The United Nations announces its support for Iraq in recovering its smuggled funds and combating cross-border corruption, 23 FEB

  The United Nations announces its support for Iraq in recovering its smuggled funds and combating cross-border corruption

The Deputy Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ghulam Mohammad Ishaqzai, expressed his readiness today, Friday, to remove the obstacles that prevent Iraq from recovering its smuggled funds.

The head of the Federal Integrity Commission (Mohammed Ali Al-Lami), according to a statement by the Integrity Commission received by (Al-Mada), stressed "the importance of cooperation with international organizations to recover Iraq's smuggled funds, indicating that corruption and the smuggling of its proceeds have become problems that cross borders and continents and require international cooperation to limit them.

During his meeting with (Ghulam Mohammad Ishaqzai), Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for Iraq, Al-Lami praised the programs launched by the organizations affiliated with the United Nations and their assistance to Iraq in various fields after 2003; to overcome the problems and dilemmas left by the dictatorial regime and to support state institutions to advance them after the damage they suffered after the change, noting that Iraq is one of the first countries to join the United Nations and the treaties and agreements emanating from it, including the United Nations Convention against Corruption.

Al-Lami expressed his "hope that international organizations would help Iraq recover its funds that were looted before 2003, and for which binding resolutions were issued by the UN Security Council, pointing to the establishment of the Iraq Fund Recovery Fund to recover all financial rights of the Republic of Iraq that were obtained by others through illegal means; as a result of the misuse of the Oil for Food Program, the blockade, smuggling, economic sabotage, or exploitation of the sanctions imposed on Iraq; to achieve financial gains at the expense of the Iraqi people."

He stressed the need to implement international resolutions and restore Iraq's money, in order to invest it in the reconstruction process, build infrastructure and achieve development.

For his part, Ghulam Mohammad Ishaqzai, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, expressed his "readiness to overcome the obstacles that prevent Iraq from recovering its smuggled funds, and to continue cooperating with the Iraqi oversight agencies to hold workshops and seminars to develop their staff and increase their expertise in the field of preventing, combating, and prosecuting corruption perpetrators."

He praised "the pioneering experiences of the Iraqi Integrity Commission, stressing the importance of establishing strategic partnerships with the Commission based on the experiences gained by the organizations affiliated with the United Nations in dealing with international files in various parts of the world.  link

SANDY INGRAM CC HIGHLIGHTS NOTES, 23 FEB

 SANDY INGRAM CC HIGHLIGHTS NOTES

Highlights

Summary

In a recent report, significant tensions between the United States and Iraq have emerged, primarily driven by the Trump Administration’s demands for Iraq to dismantle armed factions affiliated with Iran.

 Over the past two weeks, the U.S. has communicated the urgency of disarming these groups, leading to an increase in sanctions against Iraqi banks—28 out of 44 are now on the sanctions list. 

The administration’s focus is on disrupting the influence of Iranian-backed militias, particularly those involved in attacks against U.S. and Israeli targets. 

This has intensified discussions around Iraq’s sovereignty and the potential for economic sanctions as a means of coercion. Iraqi officials are concerned about the implications of U.S. measures, especially in light of existing sanctions and the precarious political landscape. Despite pressure, the Iraqi government faces significant challenges in addressing the demands of U.S. officials, as many factions refuse to comply. The report emphasizes a complex political climate where both external pressures and internal dynamics contribute to the escalating situation.

• 📉 Escalating Sanctions: The U.S. has sanctioned 28 out of 44 Iraqi banks, highlighting the financial pressure on Iraq.
• 💥 Armed Factions Targeted: The Trump Administration demands the disarmament of Iranian-linked militia groups threatening U.S. interests.
• 🔄 Political Confrontation Looms: Iraqi officials warn of a potential political confrontation with the U.S. as demands intensify.
• ⚔️  Iran’s Influence: The U.S. is particularly focused on preventing Iranian supply of advanced weaponry to Iraqi factions.
• 📜 Sovereignty Concerns: Iraqi leaders express concerns over U.S. interference in their political and military decisions.
• ⚖️ Economic Pressures Expected: Anticipated economic sanctions may further complicate Iraq’s financial system and relations with Iran.
• 🏛️ Complex Political Landscape: Internal divisions among Iraqi political parties make compliance with U.S. demands challenging.

Key Insights

• 📊 Impact of Sanctions on Banking Sector: The U.S. sanctions against Iraqi banks significantly undermine the nation’s financial stability. With 28 banks on the list, the risk of economic collapse looms, especially as these banks play a critical role in financing the public and private sectors. The implications of such sanctions are profound, potentially leading to a liquidity crisis that could ripple through the entire economy.

• ⚖️ The Challenge of Disarmament: The dismantling of Iran-linked militias poses a substantial challenge for the Iraqi government, which lacks the power to enforce compliance effectively. Many factions operate independently, viewing the U.S. presence as an occupation. This disconnect between government authority and militia autonomy complicates efforts to implement U.S. directives, indicating a need for a more nuanced approach that respects Iraq’s sovereignty while addressing security concerns.

• 🔗  Iran’s Strategic Role: Iran’s influence in Iraq is pivotal, underscoring the geopolitical complexities at play. The Iranian-backed militias not only serve as military entities but also as political actors within Iraq. Any attempt to dismantle these factions must consider the broader implications for Iraq’s political stability and the delicate balance of power among various sectarian groups.

• 📈 Potential for Increased Conflict: The ongoing tensions and potential for U.S. sanctions may provoke a backlash from the armed factions, leading to increased violence against U.S. and allied interests. The factions’ history of retaliation, particularly in response to external pressures, raises concerns about a possible escalation of conflict, which could destabilize the region further.

• 💼 Economic Reforms and U.S. Interests: The U.S. is not only focused on disarmament but also on reforming Iraq’s financial systems to exclude Iranian influence. These reforms are viewed as essential for stabilizing the Iraqi economy and ensuring that U.S. interests are safeguarded. However, such measures may face significant resistance from entrenched political and economic interests aligned with Iran.

• 🏛️ Political Confusion in Iraq: The current political landscape in Iraq is marked by confusion and a lack of clear communication among leaders regarding the U.S. pressures. This disarray may hinder the government’s ability to respond effectively to both internal and external challenges. As Iraqi politicians grapple with these pressures, the absence of a unified strategy could lead to missteps that jeopardize national security.

• 🌍 International Implications: The situation in Iraq carries broader implications for U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. As Congress considers imposing sanctions, the precedent set could affect U.S. relations with other nations in the region. Moreover, the U.S. approach to Iraq may influence how other countries perceive American commitment to supporting sovereign governments against external threats, particularly from Iran.

In summary, the pressures exerted by the Trump Administration on Iraq to dismantle Iranian-linked militias and the subsequent sanctions imposed on Iraqi banks reflect a significant shift in U.S.-Iraq relations. 

The complex interplay of domestic political challenges, the influence of Iran, and the potential for increased conflict create a precarious situation for the Iraqi government, which must navigate these turbulent waters while maintaining national sovereignty and stability. The coming months will be crucial as U.S. policymakers decide on further actions in response to the evolving geopolitical landscape in Iraq.

AJ : Update: Iraq operates a parallel market for dollar exchange rates within the country!! #iqd

 

Kurdistan delegation responds to the Iraqi oil statement on the resumption of the region’s oil exports, 23 FEB

 Kurdistan delegation responds to the Iraqi oil statement on the resumption of the region’s oil exports

It requires agreeing on local consumption quantities and paying corporate dues

The negotiation delegation of the Kurdistan Regional Government responded, on Saturday, February 22, 2025, to the statement of the Iraqi Ministry of Oil on the resumption of the export of the region’s oil through the port of Cihan.

The delegation said in a statement of which “Al-Jabal” received a copy, that “regarding what was stated in the statement of the Federal Ministry of Oil to complete the procedures for resuming the export of crude oil from the fields of the Kurdistan Region, we would like to show that despite the confirmation of the regional government’s commitment to apply the First Amendment Law of the Federal General Budget Law on the re-export of oil produced from the fields of the region to the Turkish port of Ceyhan through the Petroleum Marketing Company (SUMO), in our joint meeting with the delegation of the Federal Ministry of Oil held on February 18, 2025 in Erbil, it was emphasized that the application of the above law requires before starting the export to agreement on the quantities allocated for the purpose of Domestic consumption according to the actual needs of the region and its obligations, as in the rest of Iraq. ”

The statement added, “The federal side also explained that the matter needs to obtain the approval of the state of the Federal Prime Minister, and on the other hand, re-export requires agreeing on a specific and clear mechanism to pay the dues of production and transport companies to the regional government, as stated in the law and in detail, which was stated in the minutes of the meeting with the delegation of the Federal Ministry of Oil. The federal side made it clear that this matter concerns the Federal Ministry of Finance and this requires discussing this issue with it.”

The statement continued, “Accordingly, we emphasize to the federal side the need to speed up the resolution of the above-mentioned issues, and to obtain approvals from the federal authorities, which we discussed in detail in the meeting, and that the regional government emphasizes the need to re-export the region’s oil as soon as possible by the Oil Marketing Company (SOMO), depositing its revenues in the Federal Treasury and maximizing revenues in the public good.”

Earlier today, the Federal Ministry of Oil announced “the completion of the procedures for resuming the export of oil produced in the Kurdistan Region through the port of Cihan in accordance with the mechanisms outlined in the budget law and its amendment and within the production ceiling set for Iraq in OPEC.”

According to a statement, the ministry requested “the regional authorities to hand over the quantities produced from the operating fields to the oil marketing company, to start exporting through the Iraqi-Turkish pipeline and the port of Ceyhan under the contracts signed with the candidate companies.”

https://aljeebal.com/posts/3827

TIDBIT FROM FNU LNU, 23 FEB

Fnu Lnu  

Article: "The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has announced General Tender No. (1/2025) for the supply, installation, and operation of 65 currency counting and sorting machines for its branches in Basra (35 units) and Mosul (30 units)."

  Here we have another example of Iraq spending billions to build out a state of the art banking system. 

The $64,000.00 question is, when do we get to profit from these infrastructure expenditures? 

MNT GOAT: The solution is to get off the sole peg to dollar"!! @DINARREVALUATION #iraqidinarinvestor

 

Date of resuming the export of the region’s oil through the port of Ceyhan, 23 FEB

 Date of resuming the export of the region’s oil through the port of Ceyhan

Baghdad-Mil  

The Kurdistan Democratic Party confirmed, today, Saturday, the completion of all preparations for resuming the export of the region’s oil through the Turkish Ceyhan pipeline .
Party member, Wafa Mohammed, said in a statement to “Mil”, “The resumption of the region’s oil through the Turkish Ceyhan pipeline will be in March .”
He added that “all technical preparations for resuming Kurdish oil have been completed,” adding that “what remains is to agree with the Turkish side on a price of $3 for transporting one barrel .”
He added, “Oil production will be in three stages, the first of which includes the production of 100,000 barrels per day, the second 200,000 barrels, and the third 300,000 barrels, reaching the required number of 450,000 barrels .”
Earlier today, the Iraqi Prime Minister’s foreign affairs advisor, Farhad Alaaldin, denied media reports claiming that the United States had threatened to impose sanctions on Iraq if oil exports from the Kurdistan Region were not resumed .

https://miliq.news/economy/43064–.html