PNN – Despite the Iraqi Prime Minister aligning with Trump on the air embargo against Iran, the country’s funds have not been transferred from the US to Baghdad.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network; an informed source told the Tasnim correspondent in Baghdad that, under a mechanism established following the occupation of Iraq, a portion of Iraq’s funds held in US accounts is transferred to the country monthly in the form of cash dollars.
The source added that the US government has, at times, utilized this leverage to advance its objectives in Iraq.
A noteworthy point at present is that, despite the Iraqi central government—led by Ali Faleh al-Zaidi—aligning with the Trump administration’s decision to impose air sanctions and ban Iranian flights to Iraqi airports (including Baghdad and Najaf), the U.S. government has still not released Iraq’s funds and continues to withhold them.
Consequently, while al-Zaidi was in New York meeting with Trump, the Iraqi government appealed to Tom Barrack—Trump’s special envoy for Iraq and Syria—who has since submitted a request to Washington regarding this matter.
The source emphasized that, despite the government’s efforts, Al-Zaidi has still not succeeded in securing Iraq’s funds, and this has had a direct impact on the rise in currency exchange rates in the country.