Tishwash: Expert: War exacerbates Iraq’s financial crises and threatens salaries and the economy
Economic expert Salah Nouri warned on Saturday that the war waged by the United States and Israel against Iran has clear repercussions on the global economic situation, further complicating the financial situation in Iraq.
Nouri told Al-Furat News Agency that: “Iraq faces major challenges before the outbreak of any war, due to the failure to approve budgets and the financial liquidity crisis, in addition to the size of internal and external debts and the obligations of interest and repayment, in light of the weak possibility of exporting crude oil in accordance with the general budgets.”
He added, “These external and internal circumstances are exacerbating the financial deficit and directly impacting the payment of salaries to current employees and retirees, as well as pushing the economy toward recession.”
Nouri emphasized that “the solutions offered by the executive branch to address these challenges are still unclear.” link
Tishwash: Rubio: The military operation in Iran will end in weeks with guaranteed objectives.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed on Friday (March 27, 2026) that the US military operation in Iran is proceeding according to plan, indicating that the timing of the end of operations will be within weeks, not months.
Rubio said in a statement that “we had a good meeting with the G7 ministers,” stressing that “we have objectives in Iran and we believe we are close to achieving them.”
He added that “the operation in Iran will end on schedule within weeks, not months,” indicating that “Iran may decide to establish a transit fee collection system in the Strait of Hormuz.”
Rubio noted that “the Iranian people deserve much better than a radical regime that has misused the country’s wealth,” adding that “Russia is not doing anything for Iran that affects how we conduct the military operation.”
He continued, “Our goals have been clear from day one in Iran and we are achieving great success so far,” noting that “we will achieve all our goals in Iran even without deploying troops on the ground, but President Trump has all the options.”
The region is witnessing extreme tension after the United States escalated its operations against Iran, amid international warnings about the impact of any closure of the Strait of Hormuz on the global economy and energy markets, as the strait is one of the most important waterways for transporting oil, and any fees or restrictions by Iran could lead to higher crude prices and destabilize global trade. link
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Tishwash: The Prime Minister’s advisor reveals the government’s options for dealing with the exceptional challenges of the 2026 budget.
The Prime Minister’s financial advisor, Mazhar Muhammad Saleh, confirmed on Saturday that the 2026 budget is a test of the economy’s ability to adapt to external shocks, while pointing out that strengthening non-oil revenues is the key to economic sustainability in Iraq.
Saleh told the Iraqi News Agency (INA): “Fiscal policy undoubtedly faces exceptional challenges in preparing the 2026 federal budget, given the rapid regional developments and the fluctuations in oil exports, the cornerstone of state revenues.”
He added: “The heavy reliance on oil revenues reflects the most prominent public finance challenges in the face of price volatility and export levels, which necessitates that financial decision-makers adopt cautious estimates based on realistic and precautionary assumptions to avoid potential shocks.”
He indicated that “public finances are expected to adopt a flexible budget capable of adapting to changes by reprioritizing expenditures, focusing on economically viable projects, and controlling unnecessary operational expenses.”
He pointed out that “the vital role of enhancing non-oil revenues is highlighted, through improving collection efficiency and expanding the base of non-oil resources, thereby reducing dependence on oil and enhancing financial sustainability in the medium term.”
He added that “given the continued uncertainty in the oil markets, the government may have to adopt a phased financial management approach, by postponing some obligations or adopting temporary spending mechanisms, until the situation becomes fully clear.”
He explained that “the 2026 budget is not just a financial document, but represents a test of the Iraqi economy’s ability to adapt to external shocks, especially geopolitical tensions on oil export routes in the Gulf, and to gradually move towards a more diversified and stable financial model that is capable of absorbing the effects of the economic geography of the energy belt in the Middle East, until the war ends.” link
