ISTANBUL: Turkey and Iran’s central banks have formally agreed to trade in their local currencies, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Thursday in a move aimed at increasing bilateral trade.
Under the deal, the Iranian rial and Turkish lira will be easily converted to help reduce the costs of currency conversion and transfer for traders. The countries had been using euros.
“Trading with local currencies is the most significant step to improving economic ties. The central banks of both countries agreed on this issue and they will inform other banks about how the deal will be applied,” Yildirim told a joint news conference with Iran’s First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri.
“Trading in local currencies will be encouraged and this will contribute to making trading easier and increase the trade volume and diversity,” Yildirim added.
Earlier this month, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said the deal was aimed at raising Turkish-Iranian trade volume to $30 billion from current $10 billion.
The deal is in line with Iran’s efforts to dodge unilateral US sanctions, which remain intact despite the lifting of international financial sanctions on Tehran last year under a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six major powers.
US banks are still forbidden to do business with Iran.
European lenders also face major problems, notably with rules prohibiting transactions with Iran in dollars — the world’s main business currency — from being processed through the US financial system.
Iran has secured banking ties with only a limited number of smaller foreign institutions as major foreign banks are wary of the US sanctions.
“This is an important step to expand the level and volume of trade cooperation between Iran and Turkey,” Jahangiri told the joint news conference.
Turkey-Iran central banks ‘agree to trade in local currencies’
Turkey-Iran central banks ‘agree to trade in local currencies’
Saudi banking sector outlook stable on higher non-oil growth: Moody’s
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s banking sector outlook remains stable as stronger non-oil economic growth and solid capital buffers support lending and profitability, Moody’s Ratings said, forecasting continued expansion despite liquidity constraints.
In its latest report, credit rating agency Moody’s said the Kingdom’s non-oil gross domestic product is projected to expand by 4.2 percent this year, up from 3.7 percent recorded in 2025.
In January, S&P Global echoed a similar view, saying banks operating in Saudi Arabia are expected to sustain strong lending growth in 2026, driven by financing demand tied to Vision 2030 projects.
Fitch Ratings also underscored the healthy state of Saudi Arabia’s banking system last month, stating that credit growth and high net interest margins are supporting bank profitability in the Kingdom.
Commenting on the latest report, Ashraf Madani, vice president and senior credit officer at Moody’s Ratings, said: “We expect credit demand to remain robust, but tight liquidity conditions will continue to limit the sector’s lending capacity.”
Madani added that operating conditions in Saudi Arabia will continue to support banks’ strong asset quality and profitability.
“The operating environment for banks remains buoyant, underpinned by a forecast increase in non-oil GDP growth, robust solvency and continued progress toward the government’s economic diversification goals,” he added.
Moody’s said authorities in the Kingdom are introducing business-friendly reforms to bolster investment and private sector activity, while implementing key development projects and preparing for major global events.
Saudi Arabia continues to advance reforms including full foreign ownership rights, simplified capital market registration procedures and improved investor protections, which could accelerate credit growth to 8 percent this year.
Problem loans are expected to remain near historical lows at around 1.3 percent of total loans, supported by ongoing credit growth, favorable operating conditions and lower interest rates, which collectively strengthen borrowers’ repayment capacity.
Retail credit risk remains controlled in Saudi Arabia because most borrowers are government employees with stable income streams.
“Concentration of single borrowers and specific sectors remains high although the growing proportion of consumer loans — now nearing 50 percent of overall sector lending — continues to reduce aggregate concentration risk,” added Moody’s.
The report said profitability is expected to remain solid among Saudi banks, supported by sustained loan growth and fee income.
Margins are expected to remain stable despite lower asset yields as banks take advantage of credit demand to widen loan spreads on existing and new lending.
Moody’s expects net income to tangible assets to remain stable at 1.8 percent to 1.9 percent this year.
The report added that Saudi banks benefit from a very high likelihood of government support in the event of any failures.
“We assume a very high likelihood of government support in the event of a bank failure. This is based on the government’s track record of timely intervention,” Moody’s said.
It added that Saudi Arabia remains the only G-20 country that has not adopted a banking resolution framework. However, it is the only Gulf Cooperation Council member to have introduced a law for systemically important financial institutions.
