Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday, as the United States steps up pressure on Baghdad to reduce Iranian influence in the country.
The visit comes amid renewed tensions between the United States and Iran, two key allies of Iraq, which has long found itself balancing relations between both countries.
Zaidi arrived in Washington on Monday for his first international trip since taking office. During the week-long visit, he is expected to hold talks with Trump, senior US officials and executives from major oil companies.
A businessman who assumed office this year with US backing after Trump rejected another candidate, Zaidi has pledged to strengthen Iraq’s economy and disarm pro-Iran armed groups accused of attacking US facilities.
Writing in an opinion article for the Washington Post, Zaidi said his administration is committed to ensuring that only the Iraqi state has the legitimate authority to use force.
His government has given the armed groups until September 30 to surrender their weapons, a deadline that coincides with the end of the US-led anti-jihadist coalition’s mission in Iraq.
Iraq Seeks Balance Between Washington and Tehran
Despite the government’s efforts to strengthen ties with Washington, a senior Iraqi politician, who spoke anonymously, said Iraq is not abandoning its relationship with Iran.
According to the official, Iraq must continue maintaining a balanced relationship with both allies while pursuing its economic interests.
The sensitivity of that relationship was highlighted last week when Iraq’s holy cities hosted a large funeral procession for Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, who was reportedly killed in a US-Israeli strike on Tehran.
The Iraqi government believes establishing full state control over weapons is essential to improving security and attracting foreign investment.
As a sign of support, the United States has resumed cash shipments linked to Iraq’s oil revenues, which have been managed through the Federal Reserve Bank of New York since 2003. The payments had been suspended earlier this year while Washington pressured Baghdad to disarm the pro-Iran armed groups.
While some of the groups have indicated a willingness to cooperate with the government, others have rejected calls to disarm.
Over the years, the Iran-backed groups have expanded their political and financial influence and have consistently demanded the withdrawal of US troops stationed in Iraq as part of the anti-jihadist coalition.
Economic Deals High on Visit Agenda
Beyond security issues, Zaidi’s visit is expected to focus heavily on investment and economic cooperation.
In his Washington Post article, the Iraqi leader said he hopes to encourage major American companies to invest in Iraq’s infrastructure and support projects that will deliver measurable economic benefits.
Iraq has already signed several oil and gas agreements with US companies in recent months, and additional deals are expected during the visit.
Among the anticipated agreements is a proposal to establish a fund into which Iraq would deposit 500,000 barrels of oil per day in exchange for US assistance in improving the country’s electricity supply.
Although Iraq remains one of the world’s major oil producers and a founding member of OPEC, it continues to face significant economic challenges, including poor infrastructure, weak public services, corruption and heavy dependence on oil exports.
Oil accounts for about 90 percent of Iraq’s budget revenue, with most of its crude exports passing through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
Iran-Backed Groups Oppose US Visit
The regional conflict has further complicated Iraq’s security environment.
During the recent Middle East conflict, Iran-backed armed groups reportedly launched more than 600 attacks on US facilities in Iraq in support of Tehran.
The senior Iraqi politician said some factions are unlikely to surrender their weapons while regional tensions persist, arguing that neither the groups nor Iran would agree to disarm under current conditions.
Last week, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iran-backed armed groups, criticised Zaidi’s visit to Washington.
The alliance warned that it would continue strengthening its capabilities and accused the United States of seeking to replace what it described as military occupation with “economic occupation.”
