Executive Director of Al-Bayan Center, Dr. Ali Taher Al-Hammoud, participated in the dialogue seminar organized by the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington (AGSI), entitled: “Iraq in the New Middle East: Government Formation and Regional Challenges”. The seminar discussed the complex challenges facing the political process in Iraq at this pivotal moment in its history, and how Baghdad deals with conflicting pressures with a clear strategic vision, as well as the impact of the US-Iranian conflict on the government formation file, and the means to overcome these obstacles to transition toward a promising future.
Dr. Al-Hammoud emphasized that Iraq today faces extremely difficult challenges, stating that the economic, security, and social challenges are the most prominent and dangerous at the present time.
Al-Hammoud warned that “all the factors that led to the October 2019 protests still exist and are present now,” pointing out that this coincides with the change in the political situation after the elections, the acute economic and social crisis, and the unstable regional conditions. In the context of international relations and Western understanding of Iraq’s interior, Al-Hammoud noted the existence of a “misunderstanding” accompanying the important strategic relationship with the United States. He called on the international community to understand Iraq from within and appreciate its civilizational depth and not place it in one corner only.
Dr. Ali Taher Al-Hammoud concluded his speech by emphasizing that the fundamental solution to current challenges lies in integrating Iraq economically into the economy of the region and the world, considering stability contingent upon this transformation.
Al-Hammoud also criticized the absence of American banks from the Iraqi scene throughout the past 23 years, despite accusing the current banking system of corruption and money smuggling, asking: “How can we call for a stable Iraq while it is neglected banking-wise and investment-wise by the countries of the world and the region?”
The meeting comes on the sidelines of Al-Hammoud’s visit to Washington to participate in the Iraq Dialogue Forum 2026, hosted by the Atlantic Council / Iraq Initiative, during the period from May 13 to 15, with the participation of an elite group of political, academic, research, and media figures in Iraq and the United States.
