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Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is set to hold high-level talks with United States President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday, as the US intensifies pressure on Baghdad to curb Iran’s influence and rein in Tehran-backed armed groups operating within Iraq.
Zaidi arrived in the US on Monday for his first international visit since taking office, embarking on a week-long trip that will include meetings with senior US officials and executives of major American oil companies. His visit comes amid renewed military tensions between Washington and Tehran, with Iraq once again caught between its two key allies.
A businessman who assumed office earlier this year with US backing after Trump rejected another candidate, Zaidi has pledged to strengthen Iraq’s fragile economy while restoring the state’s authority over armed groups. In an opinion article published by The Washington Post ahead of the visit, he said his administration remained committed to ensuring that “the state possesses the legitimate monopoly on the use of force.”
His government has directed armed groups, several of which Washington designates as terrorist organisations, to disarm by September 30, coinciding with the planned conclusion of the US-led anti-jihadist coalition’s mission in Iraq.
Despite the government’s position, Iraqi political observers say Baghdad is not abandoning its longstanding relationship with Iran. A senior Iraqi politician, speaking anonymously to AFP, said Iraq must continue to balance ties with both Washington and Tehran, stressing that a stronger economic partnership with the US should not be interpreted as a shift against Iran.
The challenge remains significant, particularly after Iraq’s holy cities recently hosted a massive funeral procession for Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a US-Israeli strike on Tehran, underscoring the deep political and religious ties between the two countries.
Zaidi has also emphasised that stabilising Iraq’s security environment is essential to attracting foreign investment. During his Washington visit, he is expected to promote infrastructure investment opportunities and sign additional agreements with American companies, particularly in the oil, gas and electricity sectors, as Baghdad seeks to modernise its economy and improve public services.
Although some Iran-backed groups have indicated a willingness to cooperate with the government, others continue to reject calls to disarm, insisting that ongoing regional tensions make such a move impossible. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iran-backed armed factions, has openly opposed Zaidi’s Washington visit, warning against what it described as replacing military influence with “economic occupation.”
The outcome of Tuesday’s meeting between Trump and Zaidi is expected to shape the next phase of US-Iraq relations, with security cooperation, energy investment and Iraq’s balancing act between Washington and Tehran likely to dominate discussions.
