Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Monday, Apr 27, 2026

Reason Behind Visit Of Head Of Iran Central Bank To Iraq

Reason Behind Visit Of Head Of Iran Central Bank To Iraq

The helplessness and bankruptcy of the Iranian regime in resolving various social and economic crises resulted from incompetence, corruption, and theft by
The helplessness and bankruptcy of the Iranian regime in resolving various social and economic crises resulted from incompetence, corruption, and theft by the Iranian governing body has reached an unprecedented level.

Now the Iranian regime is at the point of suffocation and sudden death. In response to this situation, the regime is resorting to maximum repression and oppression to crackdown protesters to prevent any kind of insurgency and uprising, and on the other hand, it is looking for a way to bypass sanctions, which has seriously affected its financial resources, just to provide the necessary means for repressive forces.

In line with this policy, the chairman of the Central Bank of Iran headed a banking and commercial delegation to Baghdad for a humiliating trip. The trip comes as daily rockets fire into the residential or green zone, the flow of weapons, financing of terrorists, and torture by Iranian-linked militant groups in Iraq continue.

According to ILNA news agency; “Abdul Nasser Hemmati, the chairman of the Central Bank of Iran, traveled to Baghdad on October 12 for the second time in the last four months with the aim of expanding banking cooperation in the field of trade relations and talks with top-ranking Iraqi officials.” The purpose of Hemmati’s visit is to find a way to bypass international banking sanctions imposed by The United States on Iranian banks, through Iraq, as well as to release blocked Iranian money in Iraq.

Hemmati is scheduled to meet with heads of central and commercial banks of Iraq, as well as the Iraqi Minister of Finance and Prime Minister.

Iran’s annual exports to Iraq amount to $ 12 billion, of which $ 4 billion is for electricity and gas exports. Iran monthly exports more than $ 200 million worth of gas to Iraq. But despite many efforts in recent months, it has not yet been able to collect its $ 2 billion claims.

During his first visit to Iraq on June 17, Hemmati met with the chairman of the Central Bank of Iraq and also with the Iraqi prime minister and reached an agreement on a joint mechanism to speed up the supply of needed goods, but it seems that last year’s agreement due to problems and complexities caused by sanctions on Iran, it has not been possible for Iran to receive its money.

It should be noted that during last month, the chairman of the Central Bank and the CEO of the Commercial Bank of Iraq were replaced. Under the agreement to sell gas and electricity, Iraq undertook to pay Iran for gas in euros and electricity in dollars. But with the start of a new round of US sanctions, Iraqis have announced that they will not be able to pay in dollars, and now there is the talk of paying off these debts by selling essential goods to Iran.

Iran’s exports to Iraq are currently one of Iran’s main sources of receiving foreign currency. Hossein Salimi, President of the Iranian Chamber of Commerce, says: “Our foreign currency needs is $150 billion, while our total exports are about $ 40 billion, and this currency also enters the country with a delay of several months, thus causing the market to lack the required foreign currency.”

It should be noted that Iran’s exports to other neighboring countries have also decreased significantly. For example, IRNA quoted Hamid Zadboom, head of Trade Development Organization of Iran, as saying; “in the first five months of this year, Iran’s exports to Turkey were $ 513 million, compared to $ 2.47 billion in the same period last year. This difference of $ 2 billion was due to non-export of natural gas to this country.”

Regime Morning Star )State-run Newspaper) wrote: Zarif’s recent trip to China to receive part of the money China owes to Iran was fruitless, and he returned with an empty hand. Hemmati also did not manage to get any of Iran’s credit from Iraq, because the Iraqis could not pay Iran due to the US threat and pressure on Baghdad.

Of course, one of the reasons for this is that Iran is not a member of SWIFT and has closed all loopholes due to the non-acceptance of the provisions related to the ITF bills. So even though Hemmati went to Iraq for the second time, Iraqis who receive electricity and gas from Iran have not yet been able to pay their debts to Iran in dollars and euros for fear of US sanctions.

These days, the price of the dollar in Iran has exceeded 32,000 tomans. One of the many reasons for the dollar’s rise is the lack of foreign currency resources to provide foreign funds needed for buying the main needed goods.

During the visit of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kazemi to Iran, Hassan Rouhani called for an increase in trade between the two countries, which could not be unrelated to Iran’s economic situation, which is in a state of disarray. High inflation rate and unemployment may lead to widespread protests and riots of the hungry and dissatisfied.

The experience of the last November uprising showed how the whole of Iran could explode again with any spark, and this time it will definitely be much more intense than last year because people no longer have anything to lose. According to news agencies, more than 60 million Iranians currently live below the poverty line.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
News Roundup
Strategic Saudi-Bahrain Causeway Closed Amid Security Concerns as Trump Deadline Approaches
Saudi Arabia Keeps Red Sea Oil Exports Flowing Despite Regional Tensions
Pipeline Attack Cuts Significant Share of Saudi Arabia’s Oil Export Capacity
Saudi Business Leader Abudawood Appointed Chairman of Merit Incentives Group
TotalEnergies Confirms Damage at Saudi Refinery Following Security Incident
Saudi Arabia Launches Early Construction Phase for King Salman Stadium Project
Saudi Shift Away from Longstanding Dollar Oil Framework Gains Attention Amid Iran Conflict
Türkiye and Saudi Arabia Resolve Long-Running Transit Visa Dispute
Saudi Oil Capacity and Pipeline Flows Reduced as Supply Risks Intensify
TotalEnergies Reports Damage to Saudi SATORP Refinery Following Security Incidents
Gulf States Assess Prospects of U.S.-Iran Truce as Regional Stability Efforts Intensify
South Korea Resumes Honey Exports to Saudi Arabia Following Sanitary Approval
Saudi Arabia Carries Out Sentences in Eastern Province Following Security Convictions
Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund Backs King Street’s Regional Credit Strategy
Saudi Arabia Secures World Cup Return as Egypt Celebrates Landmark Qualification
Iran and Saudi Arabia Intensify Diplomatic Engagement Amid Regional Tensions
Russia and Saudi Arabia Open Visa-Free Travel Corridor for Citizens
Saudi Oil Output Capacity Reduced by 600,000 Barrels Per Day Amid Regional Conflict
Saudi Arabia Suspends Operations at Select Energy Sites as Precautionary Measure
Saudi Arabia Halts Operations at Multiple Energy Facilities Amid Heightened Tensions
Global Markets Jolt as Iran Signals Ceasefire Breakdown and Rising Regional Tensions
King Street Aligns with Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund to Expand Alternative Investments in Middle East
Attack on Saudi Arabia’s Jubail Petrochemical Hub Raises Global Supply Concerns
Debate Emerges Over Saudi Strategic Decisions as Gulf Cooperation Council Dynamics Come Into Focus
Saudi Arabia Expands Full Workforce Localisation to 69 Professions in Major Labour Reform
Emerging Alliance of Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia Signals New Regional Power Dynamic Amid Iran Conflict
Iran Linked to Strikes Across Gulf States Following Refinery Attack Escalation
Saudi Arabia Voices Concern Over Fragile US–Iran Ceasefire Stability
Starmer Warns Sustained Effort Needed to Ensure US–Iran Ceasefire Holds
Saudi Arabia’s Key East-West Oil Pipeline Targeted Following Ceasefire Announcement
Iran Targets Saudi Arabia’s East-West Oil Pipeline in Escalating Regional Tensions
Trump Warns of Civilizational Stakes as Iran Halts Negotiations
Saudi Companies Expand Remote Work Measures Ahead of Iran-Related Security Concerns
Iran Warns of Strikes on Saudi Energy Infrastructure if US Targets Its Facilities
Iran Urges Civilians to Form Human Shields Around Nuclear Sites as Diplomatic Deadline Approaches
Saudi Arabia Raises Oil Prices to Record Premiums Amid Supply Pressures Linked to Iran Conflict
Key Saudi-Bahrain Causeway Closed Amid Heightened Security Concerns Linked to Iran
Formula One Calendar Gap Explained as Fans Await Next Grand Prix
Growing Strain on the Petrodollar System Comes Into Focus Amid Iran Conflict
Reported Strike on Saudi Arabia’s Jubail Complex Raises Global Energy Supply Concerns
FedEx Introduces New Digital Tool to Streamline Imports into Saudi Arabia
Iran Claims Strike on Saudi Arabia’s Jubail Petrochemical Complex Amid Rising Regional Tensions
Taiwan to Source Oil Shipments from Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Ports
Saudi Arabia Evacuates Riyadh Financial District as Precaution Amid Regional Tensions
Saudi Arabia Balances Ambitious Economic Vision Amid Regional Tensions and Financial Pressures
Budget Saudi Arabia Reports Strong Full-Year 2025 Financial Performance
Saudi Arabia Expands Investment in Capcom With Stake Reaching Six Percent
Saudi Arabia Assesses Significant Economic Impact From Regional Conflict Involving Iran
US Beef Secures Expanded Market Access in Saudi Arabia
×