FRANK26: "POLITICAL OBSTACLES ARE IRANIAN POLITICIANS!!!"......F26
The budget is awaiting its launch. No political obstacles stand in the way.
4/5/2025
- Baghdad
MP Salem Ibrahim confirmed, on Saturday (April 5, 2025), that there are no political forces or blocs obstructing the sending of the 2025 general budget tables, expecting that the tables will be sent to Parliament during the next week or the week after, according to current data .
Ibrahim told Baghdad Today, “There is a clear delay in sending the budget tables, amid increasing parliamentary pressure on the government to expedite its referral to the parliamentary finance committee for discussion, in preparation for submitting it to the parliament presidency and then submitting it for reading and voting in accordance with established constitutional procedures.”
He explained that "all political forces support the approval of the budget, and there have been no indications of any party seeking to obstruct or disrupt the schedules, given the urgent need for the budget to secure the entitlements of governorates and various social groups, in addition to the financial obligations that depend on its approval ."
Ibrahim warned that “the continued delay in submitting and approving the budget will directly harm project funding and the implementation of financial plans in various governorates,” stressing that “approving the budget has become a national option supported by all political parties without exception .”
The MP concluded his statement by saying, “There are no attempts to postpone the schedules until the next parliamentary session. All we are waiting for is the timing of the government’s submission .”
The state's general budget is one of the fundamental pillars of financial and economic management in Iraq. The government relies on it to finance development projects, provide services, pay salaries, and fulfill social obligations to various segments of society .
With the adoption of the first three-year budget in 2023, many hoped the delays would be shortened, but the detailed annual schedules still need to be submitted, discussed, and voted on by Parliament .
These statements come at a time of mounting parliamentary and popular pressure on the government to expedite the release of schedules, amid a growing need to activate stalled projects and disburse due to governorates, employees, and contractors, amid mounting economic and financial challenges .
Exclusive: Houthi military commander: Iran has not abandoned us
4/5/2025
Houthi military commander Yahya Hassan denied on Saturday statements that Iran had abandoned the Houthis and ordered the withdrawal of its military bases.
The British newspaper The Telegraph reported last Thursday that Iran had ordered the withdrawal of its military personnel from Yemen, abandoning its Houthi allies amid an escalating US air campaign against the armed group.
According to a senior Iranian official, this move aims to avoid a direct confrontation with the United States, noting that Tehran has begun reducing its support for its regional proxy network and focusing on direct threats from Washington.
In response to this news, Hassan considered the reports on this matter to be baseless, and that no official statement has been issued by Iran confirming this. He stressed that Tehran continues to provide assistance to Yemen and the axis of resistance.
The Houthi military commander told Shafaq News Agency, "The cohesion between the Iranians and the Houthis remains strong, despite all the pressures that have been placed on the Middle East," noting that "there was a call between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Yemeni President Mahdi al-Mashat on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr."
Hassan concluded by saying, "The Houthis are continuing their military operations against the United States and Israel," stressing that there are currently no negotiations or truce with either party unless Israel implements the terms of the ceasefire in Gaza.
The global TIR transit system became fully operational in Iraq on April 1, 2025.
I want to emphasize that this is happening NOW not months or years down the road.
Quote: "The International Road Union (IRU) said that Iraq is poised to strengthen its position as a key trade hub in the Middle East..." Can you say WOW! Can the news get any better in this direction for opening the doors for trade in Iraq?..
During a recent visit to Washington, a senior US official explained to me that the current administration’s foreign policy is focused on making the US safer, stronger and more prosperous. In my view, this approach aligns perfectly with Iraq’s aspirations and foreign policy – particularly with the vision of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani, who has adopted the principles of “Iraq First” and “mutual interest.” This alignment has the potential to make Iraq safer, stronger and more prosperous as well.
The ongoing transformations in the country are helping to build solid and evolving partnerships between Baghdad and Washington. Over the past years, Iraq-US relations have seen continuous growth in the areas of security, energy, and the economy, based on the principle of mutual interests.
Today, with the accelerating pace of Iraq’s economic revival and comprehensive development – especially in the energy sector – the opportunities for major American companies to play a significant role in shaping this transformation are greater than ever. These companies are well-positioned to leave a clear and impactful mark, while also contributing to the deepening and strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries.
Next week, a large delegation of US companies will arrive in the Iraqi capital to explore new opportunities in the rapidly growing Iraqi market. This effort is being led by the US-Iraq Chamber of Commerce as part of a broader initiative to strengthen trade relations between the two countries. Several memoranda of understanding and agreements are expected to be signed between the visiting companies and their Iraqi counterparts.
US firms such as General Electric, KBR, Baker Hughes, Halliburton, Honeywell and others are already playing a significant role in Iraq’s energy development. The Iraqi government has signed multi-billion-dollar contracts to upgrade the country’s power sector. A significant opportunity expected to materialise during the upcoming visit is the signing of a landmark agreement between General Electric and the Ministry of Electricity to develop 24,000 megawatts of high-efficiency power generation. The Minister of Electricity confirmed this in a televised interview on March 28.
The signing of this agreement aims to help bridge the significant electricity demand gap in Iraq, which currently stands at approximately 48,000 MW. Additional efforts to address this challenge include cross-border energy partnerships.
A 500 MW connection to the GCC power grid through Kuwait is scheduled for completion in 2025, while agreements with Turkey, Jordan and Saudi Arabia are expected to contribute an additional 2,500 MW by 2027. As Iraq advances toward greater energy self-sufficiency, collaboration with American companies – particularly in technology transfer and infrastructure development – will remain crucial.
Iraq’s natural gas sector highlights the opportunities and challenges inherent in the country’s energy reform efforts. A substantial volume of associated gas is still flared due to inadequate infrastructure – a critical issue that US companies are well-positioned to help resolve. Expanding gas capture projects will reduce waste and environmental harm and contribute significantly to Iraq’s goal of achieving energy self-sufficiency.
Similarly, US companies involved in natural gas exports may benefit from Iraq’s evolving needs. On March 4, the Minister of Oil announced that the Ministry is in the process of importing a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) to supply gas for power generation stations.
A formal bidding process is currently under way, with a decision expected soon. This initiative opens the door for US firms specialising in FSRU manufacturing and suppliers of liquefied natural gas to play a key role in Iraq’s energy future.
Over the past two and a half years, Iraq has awarded more contracts to US firms than at any other time in the bilateral relationship. Economic co-operation between the two countries has grown significantly from agricultural imports – such as wheat and rice – to large-scale infrastructure development.
The Iraqi government is now focused on accelerating major infrastructure projects in transportation, water management and telecommunications sectors, where US companies possess substantial competitive advantages.
It is evident in Baghdad and Washington that the path forward is defined by common interests and shared opportunities
Iraq’s economic trajectory presents a clear opportunity to deepen its partnership with the US. As Baghdad advances its ambitious energy and infrastructure agenda, American companies are well-positioned to assume a leading role in these transformative developments. US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz reinforced this message during a phone call on March 10, in which he thanked Mr Al Sudani for “his commitment to the bilateral US-Iraqi relationship” and highlighted “the Trump administration’s dedication to strengthening energy and economic ties between the two countries in a way that benefits both the American and Iraqi peoples”.
It is increasingly evident in Baghdad and Washington that the path forward is defined by common interests and shared opportunities for Iraq and the US. The trajectory of this relationship points toward deeper co-operation grounded in mutual respect and aligned strategic goals. The core principles of making the US safer, stronger and more prosperous align seamlessly with Iraq’s ambitions for stability, economic development and a more substantial regional role.
Looking ahead, Iraq and the US have a unique opportunity to deepen their partnership in ways that promote regional security, economic integration and long-term stability. This vision was a central theme in the phone call between Mr Al Sudani and then US president-elect Donald Trump on November 8. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office: “The two sides expressed their commitment to advancing the strategic partnership between Iraq and the United States and strengthening bilateral relations beyond security concerns, with a focus on co-operation in the fields of economy, finance, energy, and technology.”
This new chapter of Iraq-US engagement promises a future rooted in mutual prosperity. Shared interests in economic development and regional stability lay the foundation for a lasting partnership that serves both nations and contributes meaningfully to global security.
