Iraq: US Did Not Impose Conditions over Dollar Crisis

Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein speaks at a press conference in Baghdad on Monday. (INA)
Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein speaks at a press conference in Baghdad on Monday. (INA)
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Iraq: US Did Not Impose Conditions over Dollar Crisis

Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein speaks at a press conference in Baghdad on Monday. (INA)
Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein speaks at a press conference in Baghdad on Monday. (INA)

Iraq denied claims that the US had imposed conditions on its delegation, which recently visited Washington, regarding the dollar exchange issue.

An Iraqi delegation, headed by Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, had visited Washington and met with Secretary of the State Antony Blinken earlier this month.

During a press conference in Baghdad on Monday, Hussein denied that conditions were imposed on the delegation, noting that the electronic platform launched by the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) would determine benefit from the dollars and help end smuggling.

He explained that the delegation included officials from various sectors, including senior officials from the financial and banking industries. He added that the visit addressed political issues, but mainly focused on the economy, fighting corruption, and combating ISIS terrorism.

He assured the Iraqi people "the financial and oil cover proves that the Iraqi currency is strong," adding that the dollar crisis occurred because of the electronic financing system.

Moreover, he revealed that the SWIFT platform had uncovered many manipulations and counterfeit bills. It will help stop and prevent dollar smuggling and determine the number of dollar bills in the market.

Hussein indicated that Iraq is a "consumer society" and imports many of its needs, which requires the availability of dollars, noting that Iraqi reserves exceeded $100 billion.

He added that it is only a matter of time before the exchange rate stabilizes.

The minister also denied reports that Iraq was seeking to normalize relations with Israel, asserting that it was not discussed with the US officials or any political blocs.

Meanwhile, the US Treasury announced that Iraq's possession of US bonds rose to more than $40 billion.

The Treasury said Iraq's possession of US Treasury bonds surpassed $40 billion, rising from $39.717 billion in October 2022. This marked an increase of 81.4 percent compared to the same month in 2021.

Iraqi bonds, including long-term guarantees, amounted to $28.239 billion, and short-term guarantees amounted to $12.575 billion, representing 0.55 percent of the world's bonds.



Syria, Jordan, US Agree to Back Ceasefire Enforcement in Sweida

This handout picture released by the Jordanian Foreign Ministry shows (L to R) Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, and US special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack meeting in Amman on August 12, 2025. (Jordanian Foreign Ministry / AFP)
This handout picture released by the Jordanian Foreign Ministry shows (L to R) Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, and US special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack meeting in Amman on August 12, 2025. (Jordanian Foreign Ministry / AFP)
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Syria, Jordan, US Agree to Back Ceasefire Enforcement in Sweida

This handout picture released by the Jordanian Foreign Ministry shows (L to R) Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, and US special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack meeting in Amman on August 12, 2025. (Jordanian Foreign Ministry / AFP)
This handout picture released by the Jordanian Foreign Ministry shows (L to R) Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, and US special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack meeting in Amman on August 12, 2025. (Jordanian Foreign Ministry / AFP)

Syria, Jordan and the United States agreed on Tuesday to form a joint task force to support Damascus’ efforts to uphold a ceasefire in the Sweida province in southern Syria and end the crisis there, the three countries said in a joint statement.

The agreement was reached during talks in Jordan between Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi, and US special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack, the statement said.

The meeting discussed ways to help rebuild Syria “on foundations that guarantee its security, stability, sovereignty, unity and non-interference in its internal affairs.”

Jordan and the United States welcomed Damascus’ steps, including “full investigations and holding all perpetrators of crimes and violations in Sweida accountable” and its readiness to cooperate with relevant UN agencies in the probe, the Syrian foreign ministry said.

They also praised Syria’s moves to expand humanitarian aid access to all areas of Sweida, restore disrupted services, start community reconciliation, and promote civil peace.

Both countries reiterated their “full solidarity” with Syria’s security, stability, sovereignty and territorial integrity. Sweida and its communities were an “integral part of Syria” whose residents’ rights must be preserved in the rebuilding process, the statement said.

The three sides agreed to meet again in the coming weeks to continue Tuesday’s discussions.

Barrack said on X: “Syria remains steadfastly committed to a united process that honors and protects all its constituencies, fostering a shared future for the Syrian people despite intervening forces seeking to disrupt and displace its communities.”

“Delivering justice and ending impunity are paramount to achieving lasting peace,” he stressed.

“The Syrian government has pledged to utilize all resources to hold perpetrators of the Sweida atrocities accountable, ensuring no one escapes justice for violations against its citizens,” he added. “Syria will fully cooperate with the UN to investigate these crimes.”

During a meeting with Shaibani, Safadi reaffirmed Jordan’s rejection of foreign interference in Syria and its support for the country’s security, sovereignty and territorial integrity, according to a Jordanian foreign ministry statement.

The FMs condemned repeated Israeli air strikes and incursions into Syria, calling them a “flagrant violation of international law” that threatened regional stability.

They discussed efforts to cement the Sweida truce, agreed last month after violence between armed groups in the mainly Druze province killed hundreds.

On X, Shaibani said Syria was committed to protecting Sweida’s Druze, Bedouin and Christian residents and to countering any sectarian or inciting rhetoric. “Our Druze people are an integral part of Syria... we reject any attempt to marginalize them under any pretext,” he said.

He pledged accountability for all violations in Sweida “regardless of the party involved,” saying justice was essential to building a state governed by law.