Saturday, August 16, 2025

๐Ÿ”น Highlights – Iraq's Oil Wealth & the US Federal Reserve: "Relying on the US Federal Reserve is like walking a tightrope"

 ๐Ÿ”น Highlights – Iraq's Oil Wealth & the US Federal Reserve

From Basra to Manhattan – August 15, 2025

  • Iraq’s oil revenues, though generated in Basra, are largely held at the US Federal Reserve in New York, not in Baghdad.

  • This system, created in 2003 under UN Resolution 1483 and US Executive Order 13303, was originally meant to protect Iraqi funds and pay reparations to Kuwait.

  • Though Iraq finished reparations in 2022, the US still renews the executive order annually—most recently in May 2025.


๐Ÿ’ฐ Why Is Iraq's Money Still in the US?

  • The Federal Reserve holds $80–$85 billion for Iraq.

  • Funds are used to:

    • Finance imports

    • Pay government obligations

    • Stabilize the dinar and fight inflation

  • US economists argue this setup provides financial stability and global access .

  • But it's a "double-edged sword" — offering protection while potentially becoming a political pressure tool.


⚠️ Risks & Controversies

  • 35 Iraqi banks were recently sanctioned by the US for suspected dollar smuggling to Iran and other sanctioned nations.

  • This has tightened dollar flow, raised import costs, and strained the local economy.

  • Some experts warn of legal vulnerabilities and unresolved debts that make Iraq’s funds prone to seizure if removed from the Fed.


๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ถ Control vs. Protection

  • Iraqi officials are split: some see US oversight as a "legal safety net", while others see it as a threat to sovereignty.

  • The core issue: Can Iraq reclaim full control of its funds without risking economic chaos or legal action?


"Relying on the US Federal Reserve is like walking a tightrope."
— Dr. Frank Mismar, Economist


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๐Ÿ›️๐Ÿ” Security and Economy in Iraq: The Key to the Future of the Dinar ๐Ÿ’ต๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ถ

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