TNT:
Tishwash: With the participation of 12 banks, Kirkuk hosts a special event to promote financial inclusion.
The Central Bank of Iraq, with the participation of 12 government and private banks, organized a special event in Kirkuk Governorate aimed at promoting financial inclusion and spreading the culture of digital financial transactions, as well as opening up prospects for cooperation between citizens and banking institutions
Rafidain Bank representative in Kirkuk, Maab Mustafa, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that “this activity is the first of its kind in the governorate, and it will showcase the services, offers and facilities provided by banks, in addition to facilitating the procedures for opening current and savings accounts.”
He added that “the event also focused on the importance of issuing electronic cards, using modern payment methods in shopping and government payments, as well as clarifying the concepts of financial inclusion and ways to protect banking data.”
For his part, Zaid Raad, the sales manager at the state-owned Al-Rasheed Bank in Kirkuk, confirmed to (WAA) that “the event held by the Central Bank has a positive impact, especially in the areas of loans and financing,” noting that it highlights housing loan initiatives, support for small projects, and personal loans sponsored by the Central Bank.
According to those in charge of the activity, which was covered by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), the main objective of this event is to ensure that financial services reach all segments of society at reasonable prices, and to work on the transition from reliance on cash to the digital banking system.
They explained that this shift contributes to reducing the risks of carrying cash, facilitating buying and selling through point-of-sale (POS) devices, as well as supporting the local economy by enhancing liquidity within the formal banking system. link
Tishwash: The Central Bank of Iraq: The flow of foreign currency into Iraq is stable.
The Deputy Director General of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Office at the Central Bank of Iraq, Hussein Ali, stated that the bank’s procedures and international audits have led to the regulation of foreign transfers and ensured the flow of foreign currency (dollars) into the country, noting that there is ongoing coordination at the international level to exchange intelligence and financial information with the aim of drying up the sources of terrorism financing.
In an interview with Rudaw Media Network on Wednesday (May 6, 2026) regarding Iraq’s ability to implement the observations of the US Treasury and international institutions to ensure the continued sending of dollars, Hussein Ali said: “The Iraqi banking system has witnessed remarkable progress in technical and practical compliance over the past years, and this has been reflected in international reports indicating an improvement in Iraq’s ranking in the field of combating money laundering.”
According to information obtained from several Iraqi officials, the United States promised to normalize sending dollars to Iraq, but until the last few days no amounts of dollars have entered the Central Bank’s account.
The Central Bank official explained that there is “full coordination” with the Supreme Judicial Council to take “strict legal measures” against violators, noting that the international audit process “led to the regulation of foreign transfers, achieving stability and ensuring the flow of foreign currency through official channels.”
The Deputy Director of the Anti-Money Laundering Office stated that “fictitious trade and the black market” were among the most prominent challenges facing the Central Bank, adding: “The electronic platform for remittances has brought about a major transformation; official channels are now the main route for remittances, which has enabled our teams to easily track financial movements that do not correspond to the type of business activity, especially those that use fictitious invoices.”
The official also pointed to a new coordination with the Customs Authority through the ASYCUDA system, saying: “This system provides an accurate database of exports and imports and prevents manipulation of prices and quantities of goods.”
Regarding the black market, Hussein Ali said: “We worked to strengthen confidence in official channels so that the free market would not remain an outlet for illegal activities.”
Regarding preventing the financing of terrorism, Hussein Ali announced that they are using “modern technologies such as artificial intelligence and advanced data analysis systems”.
He added: “We closely monitor virtual assets and digital currencies via Blockchain technology, where new analytical tools have enabled us to detect abnormal patterns of money transfers faster and more accurately.”
The Central Bank official concluded by noting that the Central Bank and the Iraqi government are in continuous coordination at the international level to exchange intelligence and financial information, “with the aim of drying up the sources of terrorist financing that attempt to exploit technical loopholes.” link
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Tishwash: Customs automation halves demand for dollars: An economist reveals a radical shift in Iraq’s foreign remittances.
Iraqi economist Manar Al-Obaidi revealed a radical shift in Iraq’s foreign transfer balance during the first quarter of 2026, stressing that the implementation of the Asycuda customs automation system directly contributed to curbing what he described as the “financial bleeding” that accompanied import operations and international transfers for years.
Al-Obaidi explained, based on recent data, that the Central Bank of Iraq’s sales of foreign currency recorded a sharp and unprecedented decline, reaching about $10 billion during the first quarter of 2026, compared to much higher levels in previous periods.
He explained that the annual comparison shows a decline of 50% compared to the first quarter of 2025, while the quarterly comparison recorded a decrease of 49% compared to the fourth quarter of 2025, in which sales amounted to about $21 billion, reflecting a clear gap in the volume of spending on hard currency.
Al-Obaidi stressed that this decrease does not reflect an economic recession, but rather represents a direct result of strengthening financial control tools, noting that the ASYCUDA system, along with the Advance Send system, played a pivotal role in reducing invoice inflation and preventing the submission of fake or overvalued import documents to obtain dollars.
He added that these systems also contributed to controlling the import movement by linking financial transfers to the actual goods entering the country, as well as monitoring re-exported goods and closing loopholes that were being exploited in money laundering or currency smuggling operations under the guise of commercial activity.
Al-Obaidi described the reliance on these digital systems as a “strategic achievement” for Iraqi fiscal policy, noting that it succeeded in a short period in reducing the demand for the dollar by half, which enhances the stability of the national currency and gives the Central Bank greater flexibility in managing cash reserves with higher efficiency. link
Tishwash: Washington wants Iraq’s next prime minister to take “concrete steps” to distance himself from Tehran.
A senior official said the United States is looking for “concrete steps” from Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi to distance the state from pro-Iranian armed groups before resuming financial and security assistance.
The “Coordination Framework,” a political alliance of pro-Iranian parties holding the largest bloc in parliament, tasked al-Zaidi with forming the next government, replacing Nouri al-Maliki. The prime minister-designate received a phone call from President Donald Trump, who had threatened to cut off all US aid if al-Maliki returned to the premiership.
But a senior U.S. State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Tuesday that al-Zaidi needs to clarify the “blurred line” between the Iraqi state and pro-Iranian groups.
Washington suspended cash payments for oil revenues, which were handled by the Federal Reserve in New York under an agreement dating back to the aftermath of the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, as well as suspending security assistance in the wake of a series of attacks on US interests following the outbreak of war in the Middle East with a US-Israeli attack on Iran.
The official stressed that “the resumption of full support requires first expelling the terrorist militias from all state institutions, cutting off their support from the Iraqi budget, and preventing the payment of salaries to their fighters.”
He added, “These are the concrete measures that will give us confidence and confirm the existence of a new mindset.”
The official stated that US facilities in Iraq have been subjected to more than 600 attacks since the outbreak of war on February 28. The attacks have stopped since the ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran on April 8, with the exception of Iranian strikes in the Kurdistan region.
The official said, “I do not underestimate the seriousness of the challenge or what it will take to unravel these relationships. It may begin with a clear and unequivocal political statement that terrorist militias are not part of the Iraqi state,” considering that some parties within the Iraqi state “still… provide political, financial and operational cover for these terrorist militias.”
The “coordination framework” announced in January the nomination of Maliki to form the government, succeeding Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. However, Washington threatened to halt support for Baghdad should Maliki return to the position he held for two terms between 2006 and 2014. His relations with Washington cooled during his second term, while his relationship with Tehran strengthened.
Attacks claimed by armed groups in Iraq have targeted the US embassy in Baghdad, its diplomatic and logistical headquarters at the capital’s airport, and oil fields operated by foreign companies.
Most Iraqi armed groups coalesced under the umbrella of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), established in 2014 to fight the Islamic State, before being integrated into the Iraqi military and becoming part of the armed forces. However, the PMF also includes brigades belonging to Iranian-backed factions that operate independently. link
