Exclusive-Iraq sought financial assistance from IMF as result of Iran war, source close to IMF says

By Andrea ShalalWASHINGTON, May 14 (Reuters) - Iraqi officials have approached the International Monetary Fund about securing financial assistance as a result of the conflict in the Middle East, a source close to the IMF said on Thursday.Initial conversations took place last month during the spring meetings of the IMF and World Bank in Washington, and discussions are ongoing about how much funding Iraq would need and how any loan would be structured, the source said.