BySETH J. FRANTZMAN

JULY 14, 2026 15:48

Updated: JULY 14, 2026 17:24

Iraq Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi reached Washington on Monday for a long-planned trip. The newly installed leader hopes to build closer relations with America.

Iraq stands at a critical juncture as its head of government works to control Iran-backed militias while overseeing the exit of US troops still present for the campaign against ISIS.

The United States left Iraq in 2011 yet returned in 2014 to assist in the fight against ISIS. American forces also maintain a notable footprint in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Iraq already serves as a frontline between the United States and Iran. After US and Israeli strikes on Iran began on February 28, Tehran activated its militias inside Iraq.

Those factions launched hundreds of assaults on US diplomatic sites and other targets. Kataib Hezbollah, one such group, abducted US journalist Shelly Kittelson.

Zaidi holds talks with US Special Envoy Tom Barrack

She was freed after one week in captivity. Kataib Hezbollah is the same militia that seized researcher Elizabeth Tsurkov in March 2023. She was freed only in September 2025.

According to Zaidi's schedule in Washington, he will stay in the capital until Saturday. On Tuesday the Iraqi Prime Minister's Office stated that Prime Minister Ali Falih Al-Zaidi met the previous evening Baghdad time at his Washington residence with US President's Special Envoy to Iraq Tom Barrack.

Barrack has served as the key US envoy to Syria and ambassador to Turkey. He recently added the Iraq portfolio, combining his duties across both nations. This consolidation makes him the central figure for US policy toward these two important countries.

Victoria J. Taylor, Director of the Iraq Initiative at the Atlantic Council and former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Iraq and Iran at the US Department of State, observed on X that Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi arrives in Washington this week facing a real test: whether he can persuade the Trump administration that partnership with Baghdad remains worthwhile. She referenced her new article on the difficult balance he must strike between disarming militias and satisfying Washington without angering Tehran.

Iraq's PMO noted that prospects for joint cooperation between Iraq and the United States were examined during the meeting. The discussion also covered the evolution of economic ties between the two nations, recent progress, and opportunities to broaden cooperation and partnership.

The office added that the meeting addressed regional developments, the need to support efforts for security and stability, and Iraq's pivotal role in bridging viewpoints and easing regional tensions.

Amberin Zaman, writing at Al-Monitor, observed that on his first foreign trip Iraqi PM Zaidi woos Trump while Iran casts a long shadow. She notes that Iraq's new prime minister is in Washington promising business deals and closer ties with the United States, yet persuading the Trump administration he can restrain Iran-backed militias may prove his greatest challenge.

Plans to revive pipelines across Middle East, Iraq, Syria

Her article highlights several key topics expected during the visit. Zaidi, a former entrepreneur, is expected to unveil numerous deals, many tied to energy, as part of a business-first approach intended to expand US-Iraqi relations beyond their mainly security focus, administration sources told Al-Monitor on background.

Efforts are underway to restore a pipeline from Kirkuk, Iraq, to Syria.

She adds that security remains the Trump administration's top priority with Baghdad, above all the disarming and disbanding of Iran-backed militias.

The groups, formed in 2014 initially to combat the Islamic State, repeatedly struck US military sites inside Iraq as well as targets across the Gulf during the recent Iran conflict.

Meanwhile expert Ali Al-Mikdam noted on X that Washington sees the trip as a chance to reshape its relationship with Baghdad, placing reduced Iranian influence and curbing armed factions at the top of the agenda. Iraq seeks a stable strategic partnership that protects its security and economic interests.

He adds that the outcome of this visit will shape not only Baghdad-Washington relations but could also redefine Iraq's regional position ahead. Success will ultimately depend on domestic political will.

The pro-Iran Islamic Resistance in Iraq slammed the Iraqi premier's visit to Washington. Meanwhile Rudaw media in Erbil in the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq reported that Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi began his high-profile visit to the United States on Monday, where he is scheduled to meet senior US officials including President Donald Trump.

It remains unclear if and when that meeting will occur. Zaidi is accompanied on his trip by various media outlets including Rudaw.