Iraq Seeks IMF Aid Amid Middle East Turmoil

Iraqi officials are in talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for financial aid as conflict engulfs the Middle East, a source close to the IMF revealed on Thursday.

Preliminary discussions occurred last month at the IMF and World Bank spring meetings in Washington, focusing on Iraq's funding needs and potential loan structures. The conflict, ignited by a U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign against Iran on February 28, has destabilized the region, severely impacting infrastructure and economies.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Tehran has chiefly affected Iraq by cutting off oil exports, the backbone of its government revenue, intensifying the need for financial support from the IMF.

(With inputs from agencies.)