The United States has resumed some shipments of US dollars to Iraq following a suspension of several months, in a move that represents a partial thaw in financial relations between the two countries, while Washington maintains other measures, including the suspension of some aspects of security cooperation, according to the New York Times, citing Iraqi officials.
The administration of President Donald Trump had suspended the flow of dollars to the Iraqi economy in April, halting a cash shipment estimated at around $500 million in oil revenues, as part of pressure aimed at pushing Baghdad to curb the influence of Iran-backed armed factions. The newspaper quoted the spokesman for Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi as saying: "Dollar shipments to Iraq have been resumed," adding that "the problem has been resolved."
The prime minister's financial adviser, Mazhar Mohammed Saleh, also confirmed the resumption of transfers, according to the report.
The suspension of dollar shipments came at a time when Baghdad was preparing to select a new prime minister, with Washington seeking, according to the New York Times, to prevent figures considered close to Iran from reaching the premiership. Washington also demanded that the Iraqi government tighten oversight of Tehran-linked armed factions, which have carried out repeated attacks against American targets inside Iraq.