Tag Archives | sanctions

One Year of Trump: Iraqi Dinar Speculators Still Waiting

By Guest Blogger. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. One Year of Trump: Iraqi Dinar Speculators Still Waiting for a Miracle That Will Never Come As Donald Trump marks his first anniversary back in the White House on 20th January, one group […]

US-Iraq talks address Money Laundering, Fraud ...

By John Lee. The United States and Iraq have held discussions focused on banking reform, financial compliance, and measures to counter illicit financial activity. According to a statement by the United States Special Envoy to Iraq, Mark Savaya, the talks involved the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), […]

Is Iraq About to Make Its Biggest Geopolitical Pivot in Years?

By Simon Watkins for OilPrice.com. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Is Iraq About to Make Its Biggest Geopolitical Pivot in Years? Washington's escalation of sanctions on Russia's top oil firms has opened space for Western majors to re-enter Iraq. Click here […]

Iraq Clarifies West Qurna-2 Oil Field Management

By John Lee. The Iraqi Embassy in Moscow has issued a clarification regarding reports that Iraq plans to nationalise the West Qurna-2 oil field, operated by Russia's Lukoil. The embassy confirmed that the field is fully state-owned. Under the 2008 licensing round agreement, Lukoil managed and developed the field and produced oil under a service […]

Iraq Invites US Oil Firms to compete for West Qurna-2

By John Lee. Iraq's Ministry of Oil has issued exclusive invitations to several major US oil companies to submit bids for taking over the operatorship of the West Qurna-2 field. The Ministry said it is pursuing a transparent, competitive process based on approved criteria for awarding oilfield development contracts. Direct negotiations are under way with […]

Designated Terrorist Groups "Infest Iraq's Digital Economy"

By Michael Knights for the Combating Terrorism Center (CTC) at West Point. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Rise of the E-Militias: Designated Terrorist Groups Infest Iraq's Digital Economy Iraq's digital economy is one of its fastest-growing sectors, driven by an expanding […]

Lukoil in talks with Iraqi PM as US issues Sanctions Waiver

By John Lee. The United States has issued a sanctions waiver allowing continued operations related to Russia's Lukoil until 13th December, following restrictions imposed earlier this month. Lukoil said on 14th November that it is in negotiations with several potential buyers for its international assets, adding that a deal will be announced once agreements and […]

Swiss Firm to buy LUKOIL's Iraq Assets

By John Lee. Russia's LUKOIL has announced that it will sell its international assets to Swiss-based Gunvor Group. In an announcement on Thursday, the company said: "The conclusion of the binding agreement for the transaction is subject to conditions precedent including obtaining OFAC permission by the Purchaser as well as any other applicable licenses, permits […]

Dinar RV: Will Iraqi Election Speed the Process?

By Guest Blogger. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Dinar RV: Will Iraqi Election Speed the Process? For years, speculators in Iraqi dinar have clung to the dream of an imminent "revaluation" or "RV" that would dramatically increase the currency's value overnight, […]

Why Washington's anti-PMF Moves are Testing the Iraq Partnership

By Mohammed A. Salih for the Atlantic Council. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Why Washington's anti-PMF moves are testing the Iraq partnership Recent measures from the Trump administration against Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) -- a 240,000-strong force with an […]