SHAFAQ NEWS: #Iraq moves toward transforming into an international digital corridor.. Signing an agreement with the Qatari company GBI to market cross-border internet capacities through the “Path of Civilizations” project, with the receipt of the first payment in foreign currency and the strengthening of connectivity between #asia and #europe through #iraqi lands #shafaq_news -----
🌐🇮🇶 Iraq Moves Closer to Becoming a Global Digital Corridor
Iraq has signed an agreement with Qatar-based GBI to market international internet capacity through the "Path of Civilizations" project.
📡 The initiative aims to strengthen connectivity between Asia and Europe by leveraging Iraqi territory as a strategic route for cross-border data traffic.
💰 Iraq has already received its first foreign-currency payment under the project, marking an important milestone for the country's telecommunications sector.
🚀 This development could position Iraq as a key regional digital hub, generating new revenue streams, attracting investment, and enhancing its role in the global internet infrastructure ecosystem.
👀 My take: Don't you see how quickly Iraq is moving toward strategic agreements and projects that are transforming it into a critical hub for logistics, trade, and internet connectivity? We are witnessing the opening of a new era of progress in Iraq. Step by step, the country is positioning itself as a key bridge between East and West. The signs are becoming harder to ignore, and it feels like we are getting closer to seeing the full potential of this transformation unfold.
🚨🇮🇶 TRUMP'S PLAN FOR IRAQ & THE NEW MIDDLE EAST CONTINUES TO UNFOLD! 🇺🇸🌍
According to recent reports and commentary, Iraq may be entering a new phase of strategic cooperation with the United States as regional economic and political initiatives continue to develop.
📌 Highlights
🇺🇸 A New U.S.–Iraq Partnership
Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi is expected to visit the White House in mid-July.
The visit is being described as the beginning of a new chapter in U.S.–Iraq relations.
🌍 Baghdad at the Center
Reports suggest President Donald Trump envisions Baghdad as a gateway to the "New Middle East" project.
Iraq is expected to play a key strategic and economic role in the region.
💼 Investment & Economic Growth
The focus is reportedly on attracting international investment, strengthening Iraq's economy, and expanding long-term development opportunities.
🕊️ Security Comes First
Stability and security remain key priorities as Iraq continues its reform efforts and works toward creating an attractive environment for investors.
🏦 Economic Transformation
Banking modernization, institutional reforms, and stronger economic policies are viewed as important components of Iraq's future growth strategy.
📈 Looking Ahead
Many observers continue watching Iraq's economic reforms closely, believing they could support the country's long-term financial and monetary objectives.
✨ Iraq continues positioning itself for a new era of regional influence, economic development, and international cooperation.
TRUMP’S PLAN FOR IRAQ AND THE MIDDLE EAST IS SLOWLY BEING UNVEILED
If you recall I have talked about a huge plan by the Trump administration for the middle east and how it definitely includes Iraq in a BIG way. Is anyone of these RV intel gurus even talking about all this good news? Trump wants to bring investors into Iraq but there must be Stability and Security first, thus his demands to rid Iraq of Iranian influence.
So, in this recent set of articles, we read more about Trump’s plans for Iraq. Yes, it is much more than most RV intel gurus image or even know about. If this plan is executed successfully, won’t they have to get the dinar back on track and on FOREX? Choo, Choo! Here are the articles titled “FINAL SIGNING AT THE WHITE HOUSE… AL-ZAIDI TO LAUNCH A “SECOND IRAQ” IN MID-JULY. – BARAK’S PLAN: BAGHDAD AS THE HEART OF A “NEW MIDDLE EAST”
Al-Zaidi and Barak Ali al-Zaidi is close to setting a political precedent that could make him one of the fastest Iraqi prime ministers to reach the White House after assuming office. His anticipated visit to Washington in mid-July is not seen as a mere protocol visit, but rather as an attempt to inaugurate a new phase in the relationship between Baghdad and Washington, more than two decades after the 2003 regime change in Iraq.
Here is the other article titled “POLITICIAN: TRUMP SEEKS TO MAKE BAGHDAD THE GATEWAY TO THE NEW MIDDLE EAST PROJECT”
Political analyst Atheer al-Sharaa believes that “US President Donald Trump is seeking to make Baghdad a gateway to the New Middle East project by imposing his dictates to serve the American agenda.Al-Sharaa told Al-Maalouma that “US envoy Tom Barrack briefed Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi on what Trump wants from Iraq in the coming phase, prior to al-Zaidi’s upcoming visit to Washington.”
That “the United States is striving to make Iraq subservient to its demands and interests in the coming phase, and in return, it will pay increased attention, especially since Trump has a New Middle East plan and seeks to make Baghdad the gateway to this project, which he has championed since 2020.”
Please take the time to read the entire set of articles in the Articles Section of the Newsletter.
The Iraqi General Customs Authority announced the successful completion of the first cargo transport operation under the transit system between Jordan and the United Arab Emirates through Iraqi territory, in a move aimed at increasing non-oil revenues and positioning Iraq as a regional logistical hub.
🚛🇮🇶 IRAQ COMPLETES ITS FIRST INTERNATIONAL TRANSIT CARGO OPERATION!
Big step forward for Iraq's economy! 📈
The General Customs Authority announced the successful completion of the first cargo transit operation between Jordan 🇯🇴 and the United Arab Emirates 🇦🇪 through Iraqi territory.
Why is this important? 👇
💰 Increases Non-Oil Revenues Every shipment passing through Iraq generates customs, transit, and logistics fees—helping diversify government income beyond oil.
🌍 Positions Iraq as a Regional Logistics Hub Iraq is leveraging its strategic location to become a key trade corridor connecting the Gulf region with neighboring countries.
🛣️ Supports the Development Road Project This milestone aligns with Iraq's long-term vision of expanding regional trade, transportation, and economic integration.
📦 Boosts Trade & Investment Successful transit operations build confidence among international trading partners and encourage greater commercial activity through Iraq.
📈 Strengthens Economic Diversification Expanding customs, logistics, and transportation revenues helps reduce Iraq's reliance on oil and creates a stronger, more resilient economy.
🇮🇶 Another important milestone as Iraq continues implementing its economic and infrastructure reform agenda.
🚨 WHY DOES THE IRAQI DINAR REMAIN CHEAPER THAN THE KUWAITI & JORDANIAN DINARS? 🇮🇶💵
📌 Iraq's economy still has a significant gap between dollar-generated revenues (primarily from oil exports) and dinar-generated revenues generated by the domestic economy.
🏗️ Strengthening the local economy remains a key priority by increasing: ✅ Non-oil revenues ✅ Tourism ✅ Customs & tariffs ✅ Private sector growth ✅ Development Road Project revenues
💰 Kuwait and Jordan operate with stronger internal economic cycles that rely mainly on their national currencies, while Iraq's domestic economy continues to depend heavily on the U.S. dollar.
🛢️ Iraq's budget is still highly sensitive to fluctuations in global oil prices, making economic diversification essential for long-term stability.
📈 Iraq continues working toward increasing non-oil revenues to 45–50%, helping reduce dependence on oil and strengthening the country's financial foundation.
🏦 Financial reforms also include: ✅ Banking modernization ✅ Strengthening sovereign financial management ✅ Expanding investment funds ✅ Reducing reliance on external borrowing
🌍 Iraq remains engaged with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and continues implementing measures to: ✔️ Combat money laundering. ✔️ Prevent terrorist financing.
✔️ Protect international banking relationships. ✔️ Complete the country's financial reform agenda.
⚠️ Officials emphasize that delaying these commitments could increase the risk of financial restrictions, making continued reform efforts essential.
🇮🇶 Iraq's ongoing economic, banking, and financial reforms continue to lay the groundwork for a stronger and more resilient economy.
So, let’s look at yet another interesting article titled “WHY DOES THE IRAQI DINAR REMAIN CHEAPER THAN THE KUWAITI AND JORDANIAN DINARS?” This article is really a WOW! WOW! WOW! one as it is all revealing to us investors and confirms many of the answers to the questions that I have been trying to reveal to you, like what is holding up the RV?
I am going to quote directly from this article and then add in my own commentary to explain it. I hope this helps everyone:
I quote: “Economic expert Hussein Al-Falluji revealed the reasons for the decline in the value of the Iraqi dinar compared to the Kuwaiti dinar and the Jordanian dinar . Al-Falluji said in a televised interview followed by Al-Sa’a Network that “the reasons are due to the existence of a gap between dollar revenues and dinar revenues in Iraq .”
So, this is telling me that the local economy must get stronger and meet or surpass the oil revenues? Can it? The local economy generates dinars and the oil generates dollars. Get it? That is the gap they are talking about. To get the dinar stronger then the dollar they must generate more revenues using the dinar than the oil generates from the dollar. Is this even possible? Or how much is enough? Is 45%-50% enough to raise the dinar equal to the dollar?
Certainly, the US is not going to approve the selling of oil for dinars any time soon. Is it someday? Again, we go back to getting off the sole rentier economy of the petro-dollar as an answer to raising the dinar like it or not.
So, again this last quote about the deciding on what constitutes criteria for the strength of this dinar always puzzles me. Does not oil come from the ground in Iraq? It is not sold on the market in high demand? Does it not generate enormous revenues? Why not include it in the value of the dinar then? The answer to this last question was given in the last quote. It is ‘artificially” separated (manipulated), get it?
They why penalize Iraq and not include oil in its value in the value of this dinar? You see this is exactly what they are doing when the exclude the oil from the value built into the dinar. It is called ‘artificial manipulation”. I know many of us investors keep talking about all the oil and how Iraq has one of the riches oil fields in the world, bla, bla, bla. But the true value of all this oil is not being reflected in the currency. I have to ask when is enough is enough to stop the fake manipulation of the dinar?
Why is value the dinar almost solely based on the what the said local economy can generates. Why isn’t oil considered part of the revenue of the local economy as it is in Kuwait and Jordan? There is a disconnect here. Do you see it too? Yes, I see what the IMF and the US is doing in valuing the dinar and what they say Iraq needs to do to bring the value of the dinar up but is this really playing on a level playing field or just false manipulation? Is this coercion, a contradiction of what Trump told everyone to “we will be all on a level playing field, it is the only way we can compete”? What is taking him so long then to change the biggest culprit of this currency problem, like with the Iraqi dinar not China or Japan? Is trade very fair for Iraq? How do they compete with the rest of the world?
Does Trump mean they all have to get fixed together? Are we maybe waiting on the Iranian Rial or others too? Is Iran a much bigger player than most think after all we do from time to time see the Rial on the bank screens as over $2 as a pending revaluation. Why haven’t they currently stripped the Rial off of FOREX like they did to the Iraqi dinar during its wars?
These questions are all VERY strong evidence that some plan is in the making behind the scenes that they are not telling most people about.
I quote again: “He added that “Kuwait and Jordan have an internal income cycle that depends on the local currency, unlike Iraq, whose internal economic cycle depends heavily on the dollar .”
Is it clear to you now? How did Iraq get into this mess? Were these two gulf wars with Iraq intentional to booster the American dollar using the oil to do it? Was the US deficit killing the dollar? Did the banking cartel (the Federal Reserve) care about the large deficit or go along with it since it stands to make trillions off a larger deficit. Remember Saddam Hussien was NOT going along with the petro-dollar and wanted to use the IQD to sell oil. Do you see the plot here unraveling? Are you connecting the pieces as to why we still wait for the revaluation and move to FOREX. Does Iraq want it but the globalist and banking cartel is fighting this move? So, who or what is holding it back? You have to see it folks, it is right in front of your noses.
I quote again: “He explained that the Gulf states set the price of oil in their general budgets and transfer all financial surpluses to sovereign and investment funds, while Iraq sets its budget based on an optimistic price for a barrel of oil, then is surprised by a drop in selling prices, which causes a gap and a financial deficit that pushes it to borrow in order to cover expenses and pay obligation”
So, this last statement in the article is playing out right now causing the devaluation of the dinar to around 1650 from 1320. It also tells us the dinar rate is not used for budgeting and never will as long as long as Iraq is – 1) its still selling oil for the petro-dollar or 2)cannot get the economy self-sufficient and generate revenues to pay its bills beyond the petro dollar revenues or at least beyond a reasonable level. They now have a plan under al-Zaidi as I have said is to generate up to 45% to 50% of non-oil related revenues. Will the Development Road Project help? Will the Customs and Tariffs revenue help? How many times have I already talked about this revenue to you? We read a few articles recently in my Newsletter about this new plan of Al-Zaidi.
I also want you to understand that we have read multiple articles over the years from the financial advisor Saleh to transfer all financial surpluses to sovereign and investment funds and not just dump it into a fund with Chase / JP Morgan bank in NYC under the control of the US Treasury. So this has to change too.
I also get this feeling that the banking cartel through the Central Banking System wants countries to borrow money. First they put them in almost helpless situations using the IMF and the UN, then when they can’t pay their bills, go to the IMF to borrow. Iraq tried this before and paid off its loans to the IMF. It does not want to do it again. We read about all these loans in the consultation sessions with the IMF. Remember? So, this strategy from the CBI is a good thing. Through these loans is how Dr Shabibi was able to keep the rate of the dinar so low at 1166 or less. Remember those days? By not borrowing money another tool used is simply to devalue the currency. Again, I am shocked at Iraq even to have to think about any of these solutions with the amount of oil revenue they generate.
______________________________________
To be honest I must also include the slowness of Iraqi politics in getting things done as huge obstacle to the RV happening. I don’t know what it is with these Arabs…lol..lol..lol.. I also want to say that enforcement of new laws is also VERY lackadaisical and sometimes non-existent. We all witnessed it and many of you comment on it from time to time. In this next article we see this effect on Iraq. It is titled “ECONOMIC EXPERT: THE RISK OF A BLACKLIST REMAINS IF IRAQ’S COMMITMENTS ARE DELAYED.”
Economic expert Manar Al-Obaidi confirmed on Saturday (June 20, 2026) that the risk of being blacklisted still exists if Iraq’s commitments are delayed. “Iraq is on the right track in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing, following the recent statement issued by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), while warning at the same time of the risks of laxity in implementing the agreed obligations.”
He added that “Iraq’s continued participation in the cooperative process with the Financial Action Task Force through an agreed joint action plan reflects its continued integration into the international financial system and the preservation of its banking relationships, without imposing any countermeasures against it.”
He explained that “this development is a positive indicator, but it does not mean the end of the challenges,” stressing that “the next stage requires serious work to implement anti-money laundering laws in all their forms in all governorates and regions without exception.” He pointed out that “the opportunity is still available for Iraq to complete the requirements of financial reform, stressing that neglecting it will have a high cost to the state and citizens.”
📌 As June comes to an end, more information is emerging about what is delaying the Revaluation (RV) and Reinstatement of the Iraqi dinar.
🌍 Iraq continues to be highly dependent on oil revenues, making its economy vulnerable whenever regional crises disrupt oil exports.
🦠 During the COVID crisis: 🔹 Oil revenues collapsed. 🔹 Iraq used CBI reserves to pay government expenses. 🔹 The dinar was devalued from 1,182 IQD/USD to 1,450 IQD/USD. 🔹 It later returned to 1,320 IQD/USD, but not to its pre-COVID rate.
📈 The current exchange rate adjustments are described as temporary financial measures, not structural banking reforms.
🏗️ Prime Minister Al-Zaidi's economic plan aims to: ✅ Increase non-oil revenues. ✅ Strengthen Iraq's local economy. ✅ Reduce dependence on oil. ✅ Better protect Iraq from future economic crises.
⚠️ Due to the recent regional tensions and disruptions affecting oil transportation, discussions have emerged about adjusting the official exchange rate to approximately 160,000–165,000 IQD per 100 USD.
💵 According to the report, this would apply to Iraq's domestic exchange rate, not an international FOREX rate.
🌐 The report also states that Iraq's long-term objective is to move beyond its heavy reliance on the U.S. dollar and strengthen the Iraqi dinar through broader economic reforms.
📅 More developments are expected as Iraq continues implementing its economic and financial reform agenda.
Glad everyone could join me today on my blog. As we near the end of June we are told more news of what is holding up the revaluation and reinstatement. What I really don’t understand is if this is all true information (which it is) then how can anyone tell you the RV has been imminent over these last twenty (20) years?
Let’s get right into the news.
I will need everyone to settle down and relax when reading today’s news.
It is a long commentary today since there is a lot of news to get through. Some of it can seem VERY scary but in reality it is comforting. We must get through this to get to it (the RV). I will tell you why. Let’s explore the main topics as on my Newsletter headlines.
So, we all should know by now that when the middle east erupts, Iraq always suffers and the Iraqi dinar takes a hit. This happened during the Covid crisis not because of the virus perse but because the world was shut down and oil was not consumed, thus oil took a big hit. Without the rentier economy (oil as 95% of revenues) of course there was no money to pay salaries and run the government. Thus, the government had to move money from the CBI reserves to pay it’s bills. The reserves declined to near dangerous levels.
During this Covid crisis time the CBI devaluated the local currency by more than 20 percent, the biggest devaluation since 2003, adjusting the ex-change rate from IQD 1182/USD to IQD 1450. After the crisis and oil was flowing again it ‘revalued’ back to 1320/USD but it never regained its original pre-crisis value of 1182. Why? You would think it would. But this goes much, much deeper than this…. Let’s take an honest, common sense look at this today.
I need everyone to know these changes in the dinar are NOT structural banking reasons for devaluation but local, short term financial reasons due to the drop of oil exports. This comes from too much of reliance on oil to pay Iraqi’s bills. When oil flow stops or slows down Iraq hurts. So, we all know about al-Zaidi’s plan to change all this and have the economy generating at least 45%-50% non-oil revenues to protect itself in the future from these oil crises. These non-oil revenues they refer to in the articles as the “local economy”, which is revenues generated from inside Iraq, non-oil related i.e tourism.
So again, due to the recent crisis with Iran and blockage of oil transport, Iraq is talking about a devaluation. This time there is talk of a deeper change than ever even since the Covid crisis of 1320/USD to 1650/USD. Now we might all think this is not good for our investment but I would differ with you. Why would I say such a thing?
First, I have to add who really cares? Think about it. We cannot yet exchange our dinars since the dinar is not yet back on FOREX and OFAC sanctions still exist.
Second, we all should know by now that they are ‘artificially’ suppressing the rate of the dinar from its true value.
Next, in my June 11th NewsletterI presented an article that told us what the three- (3) pronged approach of Al-Zaidi was going to be to recover the economy. This news today should be of no shock for anyone. Like I said the government is always going to tell us what they plan to do. There will be no surprises, no guessing. It is titled “AL-ZAYDI’S THREE-PRONGED PLAN: LIQUIDATING INDEBTED INSTITUTIONS, RAISING THE DOLLAR’S VALUE, AND RECOVERING FUNDS FROM CORRUPT INDIVIDUALS! – THE FRAMEWORK APPROVES THE GOVERNMENT’S PLAN TO OVERCOME THE FINANCIAL CRISIS.” The most intriguing point in Al-Zaidi’s plan concerns the exchange rate. Sources speak of a proposal to raise the dollar’s value again, without disclosing the rate proposed by the Prime Minister during the meeting. Today we find out what the rate will most likely be.
Please take a peek at a couple of today’s articles also on this subject matter titled:
“AL-KINANI REVEALS A GOVERNMENT PLAN TO RAISE THE DOLLAR EXCHANGE RATE TO 165,000 NEXT SEPTEMBER”
and
“THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE FORCED TO CHANGE THE EXCHANGE RATE AFTER THE COUNTRY’S ECONOMIC DOWNTURN”
“On Sunday (June 21, 2026), MP Ahmed Salim Al-Kinani, from the State of Law Coalition, revealed an anticipated government plan to raise the exchange rate of the US dollar to between 160,000 and 165,000 Iraqi dinars per 100 dollars, instead of the current rate of 132,000 dinars.”
This devaluation is still within the realm of the local currency only, the intentional manipulated dinar. It is not yet going to FOREX. We will need the FOREX rate to be what they have been forecasting to be over $3 not some in-country manipulated rate based solely on the price of the dollar which is also tied to the price of oil. Remember that the petro-dollar is being backed by oil and pure speculation. This is what is holding up the USD dollar at this time. We all know that the solution to the dinar is to get off this sole peg to the dollar which keeps dragging it down when there are hiccups in the oil industry.
So, from what I just told you, what do many of the economic experts in Iraq and the citizens in Iraq feel getting off the dollar is the answer, which they feel will then need to remove the zeros and bring an increase in purchasing power? Of course, they feel its to get off the sole peg to the dollar. Any reasonable and sane person would think this….right?
Here are the articles titled “FINAL SIGNING AT THE WHITE HOUSE… AL-ZAIDI TO LAUNCH A “SECOND IRAQ” IN MID-JULY. – BARAK’S PLAN: BAGHDAD AS THE HEART OF A “NEW MIDDLE EAST”
