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Disclaimer:All information in this newsletter is not intended for investment decisions / purposes. Mnt Goat is not a financial analyst, planner, banker, attorney or associated in any role with giving out professional investment advice.
ABOUT THE NEWSLETTER:
February 3, 2026 Mnt Goat News Brief
Guten Tag everyone:
The RV saga continues with the election cycle. Who will become the next prime minister of Iraq? Constitutional deadlines have already passed. We await news of how Iraq will get out of this mess.
GIVE A GIFT TO MNT GOAT
I decided to allow everyone to give a Free-will GIFT to Mnt Goat on PayPal if you so desire. Here is the link below. Please show your appreciation for all the hard work I do.
I recommend $15-$20 dollars a month or whatever you can afford. Do you realize I write up to eight (8) Newsletters every month. This is like a second job to me. The only way I know that people are reading and appreciating all the FACTUAL news I bring is through their appreciation. If I do not receive equal appreciation for all the hard work I do, I will simply end the Newsletter and save myself endless hours at the computer. You do want to get paid for your job, don’t you? What makes my job any different? Tell me….. I am tired of this RV saga just as you are. We are now down to addressing the Iranian militia in Iraq. This is a very good thing and had to happen sooner or later. The RV will not happen as long as Iraq is a proxy state of Iran.
Let’s all try to chip in!
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2 Corinthians 9:7:
“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
STATUS OF THE RV
More news….
PARLIAMENT SETS NEXT SUNDAY AS THE DATE FOR THE SESSION TO ELECT THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC
The media department of the House of Representatives announced today, Friday, that next Sunday has been set as the date for holding a session to elect the President of the Republic.
Agenda for Session No. 7, Sunday, February 1, 2026
Department of Affairs
Parliamentary Session
Recitation of verses from the Holy Quran
First: Taking of the constitutional oath by some members of parliament.
Second: Election of the President of the Republic.
The session starts at eleven o’clock in the morning.
(This event did not happen!)
More news….
THE COORDINATING FRAMEWORK IS CONSIDERING WITHDRAWING AL-MALIKI’S NOMINATION UNDER PRESSURE FROM WASHINGTON.
An Iraqi parliamentary source stated that the coordination framework is studying options for dealing with Washington’s rejection of Nouri al-Maliki’s nomination, including the possibility of his withdrawal .
The US-based Al-Hurra channel, in a report followed by Al-Sa’a network, quoted the parliamentary source as saying that “there are two scenarios being discussed within the coalition: the first is to proceed with nominating Maliki and leave the final decision to the parliamentary blocs, and the second is for Maliki to withdraw in exchange for being given the opportunity to name an alternative figure .”
He added that “the framework has until Sunday, which is the likely date for holding a parliamentary session to elect a new president of the republic, who in turn will task the candidate of the largest bloc, which is the coordinating framework, with forming the government .”
(They may have considered it but did not yet do it)
More news….
THE US TREASURY IMPOSES NEW SANCTIONS ON INDIVIDUALS AND COMPANIES LINKED TO IRAN.
The US Treasury Department announced on Friday that it has added seven individuals and two entities to its list of sanctions related to Iran.
The US Treasury Department said it had imposed a new package of sanctions on Iran, targeting companies and individuals, including seven people along with a number of companies. These additional sanctions came as part of escalating economic pressure on Tehran amid rising US military buildup in Middle Eastern waters.
STATUS OF THE RV
Here we are at yet another week of waiting in anticipation to see what happens in forming the next Iraqi government. We are seeing articles about the deadline coming close for electing the next president. But we know that this deadline has already passed last Thursday and even read the verbiage from the constitution on it. Here it is again:
The Iraqi Constitution, in Article (72/Second/B), stipulates that the President of the Republic must be elected within (30) days of the first session of the new Parliament, to ensure the continuity of legitimacy and prevent a power vacuum.
So, more deadlines are nearing. Do the politicians even take these deadlines serious anymore? In the article titled “BETWEEN “TEXT” AND “REALITY”: POSTPONING THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION PUTS THE IRAQI CONSTITUTION TO THE TEST OF TIME LIMITS.” I will quote from the article:
“With the postponement of the parliamentary session scheduled to elect the president, the current crisis transcends the bounds of a mere political procedure, opening a deeper debate about the constitution’s place in the Iraqi equation and the extent to which the timeframes it stipulates for the transfer of power are respected.” What the author is really telling us the constitutional deadlines must be respected but also there is a crisis that must be solved and sometimes these things take time, more time than is given in the constitution. And we all know what this crisis is, don’t we. I will sum it all up in one word “Maliki”.
In the article titled “COORDINATION FRAMEWORK DELEGATION HEADS TO ERBIL TO FINALIZE DEAL ON IRAQ’S TOP POSTS”. So why do you think they sent a delegation to Erbil? Of course, common sense tells us why as in the article it says “Talks aim to settle the presidency and premiership as the Iraqi parliament convenes to complete Iraq’s constitutional entitlements.” Did they say also to settle the premiership? Did you read this too? So, this article ties together for us the delay in selecting the president not caused by not having a candidate for the presidency (which is a Kurd responsibility) but by the determination of the Coordination Framework in nominating Maliki for the premiership.
In the following statement it shows us how much the Coordination Framework knows the Kurds dislike Maliki (or should I say HATES him) yet they still want him as their candidate? Why is this? Yes, it is the Iranians in the Iraqi government that want the Kurdistan oil and the revenues it can generate for Iran. Remember Maliki was all set to attack Kurdistan when he was the prime minister only he could not get the equipment he needed. He wanted a civil war of GOI vs Kurds.
So, when they don’t even include Maliki in their delegation to Erbil then what does it tell us? I quote from the article – “A senior-level delegation from Iraq’s Shiite-led Coordination Framework is scheduled to visit Erbil on Sunday as part of accelerated political efforts to complete Iraq’s constitutional entitlements, particularly the unresolved posts of president and prime minister. The delegation is expected to include Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Mohsen al-Mandalawi, and Badr Organization leader Hadi al-Ameri, who will meet with senior leaders of the Kurdistan Region.”
Oh…. did the author just tell us the delegation is expected to include Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and so where is Nori al-Maliki, peanut-head man in this delegation?
We must be diligent on how we read these articles coming from Iraq. The Maliki propaganda machine is moving desperately to get him back in office. Some say that he is desperate because he knows what is coming for him in criminal charges. But we know that these charges are only coming as a result of his flagrant move to take control again. Folks, it is now so obvious who he is working for and it’s not the Iraqi people. Take a peek at the article titled: “THE IRANIAN FRAMEWORK: OUR ORDERS COME EXCLUSIVELY FROM IRAN, AND WE DO NOT RESPECT AMERICAN DIRECTIVES.”
Note how they now call it the ‘Iranian Framework’ and not the Coordination Framework. They are now blatant about it even. They words like this in front of the face of President Trump and dare him to take action. How dare the Coordination Framework claim the US is interfering with Iraqi internal affairs in the election when they themselves just announced they are loyal to Iran. Folks, this hypocrisy is almost unbelievable. But in the US the democrats do exactly the same as they claim they are the protectors of democracy yet rig the elections and they try to prosecute anyone who challenges the results as fraudulent. Instead, wouldn’t you want to investigate the alleged fraud, if truly you were the protector of democracy? They also let millions of unvetted immigrants to flood the nation yet now call ICE these people victims. Do they even realize they created the crisis in the first place? Are these sick people or what? So they flood the nation will illegals, yes, non-citizens voting in our elections. Oh… but I guess the manipulated electronic voting machines are going to do the job any long since we are now on to this trick and so they resort to illegal immigration to change the demographics, then redistrict. They will do anything to get in power and stay in power. They are anything but democratic. They know they can’t win an election on their woke ideology. Americans simply don’t want it.
Now we see the same happening in Iraq too as many countries have been hit with schemes to rig their elections.
So, what will be the final result of this election crisis in Iraq? The election cycle will not move ahead until they have political pressure to meet the constitutional deadlines (which they already bypassed) or this Iranian crisis is solved. Nori al-Maliki must withdrawal as the candidate. If he doesn’t it will take much more time to ensure there is enough parliament members that will vote against him in the ratification process. Then another candidate must be rendered by the Coordination Framework. Will the next candidate be any better? These are all issues that must be resolved prior to moving ahead. So does everyone now see who is controlling the election cycle at this point? It is the Kurds. They absolutely do not want Nori al-Maliki on the position of prime minister.
What will happen if Maliki should get voted in as the prime minister?
I don’t want to paint a picture of gloom and doom because I do not believe this will happen as Maliki will not get in again as prime minister. His first eight years were disastrous, as we all know. Please go read the following articles and this will help you understand what Iraq is in for should/if Maliki regain power:
- “ADHERENCE” TO MALIKI AND AMERICAN REJECTION… WARNING OF SANCTIONS AND ECONOMIC REPERCUSSIONS AMID INTERNATIONAL ISOLATION”
International isolation again is the last thing Iraq needs just when they were on the verge of completing the necessary reforms to move to the international arena.
- “AMONG THEM THE COLLAPSE OF THE DINAR… REPORT: THREE ECONOMIC CARDS IN TRUMP’S HAND TO “UNDERMINE” MALIKI’S RULE”
A press report published by the Al-Sharq Economic website on Thursday, January 29, 2026, identified what it described as “economic pressure points” that US President Donald Trump could use to “undermine” Nouri al-Maliki’s rule, should he assume the premiership”. Does this sound like the US would approve the RV anytime soon if Maliki gets back in the premiership?
- “LEARN ABOUT THE REASONS FOR AMERICA’S “GUARDIANSHIP” OVER IRAQ… AND THE CONSEQUENCES THAT AWAIT US IF THIS PROTECTION IS LIFTED.”
Despite more than 23 years having passed since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime, Iraqi oil revenues remain channeled through the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. This arrangement is viewed within Iraq as a complex mix of legal “protection” and financial “guardianship” that grants Washington significant influence over economic decision-making in Baghdad. Although most of the legal foundations that originally established this mechanism have expired, the United States effectively still controls the flow of dollars that fund the Iraqi budget through a combination of executive orders, protectionist measures, and strict oversight of dollar flows into and out of Iraq. With Trump’s threats to cut “aid” to Iraq—which is practically understood as a threat to cut off its dollar supply— read the article to examine the implications.
What if Trump carries out his threat (which he will) and cuts off or reduces dollar aid to Iraq?
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There is not much more to talk about in today’s Newsletter. Iraq still waits for a breakthrough in the election cycle. Meanwhile the Central Bank is still moving ahead with its banking reforms. I am not going to get into these reforms again today as we know that the Central Bank is ready to move ahead with the currency reform project and make tangible evidence to us. They are ready right now! Yes, the Project to Delete the Zeros still sits in the wings waiting the election to show positive results. Certainly, if Iraq insists on Nori al-Maliki as their savior (lol… lol…) this process may take some more time. If he backs down and al-Sudani is nominated we could see the rest of the process fly ahead very quickly.
I encourage everyone not to even listen to these idiot intel gurus anymore telling you this RV could even happen this week or over the weekend. Simply put it is ‘impossible’.
They have been fooling you now for 20 years and so why haven’t you all have had enough of their lies? Yes, I am speaking mostly to all you TNT Tony, MarkZ, and Big idiot Bruce calls. How foolish and irresponsible of them to say these things to you. Oh… they tell you this RV is a “military” like operation. Really? This is total bizarre nonsense statement to even make. This Iraqi dinar reinstatement is not a revaluation as I have said this many times. The rate only changes to something we all want when it is reinstated. We call it the RV for short because the rate will jump from artificially suppressed rate (1320) to the nominal rate ($4+) since it will have to change accordingly with the new peg. This is a very straight redenomination process, unlike other redenominations done in many other countries such as Iran or Zimbabwe, as Iraq won’t be facing hyperinflation and resetting their currency to combat this inflation. But rather resetting to get back to pre-sanction era days (1991). It will be a resetting so they can reinstate the currency at a much higher rate. You only need to study a bit of the past from 1991 then October 2004 when they issued these larger three zero notes to understand what they are doing.
The problem arises with Iran and it has been all about Iran all along and their corruption schemes to control the Iraq economy for their own benefit. This has stalled this currency reform process to the end stages that we now await. Yes, others too have piggybacked off the corruption to a point where it is a way of life and today normal behavior in Iraq. So, the change is coming in Iraq and like in the US, with combating all the corruption and the status quo, is not liking it. Now we are witnessing it again as Iraq entered this critical stage of successful reforms and on the edge of the next stage, which included the reinstatement. Yes it was targeted for last month.
The process to get to currency reform part is clear, resolve the five issues that the US require and they will support the reinstatement (9/16 Newsletter.) The rest is up to the Central Bank. Sorry I wish I had better news for you today. The election process appears to be on hold. We await some news any day now. This is now in God’s hands and so we must pray. This situation could change on a dime and most probably we will wake up some morning and it will be over, for the good of Iraq.
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We pray-
A nice prayer from one of my blog followers. Thank You!
“Be still, wait on the Lord, my modern David will slay the so-called giant of Islam. It will fall they are already begging for mercy, but it will not come as they have sinned so greatly with their blasphemy, disregarded all warnings for the Lord and now HIS WRATH WILL CONSUME ALL WHO CURSE THE CHOSEN!!
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Their words not mine…..No Rumors, No Hype, No Opinions ,,,,,
Just the FACTS!
PRAYING WITH SINCERITY
Many may ask why their prayers are not being answered. Our new Shepard in Rome Pope Leo XIV has given us some direction.
You can purchase a nice pair of Rosary Beads here to pray:
These prophecies are more important now more than ever. They give us the strength, perseverance and hope that a better time is coming and that God’s Hand is at work behind the scenes. If you just take a second even to look around you at these past three election cycles, how can you deny that God is at work? Are you sleeping or what?
It is amazing and there is no other way that these events could have happened the way they turned out. But there is more to come, much, much more, I assure you! Now that God has his biblical David re-elected, we need to pay attention to what He does next.
NOTE: These prophecies just keep getting better and better, giving us HOPE of a brighter future. But the real reason why I listen to them is that we can actually see what God says He will do is taking place right in front of our noses. It is a confirmation to me that God is real and is still with us forever just as in biblical times.
Prophetic Words from prophet: Julie Green
NOTE: There were no prophetic words from Julie Green that she could share this period.
WHAT DOES GOD HAVE IN MIND FOR GREENLAND?
WHAT WILL COME OUT OF IT FOR AMERICA? A mineral trapped in the earth will finally come out. This is a prophetic word from Hank Kenneman. Listen carefully! 😊
Fr. DON BOSCO EXPOSED THE DARK SECRET BEHIND ISLAM
— And the Truth the World Forgot about the so-called Muslim religion. Fr.Don Bosco, also known as John Bosco, was an Italian Catholic priest and educator, born on August 16, 1815. He founded the Salesian Society in 1859 to help disadvantaged youth, particularly boys, through education and community service. His teachings emphasized lovekindness, and the importance of education for young people, making him a beloved figure in Catholicism and a patron saint of youth. Don Bosco was canonized in 1934.
A “STAGED” ATTACK?
I watched this video replay on the news of this attack on Ilhan Omar. I played it over and over again to understand it, and conclude too it is a fake event, a staged event. Why would they stage such an attack?
Let’s all put on our THINKING caps. THINK! THINK! THINK! In the midst of all the pressure on Omar they needed to do something. Popular opinion even in the Samali community was fading with all the allegations against her. Even her constituents were losing confidence in her. Minnesota needed to keep her in power and to do this they her Somalian voter base.
But more than half is either being deported, indicted for corruption or investigated for fake visas. The there is the $50 million dollar overnight sensation of wealth for Omar. Where did all this money come from? It is not legal for a standing representative in Congress to be investigated by their fellow congressman. But where is Omar’s wiggle room? We all know she is guilty of corruption. So, she claimed it was her husband’s money and his business that “took off”. Really. So they can investigate him instead and if they find a tie to his money to Omar, she is sank. They then can indict her and begin their investigation of her. This most likely will be the outcome.
So, knowing all this they are preparing for something BIG, and I mean really BIG BIG! They know the connection to Omar is going to be made and they can’t hide it. Does it surprise you that they want to make her a victim. She is in the hotseat. She is soon up for reelection, and the democrats need that Minnesota seat to stay blue in bad way.
This is an all too familiar political tactic to take the pressure off. You go from being the hunter to the prey, the victim, get it? Yes, I believe this is the game being played out here. She needs people on her side. Look at the audience and see if you can find any Somalians or Muslims in it. Do you know why there are none? It is a staged audience. Get it? Just saying it certainly looks that way….
IN a situation like this, with everything else going on in the world today, I would be running for the nearest exit if I was in the audience, yet no one moves. Why is this? Did they know it was coming? Note that no one in the audience gets up to run. Why? Of course, the attacker is a white, male, caucasian. Again, playing the race card – white caucasians (as is Trump) against Somalians. Most people do exactly this racism thoughts in their minds without even thinking about it. It automatic. She becomes the victim of Trump. Poor Omar….Go figure this goes right in line with the hatred towards this class of caucasian people. This attack is so fake you have to be an idiot to buy it, but believe me many stupid people will.
THE U.S. VOTER FRAUD: VENEZUELA CONNECTION
Take these little tidbits of information and remember them. There is more than enough evidence now to say that the 2020 election was rigged. This is all about to break lose.
GOV. JANET MILLS IN BIG TROUBLE… $46M SOMALI FRAUD EXPOSED
Moving on to other states. What will these Medicaid scams reveal. Oh… I can hardly wait until they move on to Arizona, Wisconsin and California. Of course, the Somalian communities are at the heart of it again led by politicians.
WE SHOULD ALL DEMAND ANSWERS ON SOMALI FRAUD IN MINNESOTA
If you watch this video, you can see how the leftists sitting on both sides of Kevin O’Leary are trying desperately to make Ilhan Omar the “victim” to push the victim button and form public opinion away from the Samalis and the Samali fraud and a very real possibility of her involvement. They don’t want the conversation to go there.
Even the heading caption of this You Tube video is about the recent attack on Omar and not about the fraud, which is why Keven O’leary is on this panel to talk about in the first place. Then as we can also see in another video today this incident with Omar being squirted with water/vinegar was most probably a “staged” incident for the cameras anyway. Folks, we are just not buying this leftist nonsense anymore. We see through it all. Did you watch my other video (above) on this incident?
Also, if you notice once again, these two leftists (Trump haters) women try to push the conversation all about Trump. They keep going back to Trump. Even going back to the 2020 election fraud and allegations from Trump of the voter fraud in Minnesota. So, was there massive voter fraud in Minnesota. Guess we may never know as the crooked Minnesota system shut down the investigation and hid the evidence. Its always Trump’s fault somehow and never about the corruption going on and who is doing it. Yes, deflect the conversation to hate Trump once again. Gosh…. I feel like I’m watching “The View”.
And I will also add, this video does not even cover the recent massive drug bust and drug cartel arrests in Minneapolis, Minnesota as they were running a drug cartel from that city. It was a major distribution center. Why didn’t the local cops stop it or call in the FBI? I show you this video of news about the drug bust later in the blog. Don’t miss it.
WHICH BLUE STATE JUST FLIPPED RED?
Yes, North Carolina goes RED. What do these numbers tell us where America is heading and Americans want?
Do they want the wokeness? Do they want all the corruption and stolen tax payer money? The answer to both is NO and its now showing in the voter rolls. Why would we want it? Seems the democrats couldn’t give a sh_t as they are fighting Trump as every move instead of embracing what he is doing for America. Why not join him if you truly loved your country. I don’t get it. Do you hate the personality so much that you will sacrifice your own country for you hatred of him?
Don’t be deceived by the fake democrat stances and polls on important issues pretending this crap is what the majority of Americans want. I assure you it isn’t. They keep crying democracy…oh how “Trump is a threat to democracy”. Really? And so you are getting a change as more and more eyes of America are opening. It is the way we responsibly vote for our representative all along only the elections were rigged. Oh… but you can’t rig the elections to get to the TRUTH of what America really wants. You can’t fool us anymore! Let’s stop lying to ourselves.
YOU WANT TO DO WHAT…DEFUND ICE? REALLY?
Everyone should know by now the real reason why the democrats want to defund ICE and it’s not because ICE is a “fascist”, “tyranny” organization. Instead, they know it is destroying their plans for supporting the drug cartels that are destroying America. They want the chaos and destruction of our cities. Every day now it seems there is yet another very large drug bust. Why does this happen mostly in BLUE states?
Are the democrats really concerned about America or just gaining more control over it so they can carry out their own agenda later.
And what is this agenda? We already got a taste of it under the Biden years. What more evidence are you looking for as to what it would be like under democrat control?
THEY SMEAR WHO THEY FEAR.
This is nothing but a hit piece against DNI chief Tulsi Gabbard. Just days after her findings of voter fraud in Georgia this hit piece came out. Go figure. The left must try to ruin the reputation of those who seek justice. See the next video below.
This is being presented today in our quest to learn more about how the democrats work. If you can be competent yourself and preform the way America wants, get freely elected based on your performance, then you discredit everyone else and pretend to be the ‘keeper of democracy’.
This one is easy to debunk as the beginning of the article sets the tone. It of course demonstrates once again blatant propaganda supported by extreme leftist. When will they realize this sort of stuff does nothing but show their ignorance and move their readers away more from them.
Like with Tulsi Gabbard – ‘you get the most flack when you are directly over the target’.
TULSI GABBARD JUST FOUND THE PROOF
Let the ‘smearing’ begin! Did God not tell us through his prophets that exposure of these rigged elections were going to come out. Look in the video of how the politicians try to sway public opinion, and deflect from the real issues by again going back to Trump. Always about Trump and not their own corruption. Maybe instead what they should be worried about is if there was in-fact voter fraud in their state’s elections. Wouldn’t they want to know so they can fix it? Oh…maybe they already know… Get my point. Enough said.
I have created a brand-new “Post RV Workshop” page in the blog. I included my own personal tips on investing post-RV and also organizing and protecting your estate. Here is the LINK. Going forward I will only post new and exciting information and opportunities here on the Latest Newsletter as they come along. Later I will transfer it to the ‘Post RV Workshop’ page in subsequent Newsletters for your future reference.
Just so you know I absolutely DO NOT adhere to high-risk investments where you can lose it all in a flash. Look at it this way – you are going to have all this money. Most of us investors waited decades for this RV to happen and so why would you even think about pissing is all away in some high-risk gamble of an investment. Yes, there are going to be scammers out there but let’s talk about legitimate investment opportunities only. These scammers can suck you dry and there is not a damned thing you can do about it. Go to a legitimate wealth manager associated with your bank. Let the licensed experts advise you. Please, please stay away from idiots like MarkZ, TNT Tony, Bruce on the Big Stupid Call, etc. , etc.
GOLD/SILVER RATIO: WHEN THIS RATIO SHIFTS, CRISIS FOLLOWS — AND IT’S HAPPENING AGAIN
What will it bring us this time?
EXPECT A GOLD AND SILVER PULLBACK TO HAPPEN
Here are a few of the other topics covered:
* TRUMP FLOATS ZERO INCOME TAX PLAN STARTING WITH BIGGEST REFUNDS EVER
*HOW MUCH MONEY CAN YOU GIFT WITHOUT PAYING TAXES?
*SILVER VAULTS RUN DRY AS SHORTAGE TRIGGERS PANIC. Physical silver not available to meet demand.
*15 THINGS TO DO IF YOU GET RICH ALL OF A SUDDEN
*15 ASSETS THAT ARE MAKING PEOPLE RICH/RICHER
*HERE’S HOW TO MAKE YOUR ASSETS INVISIBLE FROM CREDITORS
*HOW TO LOOK PENNILESS IN THE PUBLIC RECORD
*5 STATES CUTTING PROPERTY TAXES TO ZERO. WILL YOUR STATE BE NEXT?
*TRUMP REVEALS WHEN AMERICANS MIGHT EXPECT TO GET A TARIFF RELIEF $2,000 CHECK
BETWEEN “TEXT” AND “REALITY”: POSTPONING THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION PUTS THE IRAQI CONSTITUTION TO THE TEST OF TIME LIMITS.
With the postponement of the parliamentary session scheduled to elect the president, the current crisis transcends the bounds of a mere political procedure, opening a deeper debate about the constitution’s place in the Iraqi equation and the extent to which the timeframes it stipulates for the transfer of power are respected.
The constitutional deadline for electing the president has once again become a flexible detail in the bargaining arena between political forces, while the text itself is relegated to the realm of theoretical reference. Considerations of “consensus” and “political restructuring” take precedence over adherence to binding deadlines, in a scenario that reproduces the unwritten norms accumulated during previous parliamentary sessions, norms that allow for the obstruction of entitlements whenever they clash with the calculations of the political blocs.
The Iraqi Constitution, in Article (72/Second/B), stipulates that the President of the Republic must be elected within (30) days of the first session of the new Parliament, to ensure the continuity of legitimacy and prevent a power vacuum.
However, practical experience since 2005 has established a pattern of exceeding these deadlines under the pretexts of “lack of quorum” or “the need for more time to reach an understanding.” This has gradually created a situation resembling a parallel “political custom” and “constitutional custom,” where deadlines are treated as subject to postponement and flexibility as dictated by the balance of power and the deals of the moment. With each new postponement, the impression is reinforced that the “political deal” holds greater authority than the constitutional text, and that deadlines can be suspended as long as an agreement has not yet been finalized behind closed doors.
In this context, legal and political affairs expert Ali Habib warned that violating the constitutional deadlines set for electing the president of the republic “is a clear violation of the provisions of the constitution and directly affects the legitimacy of the entire political process,” warning of “serious legal and political repercussions that may extend to the work of all constitutional authorities.”
Habib told Baghdad Today that “the Iraqi constitution has set clear time limits for completing constitutional entitlements, foremost among them the election of the president of the republic, with the aim of ensuring a smooth transfer of power and preventing a constitutional vacuum. Exceeding these time limits without constitutional justifications is considered a violation of the principle of the supremacy of the constitution and a weakening of the prestige of the constitutional text.”
He explained that “the legal implications of this violation are represented in the possibility of challenging the legitimacy of subsequent procedures, especially those related to the appointment of the Prime Minister and the formation of the government. The continuation of this violation places the Supreme Federal Court in front of a sensitive interpretive responsibility, and may open the door to accumulated constitutional crises that will be difficult to contain later.”
On the political level, the expert in legal and political affairs warned that “obstructing the election of the President of the Republic perpetuates the state of political deadlock and deepens the loss of confidence among political forces, in addition to its negative impact on internal stability and the image of the political process in front of local and international public opinion, and the continuation of constitutional violations reinforces the logic of political norms at the expense of legal texts.”
While calls are increasing to respect constitutional deadlines and not turn them into mere “flexible recommendations” subject to the fluctuations of understandings, observers believe that the accumulation of these violations turns the crisis of electing the president of the republic into a repeated model of a broader crisis between “text” and “reality,” where the supremacy of the constitution recedes in the face of customs formed from precedents of postponement and temporary settlements, with the accompanying risks to the stability of the political system and the public’s confidence in the legitimacy of its institutions.
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What is the cost of rebellion?
LEARN ABOUT THE REASONS FOR AMERICA’S “GUARDIANSHIP” OVER IRAQ… AND THE CONSEQUENCES THAT AWAIT US IF THIS PROTECTION IS LIFTED.
Despite more than 23 years having passed since the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime, Iraqi oil revenues remain channeled through the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. This arrangement is viewed within Iraq as a complex mix of legal “protection” and financial “guardianship” that grants Washington significant influence over economic decision-making in Baghdad. Although most of the legal foundations that originally established this mechanism have expired, the United States effectively still controls the flow of dollars that fund the Iraqi budget through a combination of executive orders, protectionist measures, and strict oversight of dollar flows into and out of Iraq. With Trump’s threats to cut “aid” to Iraq—which is practically understood as a threat to cut off its dollar supply—let’s examine the implications.
What if Trump carries out his threat and cuts off or reduces dollar aid to Iraq?
-Financial strangulation within weeks: because almost every artery in the economy runs through the dollar coming out of New York, and any significant reduction or cut in supply would cripple the central bank’s ability to finance the market.
What we are currently experiencing has escalated into a full-blown crisis: today, with only limited supply constraints and exchange rate fluctuations, markets are in turmoil and prices are soaring. What will happen if the cuts become more drastic or if the currency freeze becomes a declared political decision?
– Direct pressure on the central bank and the government: The central bank will find itself facing practically frozen reserves, unable to inject sufficient quantities to maintain the official exchange rate or cover imports, and the government will be forced to choose between:
1- Employee salaries.
2-Financing food, medicine, and energy.
3- The gap between the official and parallel exchange rates has exploded.
This means a rapid erosion of the purchasing power of salaries, a significant rise in the prices of basic commodities, an expansion of hoarding in dollars and gold, and perhaps a return to barter patterns in some sectors.
– Widespread paralysis in the private sector and foreign trade: letters of credit and transfers have stopped, shipments are delayed, and weak companies are leaving the market in favor of a few who own private channels to obtain hard currency.
-The impossibility of a rapid transition to alternative currencies: Even if Iraq were to consider the yuan, the ruble, or regional settlements in other currencies, this is a project that would require years to amend contracts and supply chains, and it cannot be accomplished as an emergency solution under pressure within months.
-A potential social and political explosion: The collapse of purchasing power, rising unemployment, and shortages of goods could turn into a wave of protests and unrest, which could be exploited by internal and external forces to rearrange influence within the country.
-Turning Iraq into an arena for settling scores: Cutting off or strangling the dollar will be used as a tool in the American-Iranian conflict, and perhaps in wider conflicts, turning Iraq from a player trying to balance its relations into an open arena for the rivalries of others.
-The current crisis is just a small “rehearsal”: What is happening today in terms of pressures, partial reductions, and tightening of controls reveals the fragility of the financial and monetary structure, and shows what the image of a “complete financial blockade” could look like if the threat turns into a strategic decision.
The question is: Why is Iraq still mortgaging its oil revenues to America?
(Mnt Goat: With the election going the way it is with Nori al-Maliki and the other 28 Iranians newly elected into parliament, now we know why America has maintained this leverage with Iraq. Get it? The answer is obvious! 😊 )
From the “Development Fund for Iraq” to the Central Bank account in New York
Economic expert Nabil Al-Marsoumi presents an analysis that moves from legal backgrounds to the financial reality today, and then proposes a practical path to get out of the state of dependency, by addressing the file of lawsuits and compensations accumulated against Iraq since the nineties, instead of just complaining about the “dominance” of the US Federal Reserve.
Following the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the Coalition Provisional Authority established the “Development Fund for Iraq” to be the repository for oil and gas export revenues, obligating countries around the world to deposit the sales proceeds into it, based on Security Council Resolution 1483, which stipulated that oil revenues be transferred to this fund and used for reconstruction, and protected from seizure and litigation proceedings abroad.
In 2010, UN Security Council Resolution 1956 paved the way for the dissolution of the Development Fund for Iraq (DFI) and the transfer of management of the funds to the Iraqi government and the Central Bank of Iraq, while maintaining some legal protections for a specified period. Concurrently, former US President George W. Bush issued Executive Order 13303 in 2003, which granted special protection to the DFI and “all property in which Iraq has an interest,” treating them as US funds with respect to immunity from seizure and court orders. This order remains in effect today, with some amendments, and is the most important legal basis for protecting Iraqi funds within the US financial system.
In practice, the “Development Fund for Iraq” evolved into an account in the name of the Central Bank of Iraq at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, into which almost all crude oil revenues were transferred. The Central Bank then recycled these proceeds back into the country by selling dollars to banks, financing imports, and supporting the exchange rate.
Why does the depositing continue at the Federal Reserve while other oil-producing countries do the same thing without restrictions?
Technically, having oil revenues in the US Federal Reserve is not unusual; many oil-producing countries prefer to deposit their reserves there because oil is priced and sold in dollars, and because holding dollar reserves in New York gives these countries quick and secure access to the global financial system. However, Iraq’s situation is different for two main reasons:
-Absolute dependence on oil and the dollar: More than 90% of public revenues come from oil sales, making the Federal Reserve account the “bottleneck” for all hard currency entering the Iraqi budget.
– Exceptional oversight of dollar transactions: For years, and especially after 2022, the US Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department have tightened controls on transfers leaving Iraq’s account, linking dollar allocations to Iraqi banks’ adherence to a strict compliance system to prevent currency smuggling to Iran and other sanctioned countries. This included banning 14 Iraqi banks from dealing in dollars and subsequently preventing additional banks from conducting dollar transfers, citing weak anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing controls.
The result, as summarized by Al-Marsoumi, is that the problem is not in the “place” of depositing the funds, but in the type of restrictions imposed on Iraq’s freedom to use them compared to other countries; many oil-producing countries deposit their funds in the Federal Reserve, but they do not face the same level of scrutiny and restriction on every bank transfer.
Old lawsuits: The Kuwait invasion bill that has not been fully settled
A significant part of the complexity of the situation is linked to a long history of lawsuits filed against Iraq stemming from its 1990 invasion of Kuwait. The United Nations Compensation Commission was established to receive claims from affected countries, companies, and individuals, and to disburse compensation from Iraqi oil revenues for many years. Although the compensation file for Kuwait was declared closed in 2022 after full payment, other cases and compensation claims filed by companies and private parties in various international and national courts remain, some resulting in substantial default judgments due to the lack of effective Iraqi legal representation.
These provisions make Iraqi assets a constant target for seizure attempts by creditors. This is why the American protection (Resolution 13303) was originally used to prevent the seizure of Iraq’s assets in New York, but linking the protection to an American presidential decision put Iraq at the mercy of the political will in Washington: if the protection is lifted without addressing the claims and debts, the assets are at risk of almost immediate seizure in more than one jurisdiction.
From here, Al-Marsoumi points out that protecting funds through the United States gives Washington great influence over Baghdad; because whoever has the “button” of protection, consequently has the ability to threaten Baghdad with losing part of its assets if it deviates from the path required by America.
Direct political influence: When assets become a weapon in negotiations
American control is not limited to the technical procedures of banks; it also manifests as a tool of political pressure. Numerous reports indicate that, amidst discussions about the future of the American military presence in Iraq, US officials have threatened to restrict Baghdad’s access to its funds held at the Federal Reserve. This would effectively cripple the government’s ability to pay salaries and finance imports within weeks if implemented.
This influence was further strengthened by tightening the noose on the smuggling routes of dollars to Iran and the factions close to it, whether through the currency auction, which was subjected to severe restrictions and later was gradually dismantled, or through pursuing new channels such as international payment cards that were used for transfers and smuggling, before the noose was also tightened on them.
For Iraq, this means that the financial file is no longer governed solely by the necessities of economic stability, but also by the balances of the American-Iranian conflict; whenever the confrontation between the two sides intensifies, the pressure on the dollar increases within Iraq, and the presence of the US Federal Reserve increases as the “oxygen cutter” for the Iraqi economy if necessary.
The cost of the current arrangement on the Iraqi economy
The existing arrangement produces a range of profound effects on daily economic life in Iraq, most notably:
-Parallel market and two dollar exchange rates: Reducing the amount of dollars allowed to be injected into banks and tightening the conditions for transfers pushes a large part of trade into the informal market, where the dollar is sold at a higher price than the official rate, which raises the cost of imports, goods and food.
– Strangling the private sector: Importing companies that cannot meet the requirements of the US-Iraqi regulatory platforms are forced to resort to the parallel market, incurring additional costs, or exit the market in favor of “protected” players who have their own channels to access the dollar.
-Politicizing the economy: Any political disagreement with Washington, or a hardening of the relationship with Iran, is directly reflected in the flow of dollars into Iraq, turning fiscal policy into a geopolitical battleground, not just an economic management tool.
Deepening dependence on oil: As long as all funding lines pass through the Federal Reserve and oil revenues, any drop in global prices or disruption in the oil market reopens the debate on the deficit, while non-oil revenues remain weak and squandered by corruption, tax evasion, and customs fraud.
What does Nabil Al-Marsoumi propose to escape this “guardianship trap”?
Al-Marsoumi proposed a different approach that went beyond simply complaining about Iraq’s subservience to the US federal system; it addressed the legal root of the crisis. His idea can be summarized in three interconnected steps:
A comprehensive review of the lawsuits and debts file: This involves commissioning a reputable international law firm with full authority to conduct a thorough inventory of all cases filed against Iraq in foreign courts, including the amounts awarded, the nature of the judgments, and their binding nature.
Shifting from a passive defense to active negotiation: Given that many judgments have become final and cannot be easily overturned, the realistic option is to enter into negotiations with creditors (companies, individuals, and institutions) to reach settlements through a “debt buyout” approach: paying a percentage of the amount in exchange for dropping the lawsuits or halting the pursuit of Iraqi assets.
A political, not just economic, decision: Al-Marsoumi points out that countries like Greece and Argentina only overcame their crises with creditors through a major political decision, not just financial maneuvering. They negotiated significant debt reductions and long-term rescheduling in exchange for a commitment to a specific reform plan. By this measure, Iraq needs a sovereign decision that adopts a courageous legal and negotiating strategy to address the lawsuits file, rather than leaving it unresolved, which perpetuates American protection and its associated influence.
In this sense, addressing the issue of debts and claims becomes a necessary condition for freeing funds from the American “protection trusteeship”; because any sudden withdrawal from the current protection system, without cleaning up this file, means opening the door to a wave of judicial seizure of Iraqi assets abroad.
What are Iraq’s realistic options in the coming years?
The question is not, “Should we leave the Federal Reserve or stay?” but rather, “How can we reduce the Federal Reserve’s influence over Iraqi financial decisions and transform its role from a tool of guardianship into a temporary safety net?” A range of overlapping options can be outlined:
Internal reforms to reduce Washington’s appetite for intervention: As compliance systems in Iraqi banks improve and dollar smuggling and money laundering are curbed, the objective need for intervention by the Federal Reserve and the US Treasury Department under the pretext of protecting the financial system from exploitation diminishes.
Gradually diversify reserves and deposit destinations: Without taking any sudden risks, the Central Bank can gradually expand its currency basket and the destinations for its reserve investments (euro, yuan, gold, sovereign assets), thereby reducing some of the political pressures associated with dollar exclusivity, while the dollar remains a pivotal currency for trade.
Increase the weight of non-oil revenues: Addressing tax and customs evasion and corruption at border crossings, and fairly expanding the income and consumption tax base, means that a larger portion of state funding will no longer be held hostage to a single account in New York. This would reduce Washington’s ability to financially strangle Iraq.
Address the issue of lawsuits as proposed by the two decrees: inventory, negotiation, settlements, and then a legal-political understanding with the United States to gradually reduce protection in exchange for guarantees against the prosecution of Iraqi assets.
A balance between sovereignty and realism
Realistically, it does not appear that Iraq is able, in the short term, to sever its oil revenues from the US Federal Reserve with a single blow. The global financial structure, the almost complete dependence on oil and the dollar, and the issue of debts and lawsuits make this option a high-cost gamble, especially if the potential effects of any strict US move are taken into account, such as reducing dollar flows or threatening to cut them off completely, with the direct risks this entails for salaries, prices, the ability to finance imports, and the stability of the market and the street together.
But in the medium term, this “forced linkage” could turn into an intentional transitional phase, if work is carried out on three simultaneous tracks: restructuring debts and claims as the decree suggests, reforming the banking system and reducing dollar smuggling and enhancing compliance, and building internal sources of economic strength outside of oil, which would gradually mitigate the impact of any American shock on hard currency flows.
Only then can the question “Why does the US Federal Reserve control Iraqi funds?” be transformed from an expression of structural weakness into a political and economic negotiation file in which Iraq possesses real cards of strength, and at the same time reduces the cost and depth of the effects that may result from any US decision to tighten the noose on the dollar, instead of the country remaining hostage to a single account in New York that reduces the entire state to a dollar balance.
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AL-MALIKI DISCUSSES WITH THE US CHARGÉ D’AFFAIRES THE FORMATION OF THE REMAINING PRESIDENCIES AND THE PATH OF THE NEW GOVERNMENT.
(In other words, Maliki is trying to get the US on his side by his promises, all of which he will never keep later. He has done this before in his first two terms.)
On Friday (January 30, 2026), Nouri al-Maliki, head of the State of Law Coalition, received Joshua Harris, the Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Iraq, and discussed with him ways to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries, in addition to discussing the ongoing dialogues between political forces regarding the completion of the formation of the remaining presidencies.
A statement from al-Maliki’s office, received by “Baghdad Today”, stated that the meeting addressed “the vision of the coordination framework for the next government’s path,” and the file of ongoing dialogues between political forces, particularly regarding the selection of the President of the Republic and the Speaker of Parliament, and establishing the features of the government program for the next stage, in line with the requirements of political, security and economic stability in the country.
This meeting comes at a time when the Iraqi political scene is witnessing intense activity between the forces of the Coordination Framework and its allies, and the Kurdish and Sunni forces, to resolve the issue of the presidencies and arrange the balance of power within the parliament and the government, in parallel with increasing talk of direct American pressure in the process of forming the new government.
The meeting also intersects with the positions of political forces, including the Iraqi Communist Party, which warned against “blatant foreign interference” in the government formation process and linked this to the continuation of the quota system approach, which puts influential forces, including the State of Law Coalition, before a test of balancing openness to dialogue with Washington on the one hand, and maintaining the discourse of protecting sovereignty and independent national decision on the other.
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THE COORDINATING FRAMEWORK IS CONSIDERING WITHDRAWING AL-MALIKI’S NOMINATION UNDER PRESSURE FROM WASHINGTON.
An Iraqi parliamentary source stated that the coordination framework is studying options for dealing with Washington’s rejection of Nouri al-Maliki’s nomination, including the possibility of his withdrawal .
The US-based Al-Hurra channel, in a report followed by Al-Sa’a network, quoted the parliamentary source as saying that “there are two scenarios being discussed within the coalition: the first is to proceed with nominating Maliki and leave the final decision to the parliamentary blocs, and the second is for Maliki to withdraw in exchange for being given the opportunity to name an alternative figure .”
He added that “the framework has until Sunday, which is the likely date for holding a parliamentary session to elect a new president of the republic, who in turn will task the candidate of the largest bloc, which is the coordinating framework, with forming the government .”
He noted that “the framework formed a committee to negotiate with influential parties on the American side, while emphasizing the need to reduce escalation and control media statements until the results of those contacts become clear
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AMONG THEM THE COLLAPSE OF THE DINAR… REPORT: THREE ECONOMIC CARDS IN TRUMP’S HAND TO “UNDERMINE” MALIKI’S RULE
A press report published by the Al-Sharq Economic website on Thursday, January 29, 2026, identified what it described as “economic pressure points” that US President Donald Trump could use to “undermine” Nouri al-Maliki’s rule, should he assume the premiership.
The report, which was followed by “Al-Jabal”, said that “Baghdad’s calculations regarding the possible return of Nouri al-Maliki to the Iraqi government have turned 180 degrees after the US president explicitly threatened Iraq that if al-Maliki, known for his leanings towards Tehran, were to enter the government through the door, US protection would immediately leave through the window.”
The website analyzed US President Donald Trump’s tweet in which he rejected al-Maliki’s nomination, saying that “Trump, who is known for his sharp tone, used three explicit threats in his tweet to express his opposition to al-Maliki’s election: no more aid to Iraq if he wins, no chance for Baghdad to succeed, and the country may sink into chaos and poverty.”
The report continued, “This threat should not be read in isolation, but rather within a much broader economic context where the United States already has cards above and below the table that it can use to pressure—and even paralyze—any government in Baghdad that is not to Trump’s liking, and oil, which finances about 90% of the state’s revenues, is at the heart of this equation.”
The report recalled al-Maliki’s rule, noting that it “witnessed a gradual negative shift in economic cooperation with Washington. In his early years, Iraq benefited from a high influx of oil revenues, but weak oversight of the banking system made the country an easy environment for dollar leakage, especially after the tightening of US sanctions on Iran. This put Baghdad on a collision course with Washington’s financial priorities, according to the British newspaper, the Financial Times. In the energy sector, despite launching major oil licensing rounds after 2009, the government tended to diversify partnerships towards Chinese and Russian companies, while Iraq continued its almost complete dependence on Iranian gas and electricity. This limited US influence and was reflected in the cooling of financial cooperation and the growth of Iranian influence at the time—a scenario that Washington fears will be repeated if al-Maliki returns to power.”
The website quoted economist Abdul Rahman Al-Sheikhly as saying that “if Maliki wins, there will be complications for the Americans in realizing the extent of Maliki’s ties to Iran, and this contradicts the American desire to cut off any communication between Baghdad and Tehran.”
However, Abdul Rahman Al-Mashhadani, a professor of international finance at the Iraqi University, disagrees with Al-Sheikhli’s analysis, as he believes – according to what was reported by Al-Sharq – that “the victory of Al-Maliki – or anyone else – will not affect those interests; because Al-Maliki will take into account that all centers of power are now concentrated in the hands of Washington, and he is unable to do without them.”
The report identified three economic cards that it said Trump could use to “play on Iraq’s nerves”: Iraqi oil money protected by a decision of the US president, as the United States has effectively controlled Iraqi oil revenues since the 2003 invasion by managing them through the Federal Reserve. The aim of this step at the time was to protect Baghdad from sanctions and accumulated issues from the era of former regime leader Saddam Hussein. Iraq’s oil export revenues in 2024 amounted to more than $95 billion, according to data from the Central Bank of Iraq.
As for the second paper, according to Al-Sharq, it is: “Restricting dollar transfers to Iraq, as happened in the last three years, when Washington sanctioned banks on the pretext of money laundering and financing terrorism, and to this day these banks are still subject to the sanctions imposed by the US Treasury Department and the US Federal Reserve.”
The third and final point, according to the website, is: “Indirectly causing the collapse of the Iraqi dinar and worsening social conditions by restricting access to the dollar, which will fuel inflation, especially since Iraq, during the two decades following the invasion, was unable to build an agricultural or industrial base that would meet the needs of the local market. 90% of the market’s needs are imported with hard currency, even those imported from neighboring Arab countries such as the UAE.”
The report stated, “Besides that, there are other indirect sources of pressure that Washington can use to besiege Iraq, most notably the threat of military aid. More than 70% of the Iraqi army’s armament is still of American origin, whether through new contracts or what the American army left behind after withdrawing from Iraq.”
The website quoted political researcher Nabil Al-Azzawi as saying in this context that “the coordinating framework that nominated Maliki must read Donald Trump’s message economically in light of the country’s current delicate situation, limited options, and lack of consensus.”
The report noted that “Iraqi investments in US Treasury bonds could also be restricted. According to data from the US Treasury Department, Iraq’s holdings of these bonds amounted to about $32 billion as of October 2025.”
The report continued, “According to Al-Sheikhly, another source of concern is the disruption of the work of intermediary American banks, such as Citibank and JPMorgan, which facilitate Iraqi trade and on which Baghdad relies for international transfers and the movement of funds to and from the country. Foreign investments may also be affected, as investors always seek political and security stability, which may be disrupted if Maliki assumes power against Washington’s wishes.”
Regarding the potential impact on the oil market if US threats against Iraq escalate, the Asharq report indicated that “so far, Trump’s threats against Iraq have not had any direct effects on the oil market, despite Brent crude prices rising to nearly $70 a barrel recently due to his intense pressure and military threats against Iran, something that could increase if Iraq becomes more involved in the conflict.”
The report noted that “any potential disruption to Iraqi oil flows could have a direct impact on the market, as Iraq is the second largest oil producer in OPEC after Saudi Arabia, and its production comes directly after Saudi Arabia and Russia within the OPEC+ alliance.”
According to Al-Sharq report, “If Maliki’s rise to power leads to disruptions in the sector, it may absorb part of the current oil surplus in the market.”
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AN ECONOMIC EXPERT REVEALS A ROADMAP FOR FREEING IRAQI FUNDS FROM THE GRIP OF THE US FEDERAL RESERVE.
(Mnt Goat: Why freeing Iraqi funds (about $100 billion) from the US Treasury is not so easy as one might think.)
On Friday, economist Nabil Al-Marousmi revealed several solutions and proposals to free Iraqi funds from the control of the US Federal Reserve.
Al-Marsoumi said in a post followed by “Al-Ahd News”: “The United States has effectively controlled Iraqi oil revenues since 2003 through its management via the Federal Reserve. The United Nations had provided legal protection for these funds under Resolution 1483, until it was terminated in 2011, following the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1956.”
He added that “the US president issued Executive Order 13303 to protect Iraqi funds, an order that remains in effect today despite some amendments.” He explained that “the objectives of US protection of Iraqi funds are to safeguard them from compensation claims by companies and individuals, as well as to prevent the seizure of Iraqi assets in cases filed since the 1990s.” He emphasized that “despite the expiration of many of the legal reasons that necessitated this financial arrangement, Iraq remains subject to strict financial oversight by Washington, which differs from the usual procedures in the international banking system.”
Al-Marsoumi pointed out that “most oil-producing countries deposit their money in the US Federal Reserve because oil is sold in dollars, but Iraq suffers from complete dependence on oil revenues without alternative resources,” explaining that “this means that the problem is not in depositing money with the US Federal Reserve, but rather in the restrictions imposed on the ability to dispose of it freely, unlike what other countries enjoy.”
He continued: “It is known that there are cases filed against Iraq by dozens or hundreds of companies that were harmed by Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, and representatives of Iraq did not attend the court sessions at the time to defend or reduce the compensations, and therefore the courts issued default judgments for very high amounts.”
He noted that “linking the issue of protecting Iraqi funds from prosecution to America gives Washington great influence over Baghdad, and resolving the crisis requires a political decision, as happened with Greece and Argentina, by employing a reputable law firm that is given full powers, whose task will be to accurately inventory the cases filed against Iraq and how much money has been awarded in judgments.”
Al-Marsoumi concluded that “Iraq is unable to resort to the courts because the judgments have become final, so a deal can be reached with the beneficiaries to drop the lawsuits in exchange for giving them a percentage of the money, which is called buying the debts, and most likely they will accept because they will get money instead of waiting and possibly not getting anything.”
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THE IRANIAN FRAMEWORK: OUR ORDERS COME EXCLUSIVELY FROM IRAN, AND WE DO NOT RESPECT AMERICAN DIRECTIVES.
(Mnt Goat: note how they now call it the Iranian Framework and not the Coordination Framework….)
Uday Abdul-Hadi, a member of the Coordination Framework, confirmed on Sunday that the decision to support Nouri al-Maliki as the Framework’s candidate to form the next government is irrevocable.
He indicated that they are awaiting the results of today’s session before officially nominating him. Abdul-Hadi stated in a press interview, “The Coordination Framework’s meeting held yesterday evening was clear in its statement, affirming its support for the nomination of Nouri al-Maliki to form the next government, given that the Framework’s forces represent the largest bloc within the Iraqi parliament.”
He added, “The Coordination Framework is awaiting the results of today’s session dedicated to electing the President of the Republic. Once the position is decided, the winning candidate will be identified, and Nouri al-Maliki’s name will be officially put forward to form the next government within the specified constitutional timeframe.”
He pointed out that “all reports of disagreements within the Coordination Framework are inaccurate,” noting that “the Framework’s statement was clear in its commitment to national and historical responsibility and its refusal to allow any party to interfere in determining the selection process for the Prime Minister, as it is a purely sovereign decision.”
(Mnt Goat: Oh…. but Iran is not interfering only the US? )
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“ADHERENCE” TO MALIKI AND AMERICAN REJECTION… WARNING OF SANCTIONS AND ECONOMIC REPERCUSSIONS AMID INTERNATIONAL ISOLATION”
The Coordination Framework’s “adherence” to its candidate for Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, has sparked various reactions and warnings of economic repercussions that could affect the future of the Iraqi dinar, in addition to the possibility of international isolation, in light of the declared American rejection of al-Maliki assuming the presidency of the next Iraqi government.
In this context, Salam al-Zubaidi, spokesman for the “Victory” coalition, said in a statement to the “Al-Jabal” platform that “there is a clear divergence of views within the forces of the Coordination Framework regarding proceeding with the nomination of Nouri al-Maliki for the premiership, and this divergence came in the wake of American objections and concerns related to the possibility of imposing American sanctions that may negatively affect the political and economic situation in Iraq.”
Al-Zubaidi explained that “some parties within the coordination framework see the need to take international repercussions into account, in order to avoid any measures that may harm the supreme national interest, while other parties adhere to their political options as a purely internal matter.”
Al-Zubaidi added, “At the same time, we affirm our categorical rejection of any external interference in the government formation process, whether from regional or international parties. The decision to choose the prime minister must be purely Iraqi and stem from the will of the political forces and the constitutional process only.”
The spokesman for the “Victory Coalition” stressed that “preserving the sovereignty of national decision-making and prioritizing the interest of Iraq above any other considerations should be the basis at this sensitive stage, and therefore there should be a responsible internal dialogue that leads to a consensus that serves the stability of the country and its future.”
In this context: Wilson, addressing Maliki: You are insulting Trump… Try your luck and see what happens.
In contrast, political researcher Mohammed Ali Al-Hakim warned of what he described as “the danger of insisting on proceeding with the nomination of Al-Maliki.”
Al-Hakim told Al-Jabal platform, “We must be wary of the danger of some parties within the coordination framework insisting on nominating Nouri al-Maliki for the premiership, given the declared American rejection of this nomination. This path may open the door to extremely dangerous political, economic, and security repercussions for Iraq.”
Al-Hakim explained that “ignoring the American position cannot be treated as a marginal detail, and the United States is still an influential player in the international scene, and it has real tools of pressure that it may use if it feels that its interests are threatened or that the next Iraqi government will move towards confrontational policies.”
He added that “the most dangerous thing that Iraq may face if it insists on this nomination is the possibility of imposing economic or financial sanctions, or restricting international banking transactions, which will directly affect the exchange rate of the dinar, investment activity, and the government’s ability to meet its internal and external obligations.”
He continued, “Iraq is still recovering from the effects of many years of isolation, sanctions, and conflicts, and any return to a state of tension with the international community would be a serious setback to the path of openness achieved in recent years. We must be careful that international isolation does not begin with big decisions, but rather with accumulated political positions that weaken the confidence of international partners in the Iraqi state.”
Al-Hakim stressed that “rejecting foreign interference in the formation of governments is a legitimate sovereign principle, but it does not mean ignoring the international balance of power or jumping over the complex political and economic reality that Iraq is experiencing. The logic of wisdom and national consensus must prevail, and a figure capable of managing the stage with the least amount of external clashes must be chosen.”
The political analyst concluded his remarks by saying, “The current stage requires responsible decisions that put Iraq’s higher interest above partisan and narrow calculations, and we must be wary that insisting on controversial options may push the country into new crises, the price of which will be paid first and foremost by the Iraqi citizen.”
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COORDINATION FRAMEWORK DELEGATION HEADS TO ERBIL TO FINALIZE DEAL ON IRAQ’S TOP POSTS
Talks aim to settle the presidency and premiership as the Iraqi parliament convenes to complete Iraq’s constitutional entitlements.
A senior-level delegation from Iraq’s Shiite-led Coordination Framework is scheduled to visit Erbil on Sunday as part of accelerated political efforts to complete Iraq’s constitutional entitlements, particularly the unresolved posts of president and prime minister. An official from the State of Law Coalition revealed that the visit aims to establish a “final roadmap” for resolving both positions.
The delegation is expected to include Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Mohsen al-Mandalawi, and Badr Organization leader Hadi al-Ameri, who will meet with senior leaders of the Kurdistan Region.
Abdulrahman al-Jazairi, a member of the State of Law Coalition, told Kurdistan24 that the Erbil visit represents a decisive step intended to address two sensitive files: agreeing on the future Iraqi president and finalizing arrangements for the next prime minister.
According to Jazairi, the talks will focus on reaching political understandings that can unblock the current impasse.
Sources indicated that the Coordination Framework delegation plans to hold discussions with both major Kurdish parties—the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)—specifically regarding the presidency, which under Iraq’s post-2003 political convention is allocated to the Kurds.
According to Kurdistan24 correspondent in Baghdad, the Coordination Framework is seeking firm assurances from Kurdish forces to support its preferred candidate for prime minister, in exchange for facilitating consensus on a Kurdish nominee for the presidency. Such a trade-off, he argues, could prove decisive in breaking the deadlock that has delayed the completion of Iraq’s governing institutions.
The visit coincides with a crucial session of the Iraqi parliament scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on Sunday to elect a new president. According to the parliamentary media office, the session is considered a key milestone toward fulfilling constitutional deadlines and paving the way for the formation of a new government cabinet.
The parliamentary vote had originally been set for last Tuesday but was postponed at the request of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. The delay underscored ongoing Kurdish divisions over the presidency, despite the position traditionally being reserved for a Kurdish nominee.
Initially, 81 candidates submitted applications for the presidency. However, the Iraqi parliament announced a final shortlist of 19 candidates on Jan. 23. One candidate, Nawzad Hadi—one of the two nominees put forward by the KDP—later withdrew, leaving 18 contenders in the race.
The remaining candidates include Latif Mohammed Jamal Rashid, Fuad Mohammed Hussein Baki, Abdullah Mohammed Ali Alawi, and several others representing a broad spectrum of political and independent figures.
Sunday’s developments in Erbil and Baghdad are widely seen as pivotal, with political forces racing against constitutional timelines to resolve the presidency and unlock the final steps toward forming Iraq’s next government.
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Their words not mine…..No Rumors, No Hype, No Opinions ,,,,,
Just the FACTS!
Disclaimer: All information in this newsletter is not intended for investment decisions / purposes. Mnt Goat is not a financial analyst, planner, banker, attorney or associated in any role with giving out professional investment advice.
Auf Wiedersehen
Much love to ya all,
Mnt Goat
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