Washington supports Iraqi PM’s war against corruption
The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Iraq and Iran, Victoria Taylor, during a press interview with INA reporter. Photo: INA
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The US Department of State confirmed Washington’s support for the efforts of Prime Minister Mohammad Shia Al-Sudani in combating corruption and improving the financial sector.
In an interview with the Iraqi News Agency (INA), the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Iraq and Iran, Victoria Taylor, said that the United States has strategic and long-term relations with Iraq.
“We support the war waged by the Iraqi Prime Minister against corruption, which is an important goal and a common priority,” Taylor explained.
“Washington supports the Prime Minister’s effort to have a transparent financial sector in Iraq. This was clear in the dialogue conducted by the US Treasury Department with the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) to strengthen the banking and financial sector and improve the Iraqi economy, which will help Iraq develop its international relations and attract investments,” the US official elaborated.
Taylor indicated that the measures taken by the US government to bar Iraqi banks from conducting US dollar transactions as part of a crackdown on transferring US currency to Iran and other sanctioned countries were not sanctions but were decisions that strengthened the Iraqi banking system to maintain transparency.
The US official emphasized that the invitation extended to Al-Sudani to visit Washington and meet with the US President, Joe Biden, represents a good opportunity to promote relations between the United States and Iraq and enhance partnerships in different sectors.