Iraq Set to Announce New Political and Economic Partnership With United States

Iraq is preparing to unveil a political cooperation and economic partnership agreement with the United States, Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said ahead of his upcoming trip to Washington. The announcement came through an official statement released Thursday.

PM Signals Balance Between Washington and Tehran

Speaking to Saudi owned Al Arabiya TV, al-Zaidi described Iraq’s effort to manage relationships with both Iran and the United States at once, saying he hopes to help create a “state of rapprochement” between the two long-time rivals. The comments come as Iraq works to reposition itself amid ongoing tension between Washington and Tehran.

Washington Visit to Cement New Ties

The planned trip to Washington, al-Zaidi’s first since taking office in May, is expected to formalize the partnership and mark a shift in how Iraq and the U.S. work together. Officials close to the matter have said the relationship is moving away from a primarily military focus toward deeper economic and trade cooperation, including energy projects, infrastructure investment and business ties.

Part of a Broader Foreign Policy Shift

The move reflects Iraq’s broader strategy of strengthening ties with major global powers while trying to keep the country out of regional conflicts. Al-Zaidi has repeatedly stressed that Iraq’s ties with Iran remain rooted in “good neighborliness,” even as his government pushes forward with the U.S. partnership.