Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has said he will visit Turkey, Iran and Saudi Arabia following his planned trip to Washington in mid-July, as Baghdad looks to strengthen regional cooperation and attract new investment.
In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, al-Zaidi said his meeting with US President Donald Trump would focus on reshaping relations between Iraq and the United States through stronger economic and security partnerships.
After his visit to Washington, the prime minister will travel to Turkey, Iran and Saudi Arabia, describing closer cooperation with neighbouring countries as a key priority for Iraq’s stability.
Al-Zaidi said he had also received official invitations from France, the United Kingdom and Germany, but stressed that building stronger ties with regional partners would take precedence.
As part of his regional outreach, the prime minister plans to present Iraq’s newly established Energy and Development Fund to Gulf countries. Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar will be invited to participate in the initiative alongside Western financial institutions.
The planned visits come as Iraq pursues broader political and economic reforms. Al-Zaidi has also set a 30 September 2026 deadline for armed factions to disarm, in line with the planned withdrawal of the international coalition’s military forces.
