Revealed On 23 Jul 2026
Simply days after concluding his first official go to to the USA, Iraq’s newly appointed prime minister, Ali al-Zaidi, has arrived in Iran for an additional high-stakes diplomatic cease.
His first overseas visits after turning into prime minister in Could have taken him to Washington, DC, and Tehran – seats of powers for 2 nations which have formed Baghdad’s political, safety and financial panorama because the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Collectively, they mirror Baghdad’s enduring problem: sustaining relations with two nations at present engaged in a struggle with out being caught up within the rivalry.
Iraq’s new prime minister
Al-Zaidi, a multimillionaire enterprise determine who was thought of a compromise candidate of the governing Shia bloc, was reportedly a most popular choice to the US over his challenger, controversial former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
He has additionally launched into a high-profile anticorruption marketing campaign, which has seen necessary figures in Iraq’s political institution detained on suspicion of corruption.
Al-Zaidi’s first overseas journey as prime minister to Washington in mid-July noticed him strike rapport with US President Donald Trump, who referred to as the Iraqi chief “a unbelievable champion” and mentioned the 2 nations have been “going to be doing loads of offers”.
This was backed by an announcement that Iraq had struck dozens of agreements and partnerships with US corporations and the rehabilitation of a dormant Iraqi-Syrian oil pipeline, a transfer welcomed by the US Division of State.
Al-Zaidi talked about shifting Iraq’s relationship with the US from a security-based one to collaboration on financial points, indicating his ambitions to deepen belief and ties between Washington and Baghdad.
However below al-Zaidi’s authorities, Iraq could possibly be getting into a brand new political chapter, in search of to mission itself as a extra impartial regional actor, after turning into closely influenced by Iran because the fall of President Saddam Hussein in 2003.
New chapter for Iraq
Iraq stays closely reliant on Iranian pure fuel and electrical energy, whereas bilateral commerce exceeds $12bn yearly, making it certainly one of Iran’s largest buying and selling companions.
Tens of millions of Iranian Shia pilgrims additionally cross the border to go to holy websites yearly, highlighting the deep spiritual and cultural ties between the 2 nations.
The route of Iran’s slain Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s funeral procession by the Iraqi Shia pilgrimage cities of Najaf and Karbala highlights this lengthy symbiosis between the 2 nations.
The Iranian authorities has additionally cultivated shut ties with influential Shia events and armed teams in Iraq that kind the spine of Iraq’s safety forces, giving Tehran important leverage inside Baghdad’s energy constructions.
There was immense strain from the US for Iraq to tighten state management over Iran-aligned armed teams working within the nation, which have performed a big army position on the aspect of Tehran throughout the ongoing US-Israel struggle on Iran.
But they’re additionally an necessary a part of the Iraqi safety forces. So managing Baghdad’s relations with these Tehran-linked armed teams whereas preserving inner stability stays one of many Iraqi authorities’s most tough political exams.
However the struggle has resulted in extreme financial and army losses for Iran and has launched different diplomatic challenges for its authorities.
Regional relations
Al-Zaidi’s election as PM has seen efforts to strengthen Iraq’s bumpy ties with Gulf Arab states and Turkiye, in search of to current Baghdad as a bridge between competing regional powers.
That balancing act is predicted to outline the discussions in Tehran, with one notably delicate situation being the way forward for Iranian Kurdish opposition teams based mostly in northern Iraq, outdoors Baghdad’s direct management.
Tehran views these teams as a safety menace and has repeatedly targeted them in air strikes because the struggle started on February 28.
It has demanded that Baghdad forestall these teams from utilizing Iraqi territory, accusing them of operating with backing from the US and Israel’s Mossad to trigger unrest in Iran by way of cross-border assaults.
Regardless of the symbolism of al-Zaidi’s visits, it’s unlikely to supply dramatic overseas coverage shifts for Iraq, and as an alternative, it’s anticipated to reaffirm a actuality that has outlined Iraq’s overseas coverage for years – that it can’t afford to decide on between Washington and Tehran. Iraq’s stability relies on sustaining constructive relations with each nations.
The bigger query is whether or not Iraq’s new management can steadily redefine that steadiness, assert higher independence from these two powers, whereas preserving its strategic partnerships with each Iran and the US.
