Al-Zaydi goes to Washington to bargain with Trump: weapons for the factions in exchange for a broader partnership.
Al-Zaydi goes to Washington to bargain with Trump: weapons for the factions in exchange for a broader partnership.
2026-07-11
Shafaq News – Special Translation
All eyes are on the upcoming visit of Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zubaidi to the White House next week, as it is considered one of the most sensitive stops in Iraqi-American relations in years, as it comes amid escalating pressure on Baghdad to resolve the issue of armed factions, in contrast to Iraqi efforts to transform the relationship with Washington into a broad economic and investment partnership.
According to a report by the Middle East Eye website , US President Donald Trump views Iraq through the lens of economics and deals, while al-Zaidi seeks to capitalize on this trend to gain the support of the US administration and buy more time to implement his domestic program, foremost among which is restricting weapons to the state and redrawing the balance of Baghdad’s regional relations.
economic bet
The report reveals that al-Zaidi, who comes from the business world and whose investments are spread across the real estate, banking and logistics sectors, will arrive in Washington carrying a package of economic agreements, in an attempt to convince the Trump administration that Iraq is capable of becoming an important economic partner.
According to a senior Iraqi official who spoke to the website, the visit will see the expansion of the initial agreement with Chevron to develop one of the oil fields in Basra, in addition to expanding the investments of another American company in the Akaz gas field in Anbar province.
The two sides will also sign an agreement to rehabilitate the Kirkuk-Banias pipeline, which connects Iraq to the Syrian coast, in a project that Washington sees as part of its strategy to reduce the impact of tensions in the Strait of Hormuz on energy supplies.
The report indicates that the US envoy to Syria and Iraq, Tom Barrack, is pushing for preliminary understandings to be reached before al-Zaidi’s arrival, as part of a broader US policy aimed at strengthening the presence of US companies and reducing Iranian economic influence.
An Iraqi official told the website: “Trump and al-Zaidi come from a business background… and Iraq comes to the United States with deals.”
American message
The report considers that the resumption by the United States of transferring Iraqi oil revenues deposited with the Federal Reserve in New York, days before the visit, was not just a financial procedure, but a political message reflecting the importance of the current stage.
The Trump administration had suspended these transfers last April, coinciding with an escalation of attacks on American interests, and used the issue as leverage in the midst of consultations regarding the formation of the Iraqi government.
The report argues that Washington still wields considerable financial influence over Baghdad, despite reducing its military presence inside Iraq.
The factions are in the lead
But the economy will not be the only issue on the White House table. According to the report, the Trump administration is seeking clear Iraqi commitments to end the influence of armed factions linked to Iran and to stop attacks targeting American interests and Gulf states.
Therefore, al-Zaydi gave those factions until September 30 to hand over their weapons to the state, coinciding with the end of the international coalition’s mission in Iraq.
Despite some factions announcing their readiness to cooperate, major groups such as Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba still refuse to give up their weapons.
complex balance
The report indicates that al-Zaydi reached the premiership with the support of the Coordination Framework, which includes most of the Shiite forces close to Iran, but at the same time he enjoys unprecedented American acceptance.
Abbas Kadhim, director of the Iraq program at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, says that Washington’s support for al-Zaidi’s nomination preceded the parliamentary vote on his government, something that had not happened with any previous Iraqi prime minister.
Renad Mansour, director of the Iraq Initiative at Chatham House, also believes that al-Zaidi is trying to build a personal relationship with Trump, drawing inspiration from the experiences of regional leaders who have succeeded in gaining the trust of the US president through the gateway of economics and investment.
Power paper
The report focuses on the anti-corruption campaign launched by al-Zaidi’s government, considering that it strengthened his position with Washington, after it targeted officials and influential figures, including those close to the previous government and figures associated with the Popular Mobilization Forces.
The report suggests that this campaign gives al-Zaidi additional leverage during his meeting with Trump, as evidence of his government’s commitment to reform and its attempt to rebuild state institutions.
Will the swap work?
The report concludes that al-Zaidi is trying to convince the Trump administration of an equation based on expanding the economic partnership in exchange for giving Baghdad enough time to address complex security issues, foremost among them the weapons of the factions.
However, according to the report, this path clashes with a highly complex political and security reality, as the armed factions emerged from the last war more closely linked to Tehran, while the Iranian Revolutionary Guard strengthened its support for them, which makes implementing the Iraqi government’s pledges more difficult.
The report concludes by noting that the success of the Washington visit will not be measured by the number of agreements that will be signed, but rather by al-Zaidi’s ability to convince the White House that he is capable of turning promises related to limiting weapons and economic reform into reality, without Iraq paying the price of an open confrontation with armed forces or losing the balance of its relations with Iran.
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