Clare: Counterfeit currency and ‘unmarked’ gold dealers busted in Iraq
3/3/2025
The National Security Service announced, on Monday, the arrest of promoters of counterfeit currencies and traders of “unmarked” gold in Baghdad and the provinces of Dhi Qar and Diwaniyah.
The agency said in a press statement received by Shafaq News Agency, “Two suspects were arrested in Baghdad in the Al-Baladiyat area, who were promoting counterfeit local and foreign currencies. 3,400 counterfeit US dollars in 100-dollar bills were seized in their possession, in addition to various amounts of counterfeit Iraqi dinars.”
He continued, ” In Dhi Qar, an illegal commercial complex was raided for selling unmarked gold. It was found that its owner was offering usurious loans to citizens in exchange for seizing Key Cards and Master Cards. 122 cards, a gold piece, four seals, records of the dealers, electronic devices, and an amount of 12 million and 750 thousand dinars were seized.”
He pointed out that “in Diwaniyah, the apparatus’ detachments were able to overthrow a gang specializing in promoting counterfeit currency, where an ambush was set up for one of the gang members and two suspects (a man and a woman) were arrested red-handed while exchanging counterfeit money, and an amount of 215 thousand counterfeit US dollars was seized in their possession, in addition to the vehicle they were riding in.” LINK
Clare: Mazhar Saleh: Geopolitical controls push towards shifting to official channels for currency trading
3/3/2025
Mazhar Muhammad Salih, the financial advisor to the Prime Minister, confirmed that the geopolitical controls imposed on informal trade contribute to expanding dealings with official outlets for foreign currency, which contributes to financing foreign trade through the sound international financial system.
He pointed out in his statement to {Euphrates News} that “this shift aims to move away from informal financing from the parallel dollar market intensively, especially with the change in the behavior of small traders in avoiding the parallel market linked to the countries’ regional and geopolitical problems.”
Saleh added that “this shift comes in the context of the importance of increasing Iraq’s foreign reserves and confronting money smuggling operations, in addition to facilitating external transfer operations through Iraqi banks that deal with international banking correspondents, at an official exchange rate of 1,320 dinars per dollar.”
He also stressed that the end of the compliance platform phase adopted by the Central Bank of Iraq in the past two years and the country’s entry into a new phase has contributed to providing great flexibility in financial transfers through official channels. LINK
************
Clare: Oil Minister: A boom in investment in associated gas and raising its rates to 67%
3/3/2025
Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Affairs and Minister of Oil Hayan Abdul-Ghani Al-Sawad received today, Monday, a German delegation that includes representatives of the German Embassy in Baghdad, the German Chamber of Commerce, and companies specialized in various oil and non-oil fields.
Abdul Ghani confirmed, in a statement from his office, a copy of which was received by {Euphrates News}, “Iraq is keen to cooperate with various parties, including German companies, which have a long history in the field of industry and are of high quality and acceptable in Iraq.”
He pointed out that “Iraq has made great strides in the field of developing the oil industry, and in particular the optimal investment of gas, as Iraq has achieved, during the life of the government, a great leap in the field of investment in associated gas and raised investment rates from 53% to more than 67%, and Iraq is determined to stop flaring gas and achieve self-sufficiency in 2028.”
Abdul Ghani explained that “the ministry has major projects in the gas investment sector, the most important of which is the gas development project in Basra with Total to invest 600 cubic meters in two phases, in addition to other projects in the field of gas field development, as the ministry signed contracts to develop the Mansouriya and Akkas fields, and signed contracts to develop 14 fields and exploration areas, which were offered in the fifth and sixth supplementary licensing rounds.”
He added, “The ministry has investment opportunities for gas and oil exploration fields and blocks from the last licensing round that have not been referred. The ministry is working to develop them through investment projects with specialized international companies.”
German companies presented a review of their activities and offers to work and cooperate with the Ministry of Oil and its formations, in the fields of exploration, pipelines, laboratories, training, and the provision of equipment, tools, and supplies for oil facilities. LINK
************
Clare: Iraq-Turkey Pipeline Reopening Pressures Oil Prices, Signals Potential Market Shift
3/3/2025
ERBIL – Oil prices experienced volatility as news of the anticipated reopening of the Iraq-Turkey pipeline raised expectations of increased supply, despite Iraq’s ongoing commitment to OPEC+ production constraints, according to a report by Robin Mills, CEO at Qamar Energy, published in the Energy This Week newsletter on Monday
Mills noted that crude oil prices ended higher on Monday but dropped on Tuesday following reports that the Iraq-Turkey pipeline is set to resume operations. The country’s deputy oil minister, Bassem Mohammed, recently confirmed that 185,000 barrels per day (bpd) from the Kurdistan Region could be exported after domestic allocations are met. Before its closure in March 2023—following an arbitration ruling—the pipeline transported around 450,000 bpd.
“The market is reacting to the possibility of higher supplies, but Iraq is still constrained by its OPEC+ commitments,” Mills stated. He added that while the pipeline’s reopening may put downward pressure on oil prices in the short term, long-term impacts will depend on Iraq’s ability to balance exports with production limits.
Mills also highlighted the role of U.S. diplomatic efforts in pushing for the pipeline’s resumption. “Washington has been applying pressure on Baghdad to restart exports through the pipeline, which requires an agreement between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) on budget allocations and payments to international oil companies,” he explained.
Meanwhile, British Petroleum (BP) has reinforced its presence in Iraq’s energy sector by finalizing a deal to redevelop the massive Kirkuk oil fields in the country’s north. Mills pointed out that BP, part of the original consortium that discovered Kirkuk’s oil in 1927, estimates the contract area contains up to 20 billion barrels of oil equivalent. “This redevelopment could help Iraq secure a higher production quota within OPEC+,” he noted.
However, BP itself faces challenges, and Mills referenced recent discussions suggesting that a merger with Shell could strengthen the struggling British energy giant.
Iraq’s Energy Sector and Geopolitical Pressures
Iraq, OPEC’s second-largest oil producer, has long grappled with balancing its production ambitions against OPEC+ output agreements. While Baghdad seeks to increase exports to boost revenue, it remains bound by cartel-imposed limits, a tension that has led to periodic disputes.
Mills emphasized that the reopening of the Iraq-Turkey pipeline is particularly significant for the Kurdistan Region, which has faced financial strain since the shutdown.
The U.S. has been actively working to counter Iran’s influence in Iraq, particularly following President Donald Trump’s return to office. By pressuring Baghdad to resume pipeline exports, Washington aims to strengthen its economic ties with Erbil while reducing Tehran’s leverage over Iraq’s energy sector.
As Iraq navigates these complex political and economic dynamics, the coming months will be crucial in shaping the country’s energy strategy amid shifting global market conditions and geopolitical maneuvering. LINK
Clare: Kurdistan Region’s Oil Exports Near Resumption
3/3/2025
ERBIL – All preparations for resuming the Kurdistan Region’s oil exports to Turkey’s Ceyhan port have been completed, according to an announcement by a member of the Iraqi Parliament’s Oil and Gas Committee.
The long-awaited move comes after almost two years of suspension, which has cost the Iraqi government billions in revenue losses.
Ali Shaddad al-Faris, an MP from Basra and a member of the Oil and Gas Committee, confirmed that no obstacles remain to restart the oil flow. “According to the budget amendment, the amount to be sent from the region is between 300,000 to 325,000 barrels of oil per day,” he stated.
Additionally, al-Faris revealed that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has requested an increase in the amount of oil used for domestic consumption, seeking an expansion from 45,000 barrels per day to 110,000 barrels per day.
Iraq’s Oil Minister, Hayan Abdul Ghani, announced last Friday that the Federal Oil Marketing Company (SOMO) would initially sell 185,000 barrels of Kurdistan Region oil per day through Turkey’s Ceyhan port. This figure is expected to gradually rise until it aligns with the quota specified in the federal budget.
The decision marks a significant development after prolonged disputes over oil revenue-sharing between the Kurdistan Regional Government and Baghdad. Since March 2023, exports have been halted following an international arbitration court ruling in Paris, which favored the Iraqi federal government in its legal battle over oil export rights.
The suspension of exports has resulted in an estimated loss of over $21 billion for Iraq’s treasury, underscoring the economic urgency of restoring Kurdish oil sales.
US-Iraq Talks and Diplomatic Pressure
The resumption of oil exports has been a key issue in recent U.S.-Iraq diplomatic discussions.
Last Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shi’a al-Sudani, marking their first official conversation. According to statements from both governments, the meeting was productive, addressing a range of issues, including the Iraq-Turkey pipeline.
On Friday, Reuters reported that the Trump administration has been pressuring Baghdad to allow the restart of Kurdish oil exports as part of Washington’s broader “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran. The U.S. sees Kurdistan’s oil exports as a strategic economic lever, and Secretary Rubio specifically raised the issue with Prime Minister Sudani.
Tammy Bruce, the U.S. State Department spokesperson, stated that both leaders agreed on the importance of reopening the Iraq-Turkey Pipeline “as quickly as possible.” The involvement of Washington further underscores the geopolitical importance of Kurdish oil exports and the role they play in regional energy dynamics.
Economic and Political Implications
The restoration of oil exports is expected to ease financial strains on both Erbil and Baghdad. The KRG relies heavily on oil revenue to sustain its economy, and the prolonged suspension has exacerbated budgetary challenges, including delays in public sector salaries. Meanwhile, Baghdad seeks to recover billions in lost revenue and stabilize its economic outlook.
However, broader negotiations between the KRG and Iraq’s federal government remain ongoing, particularly regarding revenue-sharing mechanisms and long-term agreements on oil production rights.
As preparations are finalized and the first shipments of Kurdish oil are set to flow once again, all eyes will be on how efficiently the resumption process unfolds and whether it signals a more stable economic and political relationship between Erbil and Baghdad. LINK
***********
Clare: Due to the collapse of the toman.. Iranian parliament dismisses the Minister of Finance
3/2/2025
The Iranian parliament dismissed Finance Minister Abdolnaser Hemmati on Sunday after starting a no-confidence vote against him over his handling of the high inflation rate and the decline in the national currency exchange rate, state television reported.
The source explained that the Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance, Abdolnasser Hemmati, lost the vote of no confidence against him, with 182 parliamentarians out of 273 who attended the session designated for his dismissal supporting the motion.
Earlier on Sunday, Iran’s parliament began a session that included a vote of no confidence in the finance minister, following a sharp decline in the value of the Iranian currency, the rial.
On the black market on Sunday, the riyal was trading at more than 920,000 to the US dollar, compared to less than 600,000 in mid-2024.
The decision to withdraw confidence from Finance Minister Abdolnaser Hemmati comes nearly 8 months after the formation of the government under President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Under the Iranian constitution, the minister’s dismissal would take effect immediately, with an acting minister appointed until the government chooses a replacement. LINK
