FRANK26: "KEEP IT UP IRAN".. 22 MARCH

 KTFA

FRANK26:  "KEEP IT UP IRAN"......F26

Exclusive: Qaani in Baghdad on a quick visit, handing over a special message to faction leaders and politicians

3/19/2025

 

An informed source revealed that the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Esmail Qaani, made a brief, unannounced visit to Baghdad.

The source told Shafaq News Agency that Qaani held an important meeting with leaders of the Coordination Framework, in the presence of leaders of the factions and the Popular Mobilization Forces, as well as the Iranian ambassador to Baghdad.

He added that the meeting emphasized the need for Iraq to adhere to neutrality and not interfere in the Syrian conflict, as well as to control the security situation and prevent any attempts outside the framework of the state, amid warnings of dire consequences. The meeting also discussed the expected events following the US attack on the Houthis in Yemen, in addition to dismantling the security situation and the events taking place in the Middle East.

He continued, "Qaani's meeting included Iranian messages to the government, including support for the Iraqi government's position to maintain this balance and not engage with any party against another. However, if Iraq is subjected to an Israeli strike, Iran will not remain silent and will support any position issued by the government or any response issued by armed factions."

This comes after informed sources revealed to Shafaq News Agency that US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth delivered a strongly worded warning message to Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani during a phone call last Sunday.

He added that "Hegseth informed al-Sudani that any interference by Iraqi armed factions in the US targeting of the Houthis in Yemen would prompt Washington to launch a swift military response against those factions inside Iraq, and therefore they must be prevented from any interference, as happened previously in the wars in Lebanon and Gaza."

The sources added that "the US Secretary of Defense stressed to Al-Sudani the need to expedite the resolution of the issue of disarming the armed factions and work to dismantle them. He emphasized that this issue is of great interest to President Trump and his administration, while Al-Sudani confirmed that the government is working on this issue and is in dialogue with the armed parties to reach an agreement in this regard."

These warnings come after Israel resumed its attacks on the Gaza Strip, ending a fragile truce that had lasted for weeks since the ceasefire went into effect in January. They also came after the US began airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen following their threat to maritime navigation.

LINK

EXCERPTS FROM MARKZ, 22 MARCH

 EXCERPTS FROM MARKZ

MZ: I am getting some interesting conversations from some of the groups who are starting to set dates for their redemption crews to be in the (mostly) western US. 

MZ: I don’t want to get myself in trouble by giving out specifics….but some of the groups seem to be bringing in redemption crews specifically for 4b. 

MZ: Not everything in tier 4a is already SKR’d (safe keeping receipts) so if they are starting to set this up …it gives me all kinds f warm fuzzies. 

WALKINGSTICK: He got a rumor that there's a rate and a date!! @DINARREVALUATION #iraqidinarinvestor

 

Al-Alaq: We are working to establish a data center that represents a successful foundation for digital transformation., 22 MARCH

  Al-Alaq: We are working to establish a data center that represents a successful foundation for digital transformation.

3/20/2025  Baghdad

Central Bank Governor Ali Al-Alaq confirmed on Thursday that the digital currency the bank intends to launch will enhance transparency and limit the flow of cash out of banks. He also revealed plans to establish a data center that will serve as a successful platform for digital transformation.

Al-Alaq said in a statement reported by the official news agency, and reviewed by "Al-Eqtisad News," that "financial technologies are developing rapidly, in line with the requirements of the financial and banking sector in terms of speed, accuracy, and economic efficiency, in addition to transparency and oversight. The reality of the digital revolution is imposing itself on all sectors, including the financial and banking sector, which is the most beneficiary of the major transformations taking place."

He added, "Digital currency can serve many purposes, limit the leakage of cash outside banks, and achieve a high degree of transparency, as funds can be tracked, whether in the areas of consumption, investment, savings, or even in legitimate and illegitimate businesses. It also provides important databases for analytical purposes, not just for the movement of paper money, in addition to the economic benefits digital currency offers from printing and tracking currency."

Al-Alaq confirmed that "we have begun taking steps in coordination with international organizations to review initial experiments in the digital currency file, which we do not wish to delay." He explained that "there are existing experiments in some countries in the region, and we are also following up with the Arab Monetary Fund to develop appropriate steps in this direction, and what is required is infrastructure.

" He continued, "The Central Bank has advanced infrastructure, as the new bank building contains a sophisticated data center, and we are also working to establish a data center that will represent a successful foundation for digital transformation."  LINK

DINAR EXCHANGE: Talks between Iraq and Turkey are paving the way for energy independence, 22 MARCH

 DINAR EXCHANGE

“Powerful things happen when nations collaborate!  

Talks between Iraq and Turkey are paving the way for energy independence, economic growth, and regional stability. 

Oil exports, electricity, and water cooperation—game-changers for a brighter future! #Iraq #Turkey #Energy #GlobalImpact”

ARIEL: We Should See Iraq Make their Moves Now @DINARREVALUATION #iraqidinarinvestor #iraqidinar

 

US Urges Iraq to Reach Agreements to Allow Resumption of Kurdish Oil Exports, 22 MARCH

  US Urges Iraq to Reach Agreements to Allow Resumption of Kurdish Oil Exports

3/20/2025

WASHINGTON DC, United States (Kurdistan 24) 

Addressing reporters on Wednesday, State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce explained that the U.S. was “urging the Iraqi Government” to reach an understanding with the international oil companies to allow the resumption of oil exports from the Kurdistan Region.

According to Iraqi authorities, those exports are to restart shortly. although the international oil companies say that more discussion is needed to reach an agreement that will allow for the export of Kurdish oil.

As one knowledgeable source told Kurdistan 24, that developments have come as far as this has a lot to do with the pressure exerted by the Trump administration on Baghdad, including the pro-Iranian elements there.

As a second source affirmed to Kurdistan 24, the Trump administration is very friendly toward the Kurdistan Region.

That was apparent, for example, in a post last week by President Donald Trump on X, highlighting the role of the Peshmerga in the recent assassination of a key ISIS figure.

"Today the fugitive leader of ISIS in Iraq was killed,” Trump wrote last Friday. “His miserable life was terminated, along with another member of ISIS, in coordination with the Iraqi Government and the Kurdish Regional Government.”

Background to Oil Export Dispute

Kurdish oil exports stopped in March 2023, when the International Court of Commerce (ICC) ruled in favor of Iraq in a dispute that was first brought to the court by Nouri al-Maliki eleven years before—in 2012—when Maliki, a strongly sectarian Shi’ite figure, was Iraq’s prime minister.

In fact, Maliki’s governance was judged to be so partisan that the Obama administration concluded that he had been a significant factor behind the rise of ISIS. Thus, it demanded his resignation as a pre-condition for returning U.S. troops to Iraq in order to fight the terrorist group, which had emerged suddenly out of the Syrian civil war.

It took nine years for the ICC to issue its ruling that the export of Kurdish oil through the Iraq-Turkey Pipeline (ITP) contravened the original 1973 agreement concerning exports through that pipeline. And now it has taken another two years to reach the point where, it seems, Kurdish oil exports will soon resume.

Of course, these problems could have been resolved much more quickly, but there was little desire to do so in Baghdad—until the Trump administration focused on the issue.

State Department Position

Bruce was asked about the U.S. role in promoting the resumption of Kurdish oil exports.

“We’re urging the Iraqi Government to reach an agreement .. .  with the international oil companies to resume oil exports through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline as soon as possible and to honor the existing contracts with U.S.companies,” she replied.

“Reopening the ITP ensures Iraqi oil can reach global, especially European markets,” she continued. “Iraq benefits from the stability of resilient supply chains, as do we all.”

The Trump administration has been focused on cutting off Iranian oil exports, as part of its maximum pressure campaign. Bringing additional sources of oil online helps to reduce the resulting pressure on international oil prices, so it, too, has a strong interest in the resumption of Kurdish oil exports.  LINK