The heads of Iraq's four presidencies signed off on Monday on what they called the completion of the country's path to sovereignty. The coalition's mission ends September 30.
From here, the gates this file has tracked run on dates: customs rules on October 1, the weapons principles in the first days of October, and the budget in parliament by October 15.
The statement from the top
Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, President Nizar Amedi, Speaker Haibat al-Halbousi and Chief Justice Faiq Zaidan met in Baghdad on Monday. Their statement said the next stage moves Iraq's relations with the world onto wider tracks of economic and trade cooperation. War and peace are decisions for the state, and weapons outside its authority will be dealt with under the constitution, on timetables the government sets. They called for the cabinet to be completed, and for measures and steps to protect the economy against regional and international shocks.
Everything else that moved
- Najaf — the four presidencies backed an exemption for Najaf airport. Per a single source cited by a wire service, Washington moved to grant a 1-month waiver for Iraqi Airways flights between Iran and Najaf for pilgrims, and the flights were running again on Monday.
- The customs rule — from October 1, Iraqi importers pay a 3% tax deposit and their customs duties, which run as high as 40%, before the dollars for their goods leave the bank.
- The weapons — “Sept. 30 is not doomsday,” said Hikma spokesman Hossam al-Hassani. The general principles for placing weapons under state control come at the start of October, and the factions have put written demands on the table.
- The cabinet — one lawmaker says the empty seats, Interior and Defense among them, will be filled once the coalition's mission closes.
- The budget — the 2027 draft is with the Council of Ministers and due in parliament by October 15. No figures have been published.
- The street — $100 closed Monday near 156,500 dinars in Baghdad, up from 155,250 on Sunday, against the official 131,000.
The bill
Al-Zaidi told The New York Times last week that the war next door has cost Iraq about $60 billion. Iraq could export 4.2 million barrels a day in September but averaged about 2.5 million, and it is building around the strait: the first cargo of American gasoline is moving to Iraq by truck through Syria.
Credit: Written by Reset Intelligence — David E. Atterton, author of Head of the Snake (@EXIT_FIAT). More at resetintelligence.com.
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