Baghdad: Economic Expert Raad Tuwaij has dismissed concerns regarding the potential non-payment of state employee salaries at the start of 2026, labeling such claims as mere speculation. He emphasized that Iraq’s economic situation is unlikely to revert to its pre-2015 conditions.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Tuwaij highlighted Iraq’s status as a middle-income country with a gross domestic product exceeding $250 billion. As the second largest oil exporter within OPEC, Iraq has managed to mitigate its budget deficit by boosting oil exports, which have risen to an average of 3.5 million barrels per day from 2.5 million barrels per day.

Tuwaij also stated that while Iraq is unlikely to face the severe economic challenges of 2015, it is crucial for society to recognize that demands surpassing the state’s financial limits could lead to increased inflation and worsen class disparities. He stressed the importance of fiscal discipline and the need to curb excessive spending by both the government and citizens.

He further urged for productive investment by both Iraqi and foreign private sectors, noting the willingness of many Asian and European countries to invest in Iraq. This approach, according to Tuwaij, would help stabilize the economy and ensure sustainable growth.