ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - The delay in sending Iraq’s 2025 budget tables to the parliament is due to recent legislative amendments, a senior government official said Wednesday, adding that the documents are expected to reach lawmakers after the Eid al-Fitr holidays.

Mudher Saleh told The New Region, financial and economic advisor to Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, told The New Region that the delay stems from adjustments to the Federal General Budget Law No. 13 of 2023, commonly referred to as the three-year budget, which were passed in early February.

The changes, which primarily affect Article 12, pertain to oil contracts in the Kurdistan Region and have since been published in the official Gazette.

“The amendment aims to appoint an international technical advisory body to determine fair estimates for oil production and transportation costs in the Kurdistan Region, evaluating each field separately,” Saleh said.

“This measure seeks to safeguard national resources, boost federal revenues, and allow the State Organization for Marketing of Oil [SOMO] to optimize and diversify export channels.”

As a result, revenues and expenditures within the 2025 budget tables must be adjusted, he said. Despite the delay, Saleh emphasized that financial stability remains intact, with government spending, both operational and investment, continuing as planned.

“The first quarter is ending with strong financial discipline, and budget commitments are being met in a balanced manner,” he said, noting that the process has been managed through close coordination between the executive and legislative branches, as well as between fiscal and monetary policymakers.

Saleh expects the budget tables to be presented to the parliament shortly after Eid.

Meanwhile, Planning Minister Mohammed Tamim announced Wednesday that the budget tables have been finalized and submitted to the Council of Ministers.

“The budget does not include any new projects but ensures funding for ongoing ones,” Tamim said.