TNT:
Tishwash: The Foreign Minister and the US Chargé d’Affaires discuss ways to implement the memoranda of understanding signed between Baghdad and Washington.
Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein met with the Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Iraq, Joshua Harris, in Baghdad on Monday to discuss ways to implement the memoranda of understanding signed between Baghdad and Washington.
A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reported by Al-Mirbad, indicated that “Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein received the Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Iraq, Joshua Harris, in Baghdad.”
The statement added that “the meeting reviewed the results of the Iraqi delegation’s visit, headed by the Prime Minister, to Washington, D.C., and assessed its outcomes, particularly the memoranda of understanding signed between the two sides, and ways to follow up on their implementation to enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields.”
The statement continued, “The meeting also addressed the results of the Prime Minister’s visit and the accompanying delegation to the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
The statement concluded by noting that “the two sides discussed the course of Iraqi relations with both the Republic of Turkey and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the ongoing preparations for upcoming official visits, which will contribute to strengthening regional cooperation and developing bilateral partnerships.”
The statement affirmed that “the two sides exchanged views on developments in the region, particularly those related to maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing the importance of avoiding escalation and maintaining regional security and stability.”
The statement concluded by noting that “the meeting addressed the economic repercussions of regional developments and their potential impact on oil markets and the financial situation in Iraq.”link
Tishwash: The US Treasury removes 84 names and entities, including some linked to Iraq, from sanctions list.
Announced Department of the Treasury The United States removed 84 individuals and entities, including some linked to Iraq, from its sanctions lists, which contain more than 17,000 names, as part of efforts to streamline sanctions programs and make things easier for banks.
And it was Minister of the Treasury Scott Bisent began a comprehensive review of the Department’s sanctions programs and lists last May, with the aim of removing outdated inputs and easing compliance burdens on financial institutions, and later announced the removal of 76 targets in the first phase of the review.
An official said Department of the Treasury The goal is “to ensure that the Department’s sanctions remain effective, precise, and focused, and to eliminate unnecessary excesses left over from previous administrations,” he said, noting that the number of names on the sanctions lists in 2024 exceeded 3,000, compared to only 880 in 2017. He added, “Sanctions are not meant to be an indefinite tool.”
Bisent repeatedly emphasized the readiness President Donald Trump’s administration To impose sanctions on the two largest oil companies in Russia Rosneft and Lukoil, a move they avoided Presidential Administration the previous Joe Biden Fearing a further rise in oil prices, the second batch of delistings from the “Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List” includes 36 deceased individuals and their associated listings, 33 Iraq-linked entities that were first listed in 1991 or 1992, and seven obsolete targets related to smuggling. drugs in Colombia The Treasury Department also added eight names of drug kingpins whose activities have been neutralized.
The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) updated the data of 22 individuals and entities to add or clarify key identifying information.
The Treasury Department stated that each removal from the list is subject to a review by other agencies to ensure it does not harm U.S. foreign policy or interests. National security She noted that names could be reinstated if necessary. link
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Tishwash: Following security guarantees, Dana Gas restarts the Kormor gas field.
Dana Gas announced on Monday the gradual resumption of operations at the Kormor gas field in the Kurdistan Region, following an assessment of the security situation and receipt of official guarantees from the regional and federal governments.
The company said in a statement received by Al-Sa’a Network that “it was decided, after assessing the security situation and receiving official and clear guarantees from the highest levels in the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Iraqi Federal Government, to raise the level of production in the Kormor gas field cautiously and gradually.”
In mid-July, the UAE-based Dana Gas announced the temporary suspension of its operations at the main production facilities in the Kormor gas field in Sulaymaniyah Governorate, after receiving security threats, before deciding to gradually resume operations after obtaining security guarantees from the relevant authorities. link
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Tishwash: “Al-Maalomah” reveals the name of the candidate for the position of Minister of Defense in Al-Zaidi’s government
Ahmed Abdul Sattar, a member of the United Anbar Alliance, revealed on Sunday the name of the Sunni forces’ nominee for the Ministry of Defense in Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s government.
Abdul Sattar told Al-Maalomah News Agency that “the Sunni National Council held a meeting with Sunni leaders to reach a unified position on selecting a consensus candidate for the Ministry of Defense,” explaining that “the consensus settled on nominating former Minister of Industry Khalid Battal al-Jughaifi for the ministerial post.”
He added that “the vote on al-Jughaifi is scheduled to take place during the upcoming parliamentary session on the 15th of next month,” noting that “Mohammed al-Halbousi, head of the Progress Alliance, received a delegation from the Badr parliamentary bloc and informed them of the selection of al-Jughaifi as the nominee for the Ministry of Defense.”
He clarified that “the Sunni forces intend to inform the Coordination Framework forces and the Kurdish parties of the nominee in the coming period, with the name to be officially announced during the session to vote on the vacant ministerial portfolios in al-Zaidi’s government.”
He noted that “the forces within the Coordination Framework had demanded that their Sunni counterparts nominate their candidate for the position of Minister of Defense.” link
Tishwash: Why is the “Asycuda” system controversial in Iraq? An advisor reveals the reasons.
Nabil Al-Khafaji, advisor to the head of the Baghdad Chamber of Commerce, revealed the reasons for the controversy surrounding the “ASYCUDA” system adopted in customs procedures, considering that the main problem lies in the difficulty of modifying data after it has been entered, despite the possibility of developing a more efficient local system.
Al-Khafaji said during a televised interview followed by Al-Sa’a Network that Iraq possesses the competencies and technical capabilities that qualify it to establish a better customs system, indicating that the ASYCUDA system is old and it is difficult to make modifications to it after the data has been recorded.
He added that “many developed countries do not adopt this system,” noting that “Iraq was able to develop a local system that links all financial benefits and procedures more efficiently.”
He explained that “the problem does not lie in entering the data, but in the mechanism for modifying it after it has been recorded,” noting that “any error in the shipment information or the goods code (HS Code) becomes complicated to correct within the system.”
Al-Khafaji explained that “errors are often caused by the data submitted by the source or exporting company, but the ASYCUDA mechanism makes dealing with these errors more difficult, which is reflected in the speed of completing customs transactions.” link
