Iran announces decline in trade with Iraq over the past 11 months
Shafaq News / The Iranian Customs Authority announced on Saturday that ten countries accounted for 84% of its total trade over the past 11 months, amid a decline in trade with Iraq during this period.
According to a statement from the Iranian Customs Authority, trade with these ten countries amounted to 136.064 million tons valued at $88.441 billion during the mentioned period.
The statement highlighted that the top trading partners with Iran, constituting 84% of the country's total trade with the world, are China, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Iraq, India, Pakistan, Russia, Oman, Germany, and Afghanistan.
It was further mentioned that trade with Iraq decreased by 5% in terms of value and by 1% in terms of quantity over the 11 months.
The statement continued, noting that trade with Russia saw the highest increase among the top 10 trading partners, with a quantity increase of 54% and a value increase of 24%.
Noteworthy, Trade between Iraq and Iran is characterized by deep economic ties and mutual dependency, with both countries serving as significant trading partners.
Their relation is bolstered by geographical proximity, historical connections, and complementary economic needs.
Energy trade, particularly in crude oil, natural gas, and electricity, forms a substantial portion of the bilateral exchange.
Cross-border commerce facilitated by numerous active border crossings plays a vital role in facilitating the movement of goods and people between the two nations.
Both countries operate within a legal framework governed by bilateral agreements and international trade regulations, although informal trade also contributes to overall trade volumes.
Overall, trade between Iraq and Iran stands as a crucial component of their respective economies, offering avenues for investment, commerce, and mutual prosperity.
We have marshal laws in some states and they will watch them closely, but we will also have those NDAs and they will make the decision on how long you will be on your exchange, so you really need to have a good attitude when you go to that exchange, so if seems trustworthy, they may give you a shorter NDA.
Now as long as you have enough coin or Zim and when you set up your QFS account and only use that QFS to send to your main account, and Bruce of course has the LLC accounts, but his WM will help you with all of that, we will have up to 1 .5 billion from the QFS to that main account, and they will offer a good interest rate on those funds and then you will have access to the rest of those funds after 90 days; It's just set up so we don't do it. transfer funds too quickly.
So you have to call using the 800 number and then you have that 30 minute appointment for a quick exchange – and you really have to be conscious and think and look them in the eye and read that documentation and make your presentation and they will count and verify their coins and, If you have bonuses, have your receipt to show how you received them, etc., as well as receipts if you have them. Their Zim Bonds are bearer bonds and they are great.
It's really going to be very fast: you'll have a QFS account and a main account and that's all they'll have time for. I'm not sure when the USTN will be out, but we may have an EBS over the weekend. and also the return of President Trump perhaps within the next week. What Sue mentioned about Zimbabwe (they've had that dollar backed by gold for about three months) is really good and shows the strength of the country's resources: oil, gold and many things of value, and it could even be the Reserve. African currency. So we'll see how that all works out – looking for a strong weekend – we know there's cleanup and arrests, but we hear we're at the point of no return and now we can do it. So that's ALL I have for tonight, pray for the call. We hope this is a great weekend.
– join Bruce in this very special prayer and, as always, continue to pray those heartfelt prayers until this Heavenly Blessing is fully manifested in ALL OUR LIVES – Humanity desperately needs this Heavenly Blessing – and ALL our prayers are heard by Our Father and heaven. I LOVE YOU ALL
We also believe, we also know, that 400,000 emails are, if not overnight, starting tomorrow and they are for T4B and mainly for North America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the Caribbean islands, so We can say, it's mainly Zim headlines starting tomorrow, and don't be surprised. if they don't leave before lunch time and they want us Zim holders to come in first because they want the hydration and for us these funds go to our QFS account and then we move a certain amount of funds to our main account, and really we won.
I don't have much time to do more so for me between 10 and noon tomorrow, but if 400,000 leave, more will leave later that day and including Thursday, we thought they would all go at once, but that's not exactly what's going to happen – - then at least we can call with the 800 number – are you in the first one? – I don't know – but if you only have currency don't worry, your email will arrive. And don't worry, I will put the 800 on our website and everyone will receive it as soon as we can make it available.
That's really interesting, the 10 a.m. start. m. for the bond sellers and then we are next. And this is what our best sources told us last night at midnight – on Monday within 24 – 36 hours WE WILL ALL BE SMILING FROM EAR TO EAR – we know that the banks and RC had four employees today and 6 tomorrow and that is to take appointments and if you get those numbers, we could make exchanges tomorrow. I really want us all to smile from ear to ear and tomorrow is January 24th so maybe the Chinese will get their 8 after all and I know everyone is ready for a life changing event. This will happen and we expect those numbers tomorrow and also for the Admiral in T4A. So if this happens like I'm told, we won't have a call on Thursday, but maybe just a link in an email for a celebratory call. .
So if we have your email, you're signed up and that's the main way we'll communicate with you: we have things to do in those first few weeks and plans to upgrade our house or car and even a vacation, whatever you want to do. - DO IT – and then we'll be ready to start all those projects. Remember we were looking for people who still wanted to get involved with some of them. We will have questionnaires you can take online for that. I'm really encouraged by what I heard and I want everyone to stay focused and look for those emails and this is what I heard today so have faith that it will manifest.
Thanking all the listeners around the world.
I know you ALL will pray with Bruce and I know you will continue to pray because all of Humanity desperately needs him, as you ALL know. I love you ALL, gem.
Shafaq News / The bilateral relationship between Iraq and the United States is multifaceted, reflecting a complex history marked by significant shifts and evolving dynamics. Since the 2003 US-led invasion that resulted in the removal of Saddam Hussein's regime, the relationship has traversed various phases characterized by both cooperation and challenges.
There has been a notable transition towards cooperation in recent years, particularly in critical areas such as security, counterterrorism, and economic development.
Collaboration in combating the ISIS threat stands out as a significant milestone, with the United States providing essential support to Iraqi security forces in their efforts to defeat the terrorist organization.
Economically, the US remains an influential partner for Iraq, with trade and investment playing pivotal roles in bilateral ties. Additionally, American assistance in infrastructure development, healthcare, and education highlights the depth of engagement between the two nations.
However, challenges persist, including issues related to Iraqi sovereignty, the presence of US military forces, and divergent foreign policy agendas. Domestic political dynamics in both countries further influence the trajectory of the relationship.
Notwithstanding occasional tensions and divergences, Iraq and the United States continue to engage in diplomatic dialogue and cooperation, aiming to address shared challenges while managing differences effectively. This nuanced approach reflects the complexity of their relationship and the ongoing efforts to foster mutual understanding and collaboration.
Observers maintain that the United States stands as Iraq's foremost strategic ally. Hence, there is a national interest in solidifying ties with the US. However, this necessitates clearly defined terms to avert ambiguity that might lead to deviations from stated positions.
Presently, the Iraqi-US relation appears relatively tranquil, with a decline in assaults on bases and camps housing US forces by insurgent factions.
Nevertheless, deliberations persist concerning the termination of the Global Coalition's mission aimed at combating ISIS. This was stressed by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani during his recent press briefing, where he disclosed receiving communication from the US administration regarding the matter.
A series of assaults, notably the assassination of a prominent leader within Al-Nujaba Movement in Baghdad on January 5th, prompted Al-Sudani to characterize the Coalition as a destabilizing factor in the region.
Consequently, he announced the initiation of talks aimed at terminating its presence in Iraq.
Meanwhile, the US national radio NPR posited that the recent assassination of Kata'ib Hezbollah leader Abu Baqir Al-Saadi on February 7th holds broader implications for the future of American military involvement.
Speculation abounds that the Global Coalition may dissolve within a year, with the US potentially maintaining a symbolic military presence within Iraq.
WITHDRAWAL WITHIN A YEAR
The Iraqi government has repeatedly and explicitly declared its lack of need for foreign forces on Iraqi soil, as confirmed by the member of the Parliamentary Security and Defense Committee, Allawi Nima al-Bandawi. He said, "Hence, successive governments, following this agreement, have expressed the need for training forces during the previous period, which witnessed security threats and terrorism."
"However, thanks to the efforts of all Iraqi forces, including the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), the Peshmerga, the Interior Ministry, the Defense Ministry, and the Counterterrorism Apparatus, all Iraqi territories have been liberated from ISIS. Therefore, the government sought another way to reduce the size of foreign presence in Iraq."
He clarified, "The government is committed to resolving this issue and has formed a high-level technical security committee to study the withdrawal of the remaining foreign forces from Iraqi territory while maintaining diplomatic and economic relations. The Security and Defense Committee also met with the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and political forces to discuss this matter."
Moreover, according to Al-Bandawi, the Parliament supports the government's direction on this issue, having emphasized on multiple occasions the necessity to end the mission of the Coalition in Iraq, advocating for a multifaceted relation encompassing economic, political, and other aspects.
Addressing concerns about the possibility of mutual targeting until withdrawal, he noted, "The political forces and armed factions, most of which are part of the government, have announced halting their attacks and allowing the government to negotiate the termination of the Coalition's presence. The latter will be more disciplined until its expected withdrawal within a year, based on criteria, foremost among them being the improvement of the security situation in Iraq."
THE FUTURE OF THE RELATIONSHIP
On the other hand, retired Brig. Gen. Dr. Emad Alou, a researcher in strategic and military affairs, pointed out the distinction between US forces and the termination of the mission of the Global Coalition, which includes more than 60 countries. This Coalition was established at the request of the Iraqi government and authorized by the United Nations.
Alou explained to Shafaq News Agency, "As for scheduling the end of the Coalition's mission, this is the concern of committees that emerged from bilateral talks between Iraq and the US military technical delegation. These committees have not reached a clear result so far, and their outcomes have not been announced. The discussions are still ongoing, but three committees emerged from this bilateral meeting."
He continued, "On the other hand, both Iraq and the US are keen to ensure that the future of their relationship is built on cooperation and mutual respect, as outlined in the previous Strategic Framework Agreement. This includes areas such as industry, agriculture, scientific cooperation, cultural exchange, and visits."
Furthermore, he elaborated, "There is also a security aspect to this agreement, and its development or transition to a new phase is necessitated by the Strategic Framework Agreement, which has been in place for about ten years. Therefore, reviewing it to determine the positive direction of the relationship between Iraq and the US has become necessary. Both parties are keen on this."
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE GLOBAL COALITION'S PRESENCE
The presence of the Global Coalition yields political, economic, and security returns. Iraq is required to engage with international politics and the international security system in the region, where the Coalition forces are stationed, especially considering Iraq's strategic location in the region.
Iraq possesses resources and capabilities that could enable the Coalition forces to transition from a security relation to an economic and investment one, according to Dr. Mu'taz Al-Najim, an international relations professor.
Al-Najm emphasized to Shafaq News Agency, "Iraq needs such economic or political relations. The Global Coalition acknowledges that the US is the guarantor of the Iraqi economy, as Iraq's economic resources and oil revenues go to the Federal Reserve."
He noted that "the US is a superpower, and there is no better strategic partner for Iraq than the US. Therefore, it is in the national interest to solidify the relation with it, but to define its nature rather than have ambiguous and unclear relations, which would lead to behaviors differing from statements."
There was a clear indication of the strategic nature of the relationship when Al-Sudani mentioned at a recent Munich conference that there is a strong, long-standing relationship and a strategic partnership with the US.
Al-Najim asserted that "this should continue to ensure political gains, especially as the country is still internally fragmented and requires an official sponsor and real support at the regional and international levels to secure Iraq's interests and its leading position."
He added, "Therefore, the US is the best ally Iraq can rely on and benefit from by defining the nature of the relation and dealing with it. Although the Coalition forces are there for security reasons, the stronger the security, the more attractive the political and economic policies become. Conversely, as security weakens, so does the economy."
Furthermore, "security is the foundation of everything and peace cannot continue without it as security is the essential element for attracting politics, economics, stability, and the process of achieving sustainable development."
However, in recent times, there have been emerging issues, such as assassinations, which Dr. Al-Najim considered as dangerous indicators. He believed that "individual assassinations are more dangerous than missiles and drones because they are ambiguous and involve internal parties. This problem could escalate, especially considering the quality of the targeted individuals, who may be affiliated with factions with armed wings and political representation."
He pointed out that "these assassinations could be a dangerous start to undermining internal security and stability. They are messages to Al-Sudani, indicating the importance of dealing with these challenges that could return the country to internal conflicts and become the first stage of internal fighting, especially since some factions and tribes possess medium and heavy weapons."
Regarding the repercussions of the withdrawal of the Global Coalition, he explained that "the problem in Iraq lies in the absence of strong intelligence. Therefore, if Iraq can benefit from the Coalition's capabilities by activating the intelligence aspect to provide Iraqi security forces with information about those who carry out attacks and assassinations, given their complete control over the airspace, Iraq lacks strong intelligence efforts, air defense forces, or sensory devices for some crimes that may occur."
He asserted that "Baghdad needs to define the nature of its relation with Washington and be a partner to the Global Coalition forces, a genuine strategic partnership based on high Iraqi national interests. Al-Sudani realizes the importance of the Coalition's presence and the United States. Still, Iraqi practices in forming committees are to alleviate the pressure exerted on Al-Sudani by some entities, emphasizing the necessity of expelling the US and the Coalition from Iraq."
The law of one price...states that the price of an identical asset or commodity will have the same price globally, regardless of location...The law of one price takes into account a frictionless market, where there are no transaction costs, transportation costs, or legal restrictions, the currency exchange rates are the same, and that there is no price manipulation by buyers or sellers.
The law of one price exists because differences between asset prices in different locations would eventually be eliminated due to the arbitrage...The arbitrage opportunity would be achieved whereby a trader would purchase the asset in the market it is available at a lower price and then sell it in the market where it is available at a higher price. Over time, market equilibrium forces would align the prices of the asset. This should clear up the misconception of getting a better rate at a bank versus a redemption center, etc.... The rate will be the rate, no matter where, due to the law of One Price.
Seek the expertise of an Asset Protection Specialist...Hiring a Team: Tax Professional, Wealth Manager, Attorneys, etc...is a waste of money and time. Hiring an Asset Protection Specialist is the best way to prevent lawsuits, mitigate and manage taxes, and estate planning. "Hiring A Team" is like hiring a pack of wolves to guard your hen-house.
[NOTE: Speak to many different financial experts to find the right expert for your unique situation.]
International attorneys told me...there would be ten off premises exchange locations allocated by regional population throughout the Nation. I am assuming they are using the 10 United Nations Regions, roughly the same as Federal Regions...I was told...there would be an exchange facility in the most heavily populated city in that region. For instance, Region ten encompasses Washington State and Seattle would be the location for that region...Also, by Off Premises, I mean locations that were NOT inside banks but usually nearby to a participating bank...These are what the unlearned are calling Redemption Centers.
Some opine that there is no such thing as a Redemption Center while others claim to be in contact with such Centers and their personnel. What they (redemption centers) are, is a simple solution to a simple problem.
Many of the large banks in heavily populated urban centers were concerned about having the Dinar traffic clog their lobbies at exchange time. The solution is to have a separate, off-premises, specialized, Exchange Center, complete with Delaru computer, in the most populated city in each of the 10 federal regions...I haven't been informed of any changes.
US Troops to Stay in Syria and Iraq but Perhaps Not for Long
In recent weeks, there have been meetings in Washington and in Baghdad about the presence in Iraq and Syria of US troops, whose official mandate is to aid local forces against remnants of the so-called Islamic State (IS).
These meetings come following the post-October 7 surge of attacks on US forces in the region by Iran-backed Shia militias seeking to take advantage of the Israel-Hamas war and Arab public anger over unconditional US support for Israel. The Biden administration does not want to be seen as “cutting and running,” as that would show these militias and their patron in Tehran that they can drive the United States out of the Middle East. The strong US military response earlier in February following a January 28 Iraqi militia drone strike killed three American servicemembers at a US base in Jordan has temporarily stopped such attacks. But the ongoing discussions in the US and Iraqi capitals suggest that Washington may be planning for an eventual withdrawal.
Since 2013 the United States has partnered with the Syrian Kurds to combat IS in the northeastern part of the country. US military commanders found that these Kurds, mostly associated with the People’s Protection Units (YPG), were experienced fighters willing to sacrifice to rid their area of the IS presence. The fact that these Kurds incurred more than 10,000 casualties in the counter-IS campaign earned them the respect of the US military. Given that large parts of northeastern Syria are inhabited by Arab Sunni tribes, however, the United States worked with the Syrian Kurds to bring ethnic Arabs into their militia force, thereby creating the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
This force is the main protector of the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), formerly called Rojava, which means “west” in the Syrian Kurdish dialect and refers to what Syrian Kurds see as the western part of traditional Kurdistan.