Iraq stops trading with Iran in dollar due to sanctions

By Haydar Karaalp

BAGHDAD

Iraq has stopped trading with Iran in the U.S. dollar after Washington imposed economic sanctions on Tehran, according to the country’s central bank on Saturday.

The Central Bank of Iraq has notified to all banks in the country that using dollars with Iranian banks has been banned.

“While there are sanctions on Iran, it will be difficult to preserve the trade relations [with Iran],” Iraqi government spokesman Saad al-Hadithi said.

New methods will be applied to ease the effects of the sanctions on trade, al-Hadithi added.

On Tuesday, the U.S. had re-imposed the first round of economic sanctions on Iran, which mainly target the country’s banking sector.

The sanctions are intended to hinder Tehran's acquisition of U.S. currency; its precious metals trade; bank transactions denominated in the Iranian rial; activities related to Iran's sovereign debt; and the country’s automotive sector.

In a tweet posted earlier this week, President Donald Trump wrote: "Anyone doing business with Iran will NOT be doing business with the United States. I am asking for WORLD PEACE, nothing less!"

By Haydar Karaalp

BAGHDAD

Iraq has stopped trading with Iran in the U.S. dollar after Washington imposed economic sanctions on Tehran, according to the country’s central bank on Saturday.

The Central Bank of Iraq has notified to all banks in the country that using dollars with Iranian banks has been banned.

“While there are sanctions on Iran, it will be difficult to preserve the trade relations [with Iran],” Iraqi government spokesman Saad al-Hadithi said.

New methods will be applied to ease the effects of the sanctions on trade, al-Hadithi added.

On Tuesday, the U.S. had re-imposed the first round of economic sanctions on Iran, which mainly target the country’s banking sector.

In a tweet posted earlier this week, President Donald Trump wrote: "Anyone doing business with Iran will NOT be doing business with the United States. I am asking for WORLD PEACE, nothing less!"