Al-Zaidi is rearranging the cards… an Armenian Christian to represent Iraq before Trump
Al-Zaidi is rearranging the cards… an Armenian Christian to represent Iraq before Trump
2026-06-24
Shafaq News – Special Translation
Baghdad’s selection of Krikor Der Hagopian, a US-educated Armenian Christian advisor, to be Iraq’s ambassador to Washington shows that Ali al-Zaidi’s government is trying to reset “US-Iraqi” relations and boost the country’s diplomatic image, as he will be the first non-Shiite Iraqi ambassador to Washington in decades.
According to a report by the American website ” Al-Monitor ,” translated by Shafaq News Agency, Krikor Der Hagopian is an Armenian Christian advisor to Prime Minister Al-Zaidi, and he previously served as an advisor to former President Barham Salih and former Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani.
The website noted that Hagopian’s confirmation in his new position is still awaiting official approval from the Donald Trump administration, indicating that there are hopes that the green light will be given for Hagopian’s appointment in time before al-Zaidi’s scheduled meeting with Trump in Washington during the third week of July.
The report stated that Hagopian, 49, a father of three, holds a master’s degree in international relations from the Joseph Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver and has a good track record of maintaining smooth relations with successive US administrations.
Former US State Department official Victoria Taylor said that “the appointment of Hagopian gives a very positive signal that Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has decided to send the most qualified person on his team, the person who has the most ideas about how Washington works.”
The report also quoted a source as saying that Hagopian “was excellent in bilateral relations and worked with international companies,” noting that this aligns with efforts to refocus the US relationship with Iraq away from a purely security-focused approach and toward a “business-first” agenda.
In addition, Oxford University political scientist Simon Magakian, who got to know Hagopian during graduate studies in Denver, explained: “I am not surprised to hear that Krikor (Hagopian) is being considered for such a prestigious position,” adding: “I remember him as an intelligent, dedicated, strategic thinker and bridge-builder.”
The report indicated that Hagopian would replace the current ambassador, Nizar Khairallah, who was previously deputy foreign minister, and explained that the American diplomat, Peter Shea, would replace Joshua Harris as the acting head of the mission in Baghdad until a permanent ambassador is appointed.
The report noted that “US Presidential Envoy Tom Barrack’s priority is to strengthen Iraqi-American trade relations. He recently visited Baghdad, and his important talks with al-Zaidi covered energy projects, including multi-billion dollar negotiations with the American company Chevron to develop oil in southern Iraqi fields, granting a license to Elon Musk’s Starlink service, floating liquefied natural gas terminals in cooperation with Texas-based American company Excelerate Energy, in addition to rehabilitating the oil pipeline that connects the Kirkuk oil fields to the export terminals in Banias, Syria, as well as the Iraqi government’s ambitious shared vision to implement Iraqi plans for complete disarmament and the disbanding of all armed groups and formations operating outside the authority and control of the state.”
According to Taylor, Tom Barrack’s support for Hagopian’s appointment may be important during his time in Washington, as Iraq’s importance has declined on the American agenda. She explained that “it would be a positive thing for Iraq to have someone who cares about the file and is very close to the American president, as Barrack has been a friend of Trump for a long time.”
The report noted that “the prevailing narrative regarding Iran’s complete control over Iraq still exists in Congress, and that rampant corruption continues to damage Iraq’s image among American lawmakers.”
However, Taylor emphasized at the end of her speech that “the nature of the American security partnership in Iraq will change with the end of Operation Inherent Resolve, and I believe that the new Iraqi ambassador can indeed play a pivotal role in helping to shape the future of that partnership.”
shafaq.com
