups in the region. International reports warned that official Iraqi institutions could also be subject to these measures if their complicity or leniency is proven.

Iraq’s budget is almost entirely dependent on oil exports, making any sanctions on the Ministry of Oil or its companies, such as SOMO, a direct threat to economic stability.

Shafaq.com

Arepresentative calls for reporting absences in newspapers and implementing financial deductions to control Parliament’s performance.

MP Haider Al-Mutairi confirmed on Monday that he had submitted an official request to implement the House of Representatives’ internal regulations, in order to activate the chamber’s work during its final legislative session of the current term and strengthen its oversight and legislative role.

Al-Mutairi told Al-Maalouma, “Activating the work of the House of Representatives requires practical measures, including publishing the names of present and absent representatives in a local newspaper, in addition to publishing them in the House’s official bulletin, in order to enhance transparency for the public.”

He added, “The request also included activating financial deductions for unjustified absences, in accordance with the provisions of the internal regulations, as a measure that would support parliamentary discipline and encourage effective attendance at sessions.”

Al-Mutairi pointed out that “this step comes within the framework of the Council’s keenness to enact a set of important laws and exercise the oversight role required of it during the remainder of the current session.”

Burathanews.com

Budget tables: a legislative priority before the end of the session

As the legislative recess approaches its end, parliamentary demands are mounting for the approval of the general budget schedules before the conclusion of the current parliamentary session. This demand is a pivotal tool for ensuring the provision of services and the implementation of government programs, given the economic challenges facing the country.

Member of Parliament Taama Al-Lahibi told Al-Sabah that “the budget schedules represent a top priority at the present time and cannot be postponed to the next legislative session, as they constitute the backbone of the work of ministries and institutions.” He warned that “delaying them will lead to the disruption of service projects and the exacerbation of financial crises in the governorates.”

Al-Lahibi added, “There are other important laws that could be discussed or postponed later, but the failure to approve the financial schedules at this time means a continued stagnation in project implementation and a delay in the disbursement of dues and allocations, which will negatively impact citizens’ lives.”

The MP called on the House of Representatives Presidency and political blocs to “assume their responsibilities and not be lenient in passing the agendas, as they directly impact the daily lives of citizens and the performance of state institutions across various sectors.”

Al-Lahibi pointed out that the current legislative session is nearing its end, requiring all parties to intensify efforts to establish priorities and close pending issues before the new session begins.

Alsabaah.iq

Clarification regarding the “local card” launched by the Central Bank of Iraq

An informed source revealed, on Monday, details about the local card project that was announced. Central Bank of Iraq recently.

The source said to Alsumaria News “Local card” means a system of payment cards in Iraqi dinars that is Central Bank of Iraq Responsible for it and monitoring it, and it operates on simple commissions, given that all its operations take place within the country and in dinars and do not pass through international networks such as Visa and MasterCard.

He added, “We can liken this to the issue of conducting…Calls Local with its usual fees, but when we go outside the country, we bear the roaming fees… and therefore any bank or payment company in Iraq According to the new mechanism, customers can be issued a local card, and the customer can also take another card linked to Visa and MasterCard to use outside the country.”

He continued: “Therefore, the issue of creating a local card and what is said about it that (there is a final isolation from Visa And Master) is not true; the evidence is that any Western or Arab citizen now has a number of cards in his wallet and he is free to use any card according to his need and ability to bear wages and other things.

” He noted that “many countries have local cards such as Saudi Arabia (Mada) also has cards issued by Visa and MasterCard, and America as well (AMERICA EXPRESS), knowing that it owns Visa and MasterCard companies, and even The UAE(Gion), Egypt (Feature), Netherlands PIN, India RUPAY, Russia MIR, and Singapore NETS.”

He explained that “these cards work like any other card (withdrawal, purchase, ATMs, points of sale).”

Regarding the features and benefits of the local card, the source pointed out that “one of the advantages is that it operates in dinars only, and that any transaction in dollars or other foreign currency will continue to pass through the usual international channels.”

He added, “Iraq is cooperating with international companies to build the technical infrastructure. The Central Bank already has an advanced national switch built through global partnerships, and the national scheme will operate on top of this same infrastructure with strict adherence to EMVCO, ISO, and PCI standards. That is, cooperation with global companies “It is ongoing, and it does not cancel the adoption of a local national brand for paying salaries or government collection operations and reducing reliance on cash,” he said, considering that “the project has developmental goals and is part of the reforms to reduce reliance on cash, support the electronic localization of salaries, and increase transparency, not to close commercial doors.”

He stressed that “Iraq does not choose isolation, but rather chooses to diversify payment channels, protect pure local dinar transaction data from external pressures, and establish an infrastructure that can be integrated (and not separated from the world).”

He continued, saying: “Since 2020, it has been seeking US To control dollar flows and reduce non-compliance, adopting a national scheme in dinars only enables regulatory authorities to set compliance rules tailored to local transactions in accordance with international best practices without subjecting them to dollar transaction restrictions. This enhances internal transparency and spares the banking system the burden of controls that do not apply to dinar movement.

He pointed out that “many countries, such as Saudi Arabia (Mada), India (RuPay),Singapore(NETS), and other countries have implemented successful national schemes that are integrated with international networks. These countries are allies of Washington, which confirms that a national scheme does not mean international isolation.

” He added: The lesson By applying compliance and transparency, not by denying the idea from its roots, this is achieved by the presence of a parallel reform roadmap represented by the banking sector reform project undertaken by the bank in cooperation with the company. Oliver We are currently working to develop the sector and integrate it strongly into the global financial system and make it more acceptable and reliable. Then the time will be right to launch the Co-Badge version when the sector is ready, so that the card will carry the national Scheme logo alongside an international logo to ensure Acceptance The source concluded by emphasizing that ” the

national scheme is not a means of evading oversight, but rather a tool for bringing it back to Iraq and controlling it technologically by implementing it alongside banking system reforms. Iraq will gain lower transaction costs, greater transparency in salaries and government support, and greater international confidence because the dollar’s movement will remain subject to global standards.”

Alsumaria.tv

Government decision to reduce the amount of issuing electronic payment cards by 50%

Issued Ministerial Council for the Economy Today, Monday, a decision was issued to reduce the amount of electronic payment card issuance by 50% and to reduce the amount of electronic payment commissions deducted by 5 per thousand.

A statement issued by the Council, received by Alsumaria News That “deputy prime minister Minister of Foreign Affairs Fouad Hussein Chaired the twenty-first session of the Council Ministerial For the economy, which was held in the Council building in the presence of the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Planning, Ministers of Finance, Trade, Agriculture, Labor and Social Affairs, and the Governor Central Bank of Iraq Chairman of the Securities Commission and Vice Chairman National Investment Authority”

He added, “The Council hosted the general managers of the Oil Products Distribution Company, Information Technology at the Central Bank, the Enforcement Department at the Ministry of Justice, and a representative of…Ministry of Interior“ The Council decided, according to the statement, to reduce the amount of issuing electronic payment cards by 50% ,

provided that the issuance amount does not exceed 5,000 dinars. The Council also decided to reduce the amount of electronic payment commissions deducted to be five per thousand, while continuing to work with the currently approved upper limits for use regarding the purchase of petroleum products by citizens from fuel filling stations, with the implementation of Ministry of Oil/The Oil Products Distribution Company shall increase the percentage of use of electronic payment operations by no less than 50% of all its transactions, including obligating the private sector (constructed gas stations) with the above, and within a period of six months from the date of issuance of this decision. Electronic payment companies shall abide by this decision as of 1/1/2026.”

He added, “In order to support brick manufacturing plants and ensure the employment of workers in them and work in a healthy and environmentally sound environment, especially in plants adjacent to residential areas, the Council decided to recommend to cabinet The price of liquefied gas supplied to brick factories will be 250,000 dinars per ton.

The Council also decided to approve the Ministry of Oil’s request to grant the required exception in applying the provisions of the standard documents for the project, which are related to the rehabilitation and installation of gas compressors at the site. Al-Rumaila Northern.”

The Council decided to “approve the Ministry of Electricity’s request to cancel the decision to withdraw work for the second time from the company implementing the project to construct two buildings for the Amerli and Al-Farhatiya power stations.”

The Council reviewed the agricultural report and the status of dam water and plant and animal production prepared by Ministry of Agriculture Among the most important recommendations included in the report:

– Giving priority to agricultural investment in general and in promising areas in the desert In particular.

– Continuing to support agricultural inputs and outputs and protecting them from imported products.

– Adopting a policy of rationalizing water use and enhancing Water Resources Management Combating desertification, developing irrigation strategies, and using modern irrigation technologies.

– Supporting the private agricultural sector in all its fields.

Alsumaria.tv