A golden opportunity: How Iraq can benefit from regional calm. By Hamza Hadad*

Following the recent thaw in relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, Iraq is strengthening its ties with GCC states. European countries should support this development, which could help Iraq address its domestic challenges   For decades, Iraq has been caught in the crossfire of tensions between neighbouring Iran and Saudi Arabia. But following the recent thaw in rel

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Iraq Is Open for Business—and Influence

On July 3, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates reached an agreement with Iraq to invest $3 billion each in the country, signaling an expansion of investments by the Gulf states at a time when Iraq continues to seek financing for postwar reconstruction and development of its infrastructure. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani said in June that, having “regained it

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U.S. Bans 14 Iraqi Banks in Crackdown on Iran Dollar Trade; Treasury Department, Federal Reserve Bank of New York bar the lenders from conducting dollar transactions

WASHINGTON-The U.S. has barred 14 Iraqi banks from conducting dollar transactions, U.S. officials said, part of a sweeping crackdown on the siphoning of U.S. currency to Iran and other sanctioned Middle East countries. The ban, which was imposed Wednesday by the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, is likely to provoke new tensions between Baghdad an

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