TNT:
Tishwash: Barak after meeting Zidane: The rule of law and strong institutions are the foundation of stability and prosperity in Iraq
US Presidential Envoy to Iraq, Ambassador Tom Barrack, linked the consolidation of the rule of law with the promotion of trust, investment, and stability, stressing that strong institutions are the foundation for lasting peace and prosperity, following his meeting with the head of the Supreme Judicial Council, Faiq Zaidan, in Baghdad on Friday.
Barak said in a post published on the “X” platform, which was followed by “Baghdad Today”, that he met with Zaidan in the presence of the official for democratic cooperation, Steve Fagin, to discuss strengthening judicial cooperation between the United States and Iraq.
He added that “strong institutions and the rule of law build trust, which is the foundation for investment, stability, and lasting prosperity,” noting that “security opens the door, trust brings investment, and prosperity makes peace last.” link
Tishwash: Barrack Says Iraq Choosing “Sovereignty Over Dependency” After Baghdad Meeting
At a Glance
US Special Envoy Tom Barrack praised Iraq’s direction in a post on X on Friday.
He described Iraq as choosing sovereignty, investment, and partnership over proxy.
His remarks follow his meeting with Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi in Baghdad on Thursday.
US Special Envoy to Iraq Tom Barrack said Friday that Iraq is charting a path of sovereignty and partnership in a post on X reflecting on his talks with Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi in Baghdad a day earlier.
Key Statements and Focus Area
Barrack on Iraq’s Direction: “Under Prime Minister Al-Zaidi, it is choosing sovereignty over dependency, investment over stagnation, and partnership over proxy.” — Tom Barrack, US Special Envoy to Iraq, on X.
Barrack on Regional Responsibility: “America is a partner in it, not a substitute for it.” — Tom Barrack.
Focus Area: Washington’s message on Iraq’s role in the region and its push to deepen economic ties while easing tensions.
Barrack compared the Middle East to a Rubik’s Cube, saying every side touches every other and that no single country, and no outside power, can solve it alone. It comes together, he wrote, only when the nations of the region decide to turn the pieces themselves, patiently and together.
He said Iraq is doing exactly that, and that the United States is proud to stand with it by deepening economic and commercial ties and opening the door to American companies and Iraqi talent alike.
He added that the talks also covered the harder work of lowering the temperature across the region, containing crises before they spread and choosing diplomacy over escalation.
That responsibility, he said, belongs first to the region, to neighbors willing to own their security and their future. A sovereign, prosperous Iraq anchored in such a region, he wrote, is good for Iraqis, their neighbors, and the United States.
Al-Zaidi received Barrack on Thursday, according to the Prime Minister’s office, with discussions covering bilateral relations, economic and investment cooperation, and the importance of intensifying diplomatic efforts to contain crises and prevent conflicts from spreading.
FYI
Tom Barrack serves as President Trump’s Special Envoy to Iraq, a role focused on US-Iraqi relations, investment, and regional diplomacy.
Washington has repeatedly voiced support for Baghdad’s efforts to strengthen state authority and expand economic partnerships, while Iraq seeks to balance its ties with the United States and its neighbors amid regional tensions. link
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Tishwash: The vote on the federal budget was postponed due to disagreements over the region’s share.
An informed source reported on Saturday (November 7, 2026) that the cabinet meeting scheduled to vote on the federal budget has been postponed until further notice, due to ongoing disputes over the Kurdistan Region’s share and the distribution of financial allocations.
The source told Baghdad Today that the disputes escalated after Sulaymaniyah demanded a financial share independent of the region, based on the law, which added complications to the issue of the region’s share and contributed to postponing the session until understandings are reached and the disputes are resolved.
The disputes come at a time when Baghdad and Erbil are continuing their discussions on the 2027 budget draft, amid differing positions on the region’s share; the Kurdistan Region insists on calculating it based on a percentage of 14.14% of the Iraqi population according to the results of the population census, while the draft budget includes a percentage of 12.7%.
The disputes are not limited to the percentage of allocations, but also include the quantities of oil to be delivered to the federal government, tax and customs revenues, and the mechanism to ensure the regular funding of the region’s employees’ salaries. link
Tishwash: MP: Regional and provincial disputes are delaying the finalization of the 2027 budget, and investment is suspended until it is approved.
Jamal Kojar, a member of the parliamentary finance committee, confirmed on Saturday that the disputes between the Kurdistan Region and the federal government, along with the objection of some governorates to their financial shares, represent the two main reasons behind the delay in finalizing the 2027 budget project and sending it to the House of Representatives.
Kujer told Al-Mada that he had information about a crucial cabinet meeting on the budget, but he did not know whether it would be held or whether understandings between the concerned parties would be resolved during it.
He explained that the budget will be general, but it will adopt two methods in its preparation and implementation, as the traditional item-based system will be applied in part, while the program and performance budgeting method will be adopted in another part.
He added that the application of the program and performance budget will include the Ministries of Finance and Electricity and some other institutions, in addition to the governorates of Diwaniyah and Salah al-Din, while the rest of the institutions and governorates will be managed according to the traditional method based on items.
Regarding the chances of reaching an agreement soon and sending the budget to the House of Representatives, Kujer indicated that he could not specify a date for that, calling for a clear time limit to resolve the disputes, and setting a deadline, such as the next two weeks, with the formation of a working group and the continuation of meetings until a final agreement is reached.
He warned that the continued delay in the budget is reflected in the economic and financial situation, explaining that the absence of an integrated budget makes spending governed by the 1/12 rule, which only allows for covering operational expenses, while the investment side remains at a standstill.
Regarding securing employee salaries for 2027, Kujer confirmed that they would be secured, explaining that the government could not tamper with them, because that would lead to the collapse of the country, as he put it.
Regarding the increase in dollar shipments to Iraq, and whether it represents a sustainable solution or a temporary measure, Kujer said that its impact depends on the size of the dollar injection by the United States, the nature of relations between Baghdad and Washington, and the extent to which this injection continues.
In this context, a government source reported that the cabinet meeting scheduled for today to vote on the budget has been postponed due to disagreements over the Kurdistan Region’s share. link
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Tishwash: The US Treasury imposes sanctions on 8 Canadian companies for allegedly facilitating financial transactions for Iran.
The US Treasury Department on Friday imposed sanctions on eight Canadian companies specializing in financial services and money transfers, accusing them of facilitating financial transactions for the benefit of the Iranian regime and its affiliated entities subject to US sanctions.
The ministry said in a statement received by Iraq Observer that the targeted companies facilitate the conversion of Iranian rials and other currencies into digital assets, enabling the execution of international financial transactions linked to Iran. It indicated that a number of them dealt with Iranian digital asset trading platforms listed on US sanctions lists, as well as digital addresses linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.
The statement quoted US Treasury Secretary Scott Bisent as saying that Canada cannot be a safe haven for illicit financial entities that provide services to the Iranian regime and its agents to evade sanctions, stressing that Washington will continue to target and disrupt Iranian financial channels wherever they are found.
He added that these measures are part of the “economic pariah” process launched by the US Treasury Department last August, with the aim of cutting off the sources of economic funding for the Iranian regime and the Revolutionary Guard, and limiting the use of digital assets as a means to circumvent sanctions and finance illicit activities. link
