Group of 14 US-Sanctioned Iraqi Banks Warn of ‘Negative Consequences’

Iraqi activists in front of the Central Bank in Baghdad demand economic reforms (EPA)
Iraqi activists in front of the Central Bank in Baghdad demand economic reforms (EPA)
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Group of 14 US-Sanctioned Iraqi Banks Warn of ‘Negative Consequences’

Iraqi activists in front of the Central Bank in Baghdad demand economic reforms (EPA)
Iraqi activists in front of the Central Bank in Baghdad demand economic reforms (EPA)

A group of 14 private Iraqi banks sanctioned by the US Treasury Department warned of "negative consequences" by depriving them of dealing in dollars.

The 14 banks have been banned from undertaking dollar transactions but can continue to use Iraqi dinars and other foreign currencies.

The sanctioned banks said in a joint statement that they deal in dollars with the Central Bank, under the supervision of the US Federal Reserve, and will apply the best auditing standards and investigation of financial transactions.

They said they were ready to challenge the measures and face audits through the Central Bank or an international auditing firm, asserting they'd take full responsibility for any violations if committed.

The statement noted that depriving about a third of Iraqi private banks of dealing in dollars will have negative consequences, not only on the value of the Iraqi dinar against the US dollar, but it will have a significant impact on foreign investments.

They called on the Iraqi government to take all measures to solve this problem and bear the losses they incurred and the banking sector in general.

The United States uncovered information that the Iraqi banks engaged in money laundering and fraudulent transactions, some of which may have involved sanctioned individuals, and raised concerns that Iran could benefit.

An economics professor at al-Basra University, Nabil al-Marsoumi, issued Wednesday data on the number of private banks in Iraq, saying they exceed that of countries such as Britain which has 54 banks only.

Marsoumi reported that the total number of banks in Iraq is 81, including 74 private banks, saying the ratio of public to private banks is the highest in the Middle East, with 43 in Turkey, 41 in Egypt, 31 in Saudi Arabia, 30 in Iran, 26 in Jordan, and 20 in Algeria.

Iraq has 29 Islamic banks, constituting more than a third of the banks in the country, said the expert.

Marsoumi hinted that political groups and parties control most banks.

Meanwhile, dozens demonstrated in front of the Central Bank in Baghdad to protest the sharp decline in the exchange rates of the Iraqi dinar against foreign currencies and chanted against the governor and some political parties and figures, accusing them of manipulating the exchange rates.

The Iraqi dinar reached 1,600 per US dollar in the local markets, compared to an official exchange rate of 1,320 dinars.

Furthermore, independent MP Hadi al-Salami officially requested the dismissal of the governor of the Central Bank, Ali al-Alaq.



Indonesia, Singapore Sign Deals on Power Trade, Carbon Capture 

Indonesian Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia speaks to the media during a press conference at the presidential palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP) 
Indonesian Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia speaks to the media during a press conference at the presidential palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP) 
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Indonesia, Singapore Sign Deals on Power Trade, Carbon Capture 

Indonesian Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia speaks to the media during a press conference at the presidential palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP) 
Indonesian Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia speaks to the media during a press conference at the presidential palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (AP) 

Indonesia and Singapore signed initial deals on Friday to develop cross-border trade in low carbon electricity and collaborate on carbon capture and storage, ministers from both countries said in Jakarta.

The electricity deal reaffirmed an earlier agreement to export solar power from Indonesia to Singapore, with a group of companies planning to build plants and grid infrastructure to generate and transmit the power.

The memorandum of understanding signed by the two countries says they will aim to draw up policies, regulatory frameworks and business arrangements that will enable Indonesian power to be delivered to Singapore.

Indonesia expects to export 3.4 gigawatts of low-carbon power by 2035, according to a presentation slide shown by Indonesia's energy minister Bahlil Lahadalia.

In another MoU, the two countries said they would look into drawing up a legally binding agreement for carbon capture and storage that would allow cross-border projects to go ahead.

If successful, it will be the first such project in Asia, said Singapore government minister Tan See Leng.

Energy firms BP, ExxonMobil, and Indonesia's state company Pertamina are already developing CCS projects in Indonesia.

With its depleted oil and gas reservoirs and saline aquifers capable of storing hundreds of gigatons of CO2, Indonesia has allowed CCS operators to set aside 30% of their storage capacity for carbon captured in other countries.

The two countries also signed a deal for the development of sustainable industrial zones on several Indonesian islands near Singapore, including Batam, Bintan and Karimun.

Bahlil said the deals could bring in more than $10 billion of investment from the manufacturing of solar panels, the development of CCS projects and potential investment in industrial estates.