Dana Gas's Baghdad gas deal signals Iraq's slow break from Iran's energy grip

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    By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis The one-year agreement is modest in size but could reshape Iraq's gas market, strengthen the Kurdistan Region's strategic role, and gradually erode Tehran's decades-long energy leverage.  Dana Gas's one-year gas agreement with Baghdad could mark the beginning of Iraq's gradual shift away from dependence on Iranian gas while elevating the Kurdistan Region's strategic importance. For years, Iran has occupied an indispensable position in Iraq's energy sector. Every summer, when electricity demand surges, Iraqi officials have relied heavily on Iranian natural gas to keep power stations operating despite recurring supply disruptions, sanctions complications, and political tensions. That long-standing dependency may now be beginning to change. Dana Gas and Crescent Petroleum have signed an agreement with Iraq's Ministry of Electricity to supply 100 million standard cubic feet per day (100 MMscf/d) of n...
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Iraq's Anti-Corruption Drive Enters a Decisive New Phase, British Report Finds


By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj 

A new British study has revealed that the fight against corruption in Iraq has "entered a fundamental and decisive turning point, driven by international pressure and strengthening regional concerns. This has shifted the topic from mere electoral struggle cards or clearing internal accounts, to a “multi-faceted strategic imperative” that will see strong coordination between both the judiciary and the executive.

The London-based International Center for Development Studies said in a detailed strategic report that this change is primarily due to Western countries' perception of the fundamental threat posed by corruption networks and illegal financial flows from Iraq to stability and security in the entire Middle East resulting in regional connectivity and services.

According to the report, this trend reflects a serious attempt by Baghdad to send a "clear signal of assurance" to foreign investors and multinational companies that there is a strong legal umbrella that protects contracts and major investment opportunities, away from political ups and downs and sectarian conflict.

Millions of dollars

While the judicial corridor runs alongside the government movement led by the government of the current prime minister, Ali Zaidi, through the “White Dawn” security and surveillance campaign.

The first blows of the campaign targeted complex networks of corruption that controlled border crossings, customs, the energy sector and taxes, with swift results that included the recovery and blocking of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of funds immediately returned to the state treasury.

The “White Dawn” campaign is considered the most comprehensive implementation process that Baghdad has launched in order to hit the nodes of corruption in the most deeply penetrated and sensitive areas. This process is an embodiment of the “(executive-judicial) duality,” in that the judiciary issues umbrellas and immediate arrest warrants to investigation teams and security agencies to raid gambling networks at border crossings and customs; Since 2003, these joints have always been under the influence of party and armed groups.

In a related development, the Karkh court on Thursday announced the seizure of about US$20.2 million and 4 kilograms of gold; Most of them were hidden inside the walls of houses belonging to the arrested accused (Adnan Jumaili), who was the agent of the Ministry of Oil for refining.

Financial sanctions

The Center noted Baghdad's serious efforts to impose an "external legal sanction" on smuggled money by enabling channels to exchange financial intelligence with Western partners, and strengthening extradition mechanisms for fugitives accused of looting public wealth and making European capitals safe havens.

The report concludes that ongoing structural reforms, supported by a comprehensive shift to e-governance and transaction digitalization, will improve Iraq's sovereign financial confidence ratings by major agencies such as Fitch, Moody's, and the International Monetary Fund.

#Iraq #Corruption #AntiCorruption #Governance #RuleOfLaw #MiddleEast #Politics #EconomicReform #FinancialCrime #Transparency #Judiciary #Geopolitics #PublicPolicy

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