Iraq PM to Meet Trump Amid Growing Pressure Over Iran Ties
BAGHDAD — Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi will meet President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday, seeking major US investment in his country’s oil, gas, and power sectors after the Iran war severely damaged crude output and state finances.
The visit comes as the Trump administration presses Baghdad to reduce Iranian influence, though Iraqi officials insist they are not abandoning their neighbor. A senior Iraqi politician told AFP that even with a more US-friendly economic path, “it doesn’t mean that Iraq is turning against Iran,” adding that Baghdad “must maintain the long-standing balance” between its allies.
Zaidi, a multimillionaire who took office in May, met with Trump’s special envoy Tom Barrack on Monday to discuss cooperation and regional de-escalation. In a Washington Post op-ed, he wrote that he leads “a government committed to ensuring that the state possesses the legitimate monopoly on the use of force.” His administration has given armed groups designated as terrorist organizations by Washington until September 30 to disarm.
The energy push represents one of the most explicit attempts in years to attract US firms to a sector long ruled by Chinese, Russian, and European companies. Negotiations with Chevron over the giant West Qurna-2 oilfield are underway, after Baghdad moved to replace Russia’s Lukoil as operator. The cabinet has also approved a deal with US-based HKN Energy to develop the Himreen oilfield and authorized the Electricity Ministry to finalize an agreement with General Electric to expand power infrastructure.
“Zaidi views energy as the fastest route to deeper cooperation with Washington,” said political analyst Ahmed Younis. Former Basra Oil Company manager Mohammed Abbas noted that recent decisions regarding Chevron and other US projects “reflect a deliberate policy shift” to reverse perceptions that Iraq is a difficult place for large-scale investment.
The government has directed its oil, electricity, and communications ministries to prioritize reputable American companies in energy, telecommunications, and technology. However, analysts caution that attracting sufficient investment to overcome infrastructure bottlenecks and production constraints will not be easy, especially with OPEC+ output limits still in place.
Zaidi’s visit runs through July 18 and is expected to focus on securing security guarantees for US operators and reviving plans for strategic export pipelines. Iraqi officials say security around key oil installations has been reinforced since the Iran conflict to reassure foreign energy companies. Lawmaker Murad Ismael observed that Zaidi, coming from a business background, understands that winning over American energy companies amid fragile regional security is no simple task.
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