SAVAYA IS PLEASED WITH THE FACTIONS’ MOVEMENTS AND STIPULATES A COMPLETE AND IRREVERSIBLE DISARMAMENT
“Statements alone are not enough.”
Mark Savaya, US President Donald Trump’s envoy to Iraq, welcomed the move by some Iraqi armed groups toward disarmament, considering it an encouraging development that responds to calls from religious authorities. However, he stressed that statements alone are not enough, calling for a comprehensive and irreversible disarmament process implemented within a binding national framework that enshrines the state’s monopoly on the use of force. He warned that Iraq stands at a critical crossroads between consolidating sovereignty and stability, or remaining trapped in a cycle of disintegration and uncontrolled weapons.
The reported steps taken by some Iraqi armed groups toward disarmament are a welcome and encouraging development. This represents a positive response to the persistent calls and aspirations of our religious authorities and esteemed scholars and leaders. I express my deepest appreciation and gratitude for their wisdom, moral leadership,
and principled guidance, which continues to serve as a guiding compass for the nation.
At the same time, statements alone are not enough. Disarmament must be comprehensive, irreversible, and implemented within a clear and binding national framework.
This process must also include the complete dismantling of all armed groups and ensure an orderly and legal transition of their members to civilian life.
According to the Iraqi Constitution and the rule of law, no political party, organization, or individual has the right to possess or operate armed formations outside the authority of the state. This principle applies throughout Iraq without exception. The exclusive authority to bear arms and use force must remain solely with the legitimate federal and regional institutions entrusted with organizing, commanding, and managing the armed forces to protect the Iraqi people and defend the country’s sovereignty.
Iraq stands today at a crucial crossroads: either it moves forward on the path of sovereignty, stability, prosperity, unity and the rule of law, or it remains trapped in a spiral of disintegration and insecurity, where illegal armed groups exploit state resources for personal interests and foreign agendas, further undermining state authority.
Article quote: "Savaya travels to Baghdad to discuss the nature of the relationship between Washington and Baghdad in the next phase" That little phrase they've been using aggressively since mid-November, 'the next phase'. To me...'the next phase' means when they've gone and have become international...
They're saying he's going there when Iraq has achieved that next phase status of going international ...They're hiding the actual date from us when he's going there. All we have right now is after Christmas and now they're using words like in 'the next phase'...You want to know when the rate will change? It'll happen in close proximity to when Savaya is going to Iraq, when they are international.
As of yesterday, for the first time, the UN as of right now since Iraq has achieved stability to do their own thing, they're now stable enough to be independent. They're now deemed for the first time as a sovereign state by the United Nations...That's why the UN along with the US is exiting their operations and they have turned their major buildings and facilities back to the country of Iraq.
IRAQ’S GOLD RESERVES REACHED THEIR HIGHEST HISTORICAL VALUE… AND WARNINGS WERE ISSUED AGAINST USING THEM TO COVER THE FINANCIAL DEFICIT
In economic observatory announced that Iraq’s gold reserves have reached historic levels, amounting to approximately $23 billion and 64 million, warning against using them to solve the country’s financial deficit crisis.
The Eco Iraq Observatory said in a press statement on Saturday, December 20, 2025, that Iraq bought about 8.2 tons of gold during 2025, which raised its total reserves to 170.9 tons, indicating that “this increase was distributed as follows: one ton in March, 1.6 tons in June, 3.1 tons in July, and 2.5 tons in August.”
The observatory explained that “Iraq’s total reserves of 170.9 tons are currently equivalent to $23 billion and 64 million, which is the highest level that the value of gold reserves has reached in the history of Iraq.”
The Economic Observatory attributed the large increase in the value of the reserve to “the rise in global gold prices, and not to the size of the quantities purchased during 2025,
which constituted 64% since the beginning of this year.”
“Eco Iraq” warned against any “manipulation” of the gold reserves to cover the financial deficit that Iraq is suffering from, “whether by selling part of it or subjecting it to high-risk investments,” stressing that it is “a sovereign asset allocated for financial stability and not for achieving immediate revenues.”
MNT GOAT Update: Full ASYCUDA Implementation Confirms the Purpose Behind the Plan
In the latest MNT GOAT update, we receive confirmation of something long anticipated but often misunderstood: 👉 Nothing in Iraq’s monetary reform happens by accident.
The General Authority of Customs has officially announced the full implementation of the advance customs declaration system (ASYCUDA) at the beginning of next year, covering all imported goods and merchandise.
For seasoned observers, this announcement is far more than routine bureaucracy — it is a strategic signal.
Why ASYCUDA Matters More Than Most Realize
ASYCUDA is not just a customs software system. It is:
A direct enforcement link between customs and the CBI
This system has been discussed for years — and now it is finally reaching full operational status.
The December Trial Phase: Not a Coincidence
According to the article:
December 1–31 is the trial phase
Full application begins early next year
All federal customs centers are included
Kurdistan ports are temporarily excluded due to lack of linkage
This confirms December was used as a testing and calibration period, not a failure.
Connecting the Dots: CBI Zero Removal & ASYCUDA
If you recall events around December 1st:
The CBI announced plans to remove the zeros
The target was later postponed
ASYCUDA was only partially implemented
The parallel market briefly reacted with a rise in the dollar
Cue the noise.
The “Devaluation” Nonsense
So-called economic experts immediately claimed:
The dinar needed devaluation
The CBI had lost control
Monetary reform was failing
Yet, none of these claims addressed the
real issue: 👉 Customs revenue and currency control systems were not fully synchronized yet.
Why Coordinate ASYCUDA With Monetary Reform?
The article answers this directly:
“The electronic link between customs declarations and the Central Bank of Iraq will directly contribute to reducing currency smuggling and money transfers without corresponding goods.”
In Simple Terms
No goods → no money transfer
No fake invoices → no dollar leakage
No smuggling → no parallel market pressure
This coordination is essential before any normalization or reinstatement.
Purpose, Not Panic
The temporary dollar fluctuation was not failure — it was a controlled stress test.
The CBI needed to:
Observe market reactions
Identify weaknesses
Finalize systems
Eliminate loopholes
This is how serious monetary reform is done.
Savaya’s Visit & The Final Unknown
At this point, MNT GOAT notes:
Savaya’s visit was reportedly very successful
The remaining variable is Iranian-backed militias
Disarmament signals are positive, but outcomes remain to be seen
With these factors in mind, the obvious question emerges:
👉 When will the RV happen?
Timing Perspective: Closer Than Ever
While no exact date is guaranteed, one thing is clear:
Customs systems are aligning
CBI controls are tightening
Political pressure is escalating
Security reform is advancing
📌 Iraq has never been this prepared — or this close.
Featured Snippets (Google Discover Ready)
🔹 What is ASYCUDA and why is it important? ASYCUDA is a global customs system that captures revenue, reduces corruption, and links imports directly to the central bank.
🔹 Why did the CBI delay zero removal? Partial ASYCUDA implementation needed completion to prevent currency smuggling and market instability.
🔹 Is this a sign the RV is near? Yes. Full customs control is a prerequisite for monetary normalization.
Q&A: MNT GOAT ASYCUDA Update Explained
Q: Is December just a test phase?
A: Yes. December was used as a controlled trial run.
Q: Why exclude Kurdistan ports?
A: They are not yet fully linked to the ASYCUDA system.
Q: Was the dollar spike a failure?
A: No. It exposed gaps that are now being closed.
Q: Are we waiting on anything else?
A: Primarily militia disarmament and final political alignment.
Final Thoughts
This update reinforces one central truth:
🧩 Every piece is being put in place deliberately.
Customs reform, currency control, political sovereignty, and monetary readiness are converging — not randomly, but by design.
🎄 Wishing everyone a Very Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah. 🚀 Let’s see what 2026 brings — because we have never been this close to the RV.
MNT GOAT: The General Authority of Customs announced the full implementation of the advance customs declaration system at the beginning of next year, to include all imported goods and merchandise. If you recall a couple recent past articles right around December 1st, when the CBI announced they would remove the zeros and then later postponed this target.
At this time the ASYCUDA system was only partially implemented causing a temporary rise in the parallel market with the dollar. Remember how many of these so-called economic experts claimed the CBI needed to do a devaluation of the dinar. Remember all this nonsense? I am trying to help you understand that things just don’t happen there is a purpose.
So, in today’s article again it is pointing towards the end of the year for full ASYCUDA system implementation, using December as it trial run. Does this coincide with the event we want? Why coordinate these two events? Let’s read on in the article as it tells us why.
He pointed out that “the period from the first until (31) of this month represents a trial phase in preparation for generalizing the system to all goods and merchandise in the federal customs centers, stressing that the Kurdistan Region of Iraq ports are temporarily excluded because they are not linked to the ASYCUDA system adopted by the Authority.”
Daoud stressed that “the electronic link between customs declarations and the Central Bank of Iraq will directly contribute to reducing currency smuggling and money transfers without corresponding goods.”
________________________________________
There is not much more to say at this point in time. The visit by Savaya supposedly was very successful and now we wait to see what happens with the Iranian backed militia. Having read my RV Status for this period when do you think the RV will happen?
I wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah! Let’s see what 2026 brings us. We have never been this close to the RV.
AFTER THE PRIME MINISTER’S NAME WAS DECIDED, THE COORDINATION FRAMEWORK MOVED TO NEGOTIATING THE GOVERNMENT PROGRAM
Non-controversial
The atmosphere of the movement within the Coordination Framework, the broader umbrella for Shiite political forces in Parliament, is moving towards a crucial stage, the title of which is agreeing on a name and program for the next Prime Minister, in an attempt to produce a candidate who can manage the next stage and open the door to understanding with the rest of the political forces within the framework of constitutional entitlements and political calming, which seems to have decided on the name of the Prime Minister internally, to move practically to negotiating the government program and its priorities before the official announcement of the candidate.
Salam Al-Zubaidi, a member of the Coordination Framework, confirmed to Baghdad Today that “the intensive meetings and gatherings held by the Framework’s forces are witnessing remarkable progress in viewpoints, and there is a broad understanding on the need to choose a figure capable of managing the next stage efficiently and achieving political and service stability,
while taking into account the country’s supreme interest.”
Al-Zubaidi explained that “the discussions are not limited to names only, but also include the government program and executive work priorities, foremost among them improving the economic situation, supporting security and stability, and enhancing public confidence in official institutions, and agreement on these files is proceeding in parallel with the naming file.
According to political data obtained by “Baghdad Today,” most of the figures close to the coordinating framework, who appear on political programs on television, confirm in their talks that “the decision has already been made,” and that the candidate is a figure from the Middle Euphrates region, a graduate of Baghdad University, and does not provoke a sharp dispute among the main Shiite forces.
These data indicate that the current discussion is focused on the details of the government program, which was likely formulated primarily in agreement with the candidate himself, and that the ongoing dialogues aim to incorporate the observations of the various forces before announcing the final version.
Al-Zubaidi added that “the positive atmosphere prevailing in the dialogues reflects the keenness of all parties to avoid disputes and move towards a genuine consensus that leads to the formation of a strong government capable of facing internal and external challenges, and the next few days may witness an official announcement of the name of the candidate for the premiership.”
The member of the coordinating framework concluded by saying that “the current stage requires calming down and clearly prioritizing the logic of dialogue and understanding, and the framework is proceeding with completing the constitutional entitlements in accordance with the legal contexts and in a way that fulfills the aspirations of the citizens.”
Three key factional figures broke the scene in the past few hours with similar statements, in which they expressed their readiness to hand over weapons and confine them to the hands of the state, in a move that is read – according to political sources – as one of the signs of paving the way for the new political stage, and an early message of support for the next government and its supposed security program.
The political arena is witnessing intense activity to resolve the issue of forming the new government, amid popular anticipation of the process of choosing the next Prime Minister, and whether he will be able to manage the economic and service crises and reduce the severity of political tension, after previous government experiences marred by disputes and the failure to implement reform programs.
MNT GOAT: Did You Hear the Fantastic News? All the Pieces Are Falling Into Place
For long-term Iraqi dinar investors, this update from MNT GOAT delivers some of the most encouraging signals yet. After years of concern, the issue of Iranian-backed militias, political instability, and delayed reforms appears to be reaching a turning point.
What we are witnessing is not a single event, but a series of interconnected developments unfolding according to a broader plan.
Militias: Investor Concerns May Finally Be Easing
Many investors have long believed that armed militias were the final major obstacle to Iraq’s full sovereignty and monetary reform.
Now, there is real cause for optimism:
The United States is openly standing up to Iranian influence
As investors our worries about these militias could be over. I am very glad that the U.S. is standing up to Iranian influence in Iraq after all we did not sacrifice our soldiers for nothing in getting rid of Saddam Hussien. Was all this fuss over oil really worth it? I say this sarcastically as we all know it is as the demand for oil continually increases around the globe. Also with the increases in non-oil revenues, Iraq will not be able to divert some of this oil revenues (very little when compared) to allow for these oil credits to be cashed in over time. So, what we experience in this investment is a series of events that are all interconnected and can not stand alone. There is a plan being carried out.
Personally. I believe that if these militias must show some sort of ‘good faith’ disarmament in the coming days or week, the U.S. might be satisfied with this mandate they have made to Iraq. Remember “Statements alone are not enough.” However, we don’t know what will happen and December 29th is just a week away. Personally, I also believe that the CBI wants to begin to conduct the removal of the zeros right around this timeframe and so we will see what happens. Remember that the GOI is playing catch up. My CBI contact also told me on my call over the weekend to Iraq that we will see articles about the removal of these larger three-zero notes and the swap out.
She told me we already should have witnessed much recent news about the removal of the zeros and so pay close attention. She also said the CBI site will be updated with pictures of the newer lower denominations soon once the trigger is pulled to begin. She also warned me that the swap out may not occur exactly as we all think. She said there are NOT going to be big lines at the Iraqi banks to exchange, or huge celebrations with fireworks and music….she laughed at how silly many U.S. investors perceive this event, when it does occur. I concurred with her feedback as I too believe that these idiot so-called, self-proclaimed intel gurus in the U.S. have commercialized this entire ordeal and made it much more complicated that it really is going to be.
There is more promising news to tell today. I am not over yet!
In the article titled “THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS CHANGING THE RULES OF WAR IN IRAQ: A SOFT POWER STRATEGY TO WRITE A NEW CHAPTER.” The title of the article speaks volumes of the Trump administration towards Iraq. Remember almost a year ago I said we just had to sit tight and see what this new Trump administration would do towards its foreign policy with Iraq and the middle east in general. Well… now we can read it and its all in black and white. Folks, this is exactly the kind of foreign policy we needed to be hearing from the U.S. This is now a partnership, like when a child steps out of childhood and can now make adult talk with his/her parents. The parent relationship turns to friendship. There are many reasons why this is good for both parties. In this regard I just wanted to bring this section from the article to reinforce this concept:
“From conflict to partnership”
“In this regard, the Prime Minister’s Advisor for Foreign Relations, Farhad Ala’a Al-Din, believes that the decision to cancel the authorization to use force against Iraq represents an important political and legal step, reflecting the fact that Iraq today is a fully sovereign state, and that the stage of war is now a thing of the past.
Alaa al-Din explained to Shafaq News Agency that the decision confirms the shift in the relationship with Washington from a logic of conflict to a logic of partnership and mutual respect, noting that its security implications are represented in strengthening the principle of sovereignty, supporting political stability, and establishing a normal relationship between the two countries.”
In the next article titled “TRUMP ENVOY AND JOE WILSON: WE WILL MAKE IRAQ GREAT AGAIN” we read that Washington – Mark Savaya, President Donald Trump’s envoy, wrote on the “X” platform (formerly Twitter) on Thursday that he met with US Congressman Joe Wilson and it was a “great meeting.” “It was a great meeting with U.S. Congressman Joe Wilson and his team,” Savaya said in his post, adding, “We will make Iraq great again.” Folks can it get any better than this?
One more interesting topic for today includes the article titled “A NEW SHIFT IN CUSTOMS PROCEDURES IS EXPECTED AT THE BEGINNING OF NEXT YEAR.” Again I want you to remember the past (years ago) and what we heard about the ASYCUDA system. We heard that if the GOI can reign in all this revenue into the coffers of the federal treasury this revenue could rival the oil revenues. The needed the internationally used ASYCUDA system to do this. This was NOT just a haphazard statement. It was a projection of the future revenues outside of the oil revenues. It is a huge part of the security away from sole oil revenues. No one, including all these silly economists, that Iraq is not on its way to enormous growth and revenues.
