New central bank governor meets judiciary chief in first official talks

BAGHDAD — New Central Bank Governor Nizar Nasser met Supreme Judicial Council President Faiq Zaidan on Monday to discuss financial stability and legal measures related to Iraq’s monetary policy, in one of his first official meetings since taking office.

The Supreme Judicial Council said Zaidan congratulated Nasser on his appointment and discussed strengthening financial stability and supporting the legal framework governing the Central Bank’s work. The meeting came a day after Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi appointed former governor Ali al-Allaq as his adviser for economic affairs and oversaw the transfer of responsibilities to Nasser.

Nasser previously headed the Central Bank’s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Office, and his promotion follows increased attention on financial oversight and banking compliance.

The appointment is part of a broader overhaul launched by Zaidi in recent days that has replaced senior officials inherited from the previous government across several security and economic institutions, including al-Allaq, National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji, Iraqi National Intelligence Service chief Hamid al-Shatri, Iraqi National Security Service chief Abdul Karim al-Basri and National Investment Commission Chairman Haider Mohammed Makkiya.