By David Schenker for The National Interest. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.

Iraqis Fear That Trump's America Will Depart Once and For All

Baghdad has good reason to be concerned about the trajectory of the U.S.-Iraq relationship.

Click here to read the full report.

By John Lee.

The Federal Ministry of Oil has confirmed the completion of procedures for resuming the export of oil produced in the Kurdistan Region through Ceyhan Port (pictured), in accordance with the mechanisms outlined in the Budget Law and its amendments and within Iraq's OPEC production quota.

In a statement on Saturday, the Ministry said it has called on Kurdistan authorities to hand over the produced quantities from operational fields to the State Oil Marketing Organization (SOMO) to begin exports via the Iraq-Turkey pipeline and Ceyhan Port, under contracts signed with the nominated companies.

Sources told Reuters that U.S. President Donald Trump's administration put pressure on Baghdad to allow oil exports from the Region, to offset a potential fall in Iranian oil exports due to increased sanctions on Iran. Reuters adds that Farhad Alaaldin, a foreign affairs adviser to the Iraqi Prime Minister, denied that there had been a threat of sanctions or pressure on the government.

Oil exports via the Iraq-Turkey Pipeline (ITP) were suspended in March 2023 following a dispute between Baghdad, Erbil and Ankara.

(Sources: Ministry of Oil, Reuters)

From Kurdistan24. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.

Trump Cancels US Exemption for Iraq to Import Electricity and Gas from Iran

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday revoked Iraq's exemption to import electricity and gas from Iran, reinforcing Washington's campaign of maximum pressure on Tehran.

This decision comes as part of a new package of sanctions targeting Iran's energy sector and its broader economic ties.

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By Ben Fishman, for the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.

Trump's Foreign Assistance Review Prioritizes Funding Over Policy

The U.S. government has demonstrated a long-term interest in supporting the Iraqi security forces, investing $1.25 billion to improve their capabilities since 2015.

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By John Lee.

A leading Iraqi economist has predicted that US President Donald Trump's pressure to reduce oil prices will harm the Iraqi economy, and could lead to a devaluation of the Iraqi dinar.

In a post on Facebook, Dr Nabil Jaafar Al-Marsoumi, former Professor of Economics at Basra University, and member of the Advisory Board of the Iraqi Economists Network (IEN), said:

"Following Trump's demand for Saudi Arabia and OPEC to reduce oil prices to provide cheap energy and expedite the end of the Russian-Ukrainian war, OPEC Plus's abandonment of its cuts amounting to 4.650 million barrels will be implemented within a few weeks. Oil prices will decrease as Trump planned, and oil revenues for oil-exporting countries will decline.

"However, the greatest harm will be to Iraq. Although its production will increase by approximately 220,000 barrels per day, the drop in oil prices to 60 dollars will put Iraqi finances in severe distress, as it financially means a reduction in Iraqi oil revenues by about 15 billion dollars, which will need to be secured through domestic borrowing.

"If prices drop to 50 dollars, devaluing the dinar will become one of the important options to increase public revenues denominated in dinars to reduce the deficit gap in the general budget!"

(Source: Nabil Jaafar Al-Marsoumi)

By John Lee.

Just a month ago, Iraq Business News ran an article examining the possible connection between support for Donald Trump and a belief in the Iraqi Dinar revaluation theory -- the idea that the Iraqi Dinar (IQD) will revalue ("RV") to as much as 1000 times its current value.

You can read the full article here:

https://www.iraq-businessnews.com/2024/12/21/donald-trump-and-the-great-iraqi-dinar-revaluation/?swcfpc=1

With the swearing-in yesterday of Donald Trump as 47th President of the United States, some have high hopes of an imminent revaluation of the Iraqi Dinar.

Let us know your thoughts on the likelihood of an unprecedented revaluation using the poll below:

This survey is now closed.

The results were as follows:

You can also let us know your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

For more information on the Iraqi dinar, check out IBN's Dinar Page here: https://www.iraq-businessnews.com/the-dinar-page/?swcfpc=1 

See also: The Iraqi Dinar Revaluation Scam: False Hope, Financial Deception

By Adam Lucente for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.

Khamenei pushes for US withdrawal from Iraq in meeting with Sudani

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's trip to Tehran is his first since the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and comes ahead of Donald Trump's return to the White House.

Click here to read the full article (subscription required).

By a Guest Blogger. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.

Anecdotal evidence, including inquiries to Iraq Business News, seems to suggest that supporters of US President-elect Donald Trump are more likely to believe that the Iraqi currency, the Dinar (IQD), will increase in value by an unprecedented multiple, some saying by as much as 1,000-fold!

The correlation between being a Trump voter and believing in a significant revaluation of the Iraqi dinar (often called the "dinar RV" theory) is not rigorously studied, but there are social and cultural dynamics that might help explain the connection between the two groups.

The Dinar revaluation theory emerged after the 2003 Iraq War: The basic premise is that the Iraqi Dinar, which traded at around 3 IQD per USD before the 1991 Gulf War but crashed to roughly 1,310 IQD per USD, would suddenly revalue back to its previous rate or even higher. Believers often hold large quantities of physical Dinar notes, sometimes investing tens of thousands of dollars.

The theory's spread among Trump supporters was facilitated by several factors:

The "Global Reset" Narrative:

• Many believers connected the Dinar revaluation to a broader theory about Trump leading a massive reorganization of the global financial system
• This often tied into QAnon-adjacent beliefs about Trump secretly fighting a "deep state" that was suppressing the Dinar's true value
• Some proponents claimed Trump and his team were directly involved in orchestrating a coming revaluation

Social Media Dynamics:

• The theory spread rapidly through Facebook groups, YouTube channels, and forums that also shared pro-Trump content
• Many of these platforms used similar language about "mainstream media suppression" of both Trump and the "truth" about the Dinar
• Currency speculators and scammers actively targeted these communities, recognizing their receptiveness to anti-establishment financial narratives

Political Context:

• The theory appealed to a desire for both financial windfall and validation of political beliefs
• Some promoters claimed Trump's Middle East policies, particularly regarding Iraq and Saudi Arabia, would trigger the revaluation
• The belief often aligned with broader skepticism of traditional financial institutions and expertise

Psychological Factors:

• The combination of potential financial reward and political validation created a powerful motivational force
• Believers often interpreted skepticism from financial experts as further evidence of a cover-up
• The complexity of international currency markets made it easier for promoters to make plausible-sounding but false claims
• Investment in the theory often strengthened social bonds within these communities, making it harder to abandon the belief

Despite years of failed predictions, the theory continues to circulate; some believers have modified the timeline but maintain their basic conviction. The persistence of this belief system despite contrary evidence and expert warnings illustrates how financial conspiracy theories can become deeply intertwined with political identity and resistant to contrary evidence. Both Trump supporters and proponents of the dinar revaluation theory often demonstrate a tendency toward belief in conspiracy theories or "hidden truths" that challenge mainstream narratives.

For more information on the Iraqi dinar, check out IBN's Dinar Page here: https://www.iraq-businessnews.com/the-dinar-page/?swcfpc=1 

The Iraqi Dinar Revaluation Scam: False Hope, Financial Deception

Have you seen a connection between support for Trump and a belief in the revaluation theory? Please let us know in the comments below.

[UPDATE, January 21st 2025: Following Donald Trump's inauguration, let us know your thoughts on Dinar RV in our survey here: https://www.iraq-businessnews.com/2025/01/21/survey-trump-and-the-iraqi-dinar/?swcfpc=1]

See also:

"Tired of Dinars", Iraq flocks to Dogecoin

By Herman Wang and Lauren Holtmeier, for S&P Global. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.

Trump may target Iraq's oil sector with sanctions to counter Iranian influence: sources

US President-elect Donald Trump's planned maximum pressure sanctions campaign on Iran may extend to neighboring Iraq, according to three sources familiar with the discussions, targeting OPEC's second largest crude producer and a known oil smuggling hotbed.

Click here to read the full article.

From the Iraq Britain Business Council (IBBC):