EXCERPTS FROM MARKZ
Member: : Markz, Why do you feel like we are close to the finish line?
Just a gut feeling?
MZ: My redemption folks/wealth management folks plan on working this Sunday.
It is unusual that Sunday is the day and not Saturday.
MZ: Other than that the bond side is quiet
KTFA
FRANK26: "BIG MISTAKE !!!"........F26
Tehran (AFP) - Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday that the US proposal to reach an agreement with Tehran on its nuclear program contradicts Iran's national interests.
Khamenei said, "The proposal (regarding Iran's nuclear program) put forward by the Americans is 100% inconsistent with our slogan 'We can,'" stressing that Iran is not waiting for the American "green light" to make its decisions.
The White House warned Iran on Tuesday of "serious consequences" if it rejects a proposal by US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff aimed at reaching an agreement on its nuclear program.
The White House said that "Wittkoff sent a comprehensive proposal to Iran, and it should accept it."
Meanwhile, White House spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt said Tuesday that US President Donald Trump intends to attend the NATO summit, scheduled for later this month.
Regarding the Iranian nuclear issue, 10 sources familiar with Iran's nuclear activities, including officials, diplomats, and analysts, believe that the success of any agreement depends on addressing these ambiguities for the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The IAEA's quarterly reports reveal that the main ambiguities are the lack of knowledge about the number of centrifuges Iran possesses, or the location of their production and storage. The agency has also been unable to conduct surprise inspections at sites Iran has not declared.
Coffee with MarkZ, joined by Mr. Cottrell. 06/06/2025
Some highlights by PDK-Not verbatim
MarkZ Disclaimer: Please consider everything on this call as my opinion. People who take notes do not catch everything and its best to watch the video so that you get everything in context. Be sure to consult a professional for any financial decisions
MZ: Today is the anniversary of “D” Day. Remember those brave men and women . June 6, 1944. They stormed the beaches of Normandy.
Member: Those of us that served in Iraq & Afghanistan understand and salute WWII Vets. PTSD is PTSD.
Member: Also today is the anniversary of RFK Sr.'s death in 1968
Member: Good Friday!! as we get closer to the finish line! fingers crossed toes crossed eyes crossed..
MZ; : I’m with you. Crossing my fingers. Feels like we are moving closer.
Member: : Markz, Why do you feel like we are close to the finish line? Just a gut feeling?
MZ: My redemption folks/wealth management folks plan on working this Sunday. It is unusual that Sunday is the day and not Saturday.
MZ: Other than that the bond side is quiet.
Member: No news is good news?
Member: when the bond people get funded, how long do you think it will be until we get notified?
Member: Mark always said he thought maybe 3-5 days??????
Member: Iraq is quiet because it is Eid Al Adha. Holiday until Monday. All banks closed.
Member: Today, Iraq started their 4 day holiday weekend. For Eid Al Aha
Member: Eid al-Adha holiday 7th -10th
MZ: And the Iraq stock Market will not reopen until Wednesday or Thursday of next week. Many of my Iraqi contacts think this holiday is important and critical …hopefully will be “IT” this holiday.
MZ: I’m a bit burned out watching for holidays……so not getting too excited…yet.
MZ: “Iraq celebrates the launch of the TIR system” I think this is important. The TIR system has been live in Iraq since April of 2025. This ushers in a new era of international logistics and trade. This is truly international and will be very important to their development road project which is a crossroads between the east and the west. .
Member: "The Central Bank is exploring the possibility of opening branches of Turkish banks in Nineveh Governorate increasing cooperation to increase trade exchange between both countries"
Member: Mark. Q: isn't this the same time of the year that Kuwait revealed ? during ElD al- Adha.
Member: Kuwait revalued March 18th 1991 / New York Times
Member: I heard Kuwait revalued over a 4 day holiday. It makes sense to me.
Member: Since this 1991 revaluation, Kuwait has not undertaken any further significant revaluations of its currency
Member: 2007, Kuwait shifted from pegging its currency solely to the U.S. dollar to linking it to a basket of currencies...
MZ: This is the same basket that Iraq is supposed to attach itself to.
Member: Mark, is the IQD placement on FX at the banks value over 4 dinars per 1 UST, or 4+ UST per 1 IQD ???
Member: the article from last week had the dinar at $4.81….wouldn’t that be wonderful?
Member: at. my bank ... manager has heard of new currency…just not heard of the QFS
Member: An article on Recaps today says the Chinese Yuan may go gold backed soon.
Member: Remember hearing many years ago, there would be chaos and rumors of more when this will occur. I think we have enough chaos!
Member: I think the RV may happen on the 4th of July weekend. Financial Independence Day? Just a thought.
Member: Well Flag day is approaching as well as Juneteenth on June 19 to commemorate the end of slavery.
Shafaq News/ On Thursday, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani received Serge Dickschen, the non-resident Ambassador of Belgium to Iraq, in Baghdad to discuss bilateral ties.
According to a statement by the Prime Minister’s Media Office, al-Sudani emphasized Iraq’s commitment to enhancing economic partnerships with European countries and welcomed Belgian investment in infrastructure, services, energy, health, and water sectors.
The Prime Minister also commended Belgium’s role in supporting Iraq’s stability and sovereignty as part of the Global Coalition, calling for advancing bilateral coordination in post-conflict reconstruction and economic recovery.
In turn, Ambassador Dickschen expressed his country’s commitment to strengthening ties with Iraq, and appreciation for Iraq’s balanced foreign policy and its regional engagement, particularly during the recent Arab Summit hosted in Baghdad.
US calls on Baghdad to negotiate quickly: Iraq's independence from Iranian influence comes through Kurdistan's gas
The US State Department considered, on Thursday, that the recent agreements concluded by the Kurdistan Regional Government with American companies to develop natural gas production constitute an important step towards addressing the chronic imbalance in the Iraqi energy sector, calling on Baghdad and Erbil to urgently coordinate to accelerate project implementation and enhance Iraq's energy independence.
A ministry official told Shafaq News Agency, "The United States believes that Iraq will be more stable and sovereign by achieving energy independence and distancing itself from Iran's harmful influence."
He added, "The agreements recently signed by Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani with American companies to expand natural gas production in Iraqi Kurdistan support this goal," noting that "these projects, whether in the region or across the rest of the country, are in the interest of all Iraqis, especially in light of the ongoing electricity crisis."
The US official continued, "We encourage Baghdad and Erbil to work together to begin gas production as soon as possible."
The Kurdistan Regional Government announced the signing of two agreements with American companies HKN Energy and WesternZagros to develop the Miran and Topkhana-Kurdimir fields in Sulaymaniyah Governorate, with a total value estimated at approximately $110 billion, in one of the largest deals in the region's energy sector.
The agreements aim to exploit natural gas resources more widely to meet the region's and Iraq's electricity needs and reduce reliance on Iranian gas imports.
The move sparked protests from the federal government in Baghdad, with the Iraqi Oil Ministry describing the agreements as "null and void," noting that natural resource management falls solely within the purview of the federal government.
Investment efforts in Iraq's energy sector face recurring legal and political challenges, given the absence of a federal law regulating the management of natural resources between the central government and the region.
The energy crisis is one of the most significant challenges facing Iraq, with most of the population suffering from frequent power outages, which worsen during the summer months. Iraq relies heavily on gas imported from Iran, at a time when supplies are affected by political and economic factors, most notably regional tensions and mounting debt issues.
Relations between Baghdad and Kurdistan have recently become strained, particularly after the signing of the gas contract with Washington. The Iraqi Ministry of Finance announced it would halt funding for the salaries of Kurdistan Region employees until May 2025, citing the region's exceeding its budget share and its failure to deliver oil and non-oil revenues to the federal government.
In contrast, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) considered the decision politically motivated and a violation of the constitution and Federal Court rulings. The KRG asserted that Baghdad had failed to honor its financial commitments despite Erbil's previous commitments, and that the decision directly impacts more than 1.2 million employees ahead of Eid al-Adha. link
MILITIAMAN: Iraqi Dinar Update - World Trade Organization - Global Economy
The video transcript centers on Iraq’s ongoing efforts to integrate into the global economic and financial system, emphasizing recent developments related to Iraq’s potential accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), legislative reforms, and digital transformation initiatives within its government sectors.
The speaker highlights the significant progress Iraq has made, notably the comprehensive response to over 450 technical questions posed by WTO members, which demonstrates Iraq’s commitment to transparency and integration into the international trade system.
A key focus is on the passage of Iraq’s oil and gas law, which is seen as crucial to resolving longstanding conflicts between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government.
This law is expected to pave the way for smoother budget approvals, unified salary payments, and improved revenue-sharing mechanisms. The speaker underlines the strategic importance of Iraq’s integration, which is supported not only domestically but also by international financial institutions such as the IMF, World Bank, and European banks.
Another major topic covered is the Iraqi government’s push for digital transformation, particularly within the Ministry of Justice, with the recent official approval to include this project in the 2025 investment budget. This involves contracting internationally recognized IT companies, classified under the Gartner International Foundation indicators, to modernize judicial systems, enhance cybersecurity, and digitize legal processes. This digitalization effort is part of a broader national development strategy to modernize governance, improve public services, combat corruption, and support economic reform.
The transcript also touches upon cooperation between the Central Bank of Iraq and the British Council to improve the language and professional skills of bank employees, further reinforcing Iraq’s movement toward global integration. The overall tone reflects cautious optimism about Iraq’s trajectory, recognizing challenges like internal political dynamics, corruption, and regional geopolitical complexities but indicating that integration into the global economy and financial systems is inevitable and underway.
🌐 WTO Accession Marks a Strategic Shift in Iraq’s Global Integration:The extensive grilling via 450 questions underscores the thorough scrutiny Iraq faces as it seeks WTO membership. This process reflects not just a bureaucratic hurdle but a fundamental alignment with global trade norms, indicating Iraq’s intention to modernize its economic frameworks and attract foreign investment. Joining the WTO will potentially open Iraq to broader international markets and enhance its global economic standing.
🛢️ Oil and Gas Law Passage Crucial for Political and Economic Stability: The emphasis on the oil and gas law reflects its dual role—it is both a reconciliation tool for federal-Kurdistan disputes and a financial cornerstone ensuring smoother budget management and revenue flows. A unified and constitutionally sound approach to oil revenues could significantly improve governance, reduce corruption, and enhance the rights and welfare of Iraqi citizens.
💰 Government Financing of Investment Projects Signals Economic Prioritization: The Council of Ministers’ decision to allocate three trillion dollars for investment projects, including sovereign guarantees in key oil fields, represents a tangible commitment to infrastructure and economic growth. This budget prioritization signals that Iraq is seeking to rebuild and modernize its economy, shifting from reliance on operational expenses to strategic investments that drive development.
💻 Digital Transformation in the Ministry of Justice Demonstrates Institutional Modernization: The approval of the Ministry of Justice’s digital transformation project within the 2025 investment budget illustrates a shift from planning to active implementation. Contracting vendors vetted by Gartner International Foundation indicators ensures the use of global best practices and expertise. The project’s focus on judicial digitization, cybersecurity, and case management will likely improve transparency, reduce corruption opportunities, and speed judicial processes.
🌍 Balancing Regional and International Interests through Technology and Diplomacy: The involvement of international companies from different geopolitical spheres, alongside Iraqi efforts to cooperate with Western countries (like the UK via the British Council), reflects a nuanced diplomatic balancing act. This strategic engagement is vital for Iraq, which sits at a regional crossroads influenced by Western, Iranian, and Gulf interests. Digitization and institutional reforms are tools to stabilize governance within this complex environment.
📈 Investment in Training underscores Focus on Sustainable Development: The allocation of funds for training programs linked to digital transformation and the Central Bank’s cooperation with the British Council highlights Iraq’s recognition that mere technological implementation is insufficient. Capacity-building, language skills, and professional development are foundational for sustaining reforms and ensuring employees can operate effectively within globalized systems.
🔄 Inevitable Integration and the End of Informal Economic Practices:The speaker emphasizes that the era of corruption and “cash cows” through informal or opaque economic dealings is over. Iraq’s path toward global financial integration entails transparency, accountability, and the adoption of international standards. This transition might face internal resistance but is portrayed as unavoidable, driven by diplomatic pressures, economic necessity, and international cooperation frameworks.
Overall, this video illustrates a multi-dimensional transformation underway in Iraq, intertwining economic, legal, technological, and diplomatic reforms that collectively aim to position Iraq as a fully integrated player in the global economy by 2025 and beyond.
PAKISTAN CONFIRMS US AND IRAN ARE READY TO HOLD TALKS (Mnt Goat: I need everyone to notice that all these talks since the very beginning hav...