Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is traveling to the United States to meet with President Donald Trump, marking his first overseas visit since assuming office in May.
During the upcoming meetings, he is expected to sign agreements covering energy and trade and to promote greater investment from U.S. companies.
Iraqi government spokesman Haider al‑Aboudi told reporters on Sunday that the Washington visit will shift bilateral relations from a crisis‑management framework toward a strategic economic partnership.
He emphasized that the focus will be on creating a durable, long‑term partnership that serves the shared interests of both nations, rather than a temporary arrangement.
Oil will be a top priority, as the Iraqi government aims to boost production and develop alternative export routes to mitigate potential disruptions from a future closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Iraq has been among the nations hardest hit by the recent shutdown of the critical waterway, caused by the U.S.–Israel conflict with Iran; roughly 90% of its 3.4 million barrels per day of exports traverse this route.
Al‑Aboudi said Iraq will propose establishing an energy and development fund with the United States to finance agreed‑upon projects, particularly in the energy sector.
Al‑Zaidi previously indicated that the fund would be initially backed by 500,000 barrels per day of oil exports, with the objective of expanding to as much as two million barrels per day.
The prime minister also said Iraq aims to raise oil production to seven million barrels per day within three years, up from the current level of about 4.5 million barrels per day.
Al‑Mashhadani, an Iraqi economic expert and professor, said Iraq urgently needs such cooperation, especially with a U.S. partner to strengthen capacity in the energy, oil, gas, electricity, and petrochemical sectors.
He added, however, that a key question is whether Iraq can create a safe and stable environment that will attract U.S. companies, noting that this issue is sensitive and hinges on the government’s capacity to enforce its commitments to keep weapons under state control.
Large delegation
Sources told Al Jazeera that the Iraqi delegation to the United States includes over 70 members, comprising senior ministers, the central bank governor, the national security adviser, legislators and business leaders.
A well‑informed source said meetings with U.S. administration officials and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are also planned, and that Iraq is seeking an IMF loan of up to $8 billion.
Another source told Al Jazeera that the disarmament of pro‑Iran Iraqi armed factions, the imposition of weapons under state authority, and Baghdad’s relationship with Tehran are expected to be key topics for the U.S. side during the visit.
In his inaugural parliamentary speech as prime minister, al‑Zaidi pledged that the state would assume control over weapons in a country where paramilitary groups, many backed by Iran, have wielded significant power since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
Some armed factions said they would comply with the prime minister’s declaration, while others—especially the powerful groups that have launched missiles and drones at U.S. facilities during the Iran war—rejected it.
A statement released hours before al‑Zaidi’s arrival in Washington, from the Islamic Resistance in Iraq—an umbrella organization of Iran‑backed armed groups in the region—rejected the prime minister’s visit and its outcomes.
The statement declared, ‘We will not provide a blanket endorsement for all government policies. We warn against substituting military occupation with a more dangerous economic occupation.’
It added that ‘the option of defending Iraq and its legitimate interests will remain on the table.’
Al‑Zaidi said his government is keen to implement the 2024 agreement with the U.S.-led coalition’s military mission in Iraq to withdraw combat forces by the end of September.
Some of the factions that rejected the prime minister’s disarmament statement said they would wait until September 30 to see how events unfold before taking further action.
Ehsan al‑Shammary, a professor of international studies at Baghdad University, said that the economic initiatives and the support al‑Zaidi seeks from President Trump during Monday’s talks will inevitably be overshadowed by Iran’s influence in Iraq.
He added that this issue will ultimately determine whether the highly important visit succeeds or fails, potentially redefining bilateral relations and providing a significant boost.
Al‑Shammary noted that al‑Zaidi has limited maneuverability; he must decide whether to align with the United States or lean toward Iran. He believes Washington will not tolerate a divided sphere of influence in Iraq alongside Tehran, making the prime minister’s task nearly impossible.
