Overview
- President Donald Trump met Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al‑Zaidi in the Oval Office on Tuesday, July 14, with both sides expecting memoranda of understanding on oil, gas and trade to be signed during Zaidi’s week‑long visit.
- Washington has resumed Federal Reserve‑handled cash shipments of Iraq’s oil revenue as a sign of support, but U.S. officials say deeper cooperation will depend on measured steps to disarm Iran‑aligned militias and to curb attacks on U.S. facilities.
- Baghdad has set a September 30 deadline for non‑state armed groups to surrender weapons, yet several powerful militias have publicly rejected that timetable, raising concerns about the security guarantees U.S. firms will require.
- Zaidi has launched high‑profile anti‑corruption raids and is negotiating specific deals with U.S. companies, including Chevron, HKN Energy and General Electric, but those talks remain contingent on investor confidence, legal exemptions and on‑the‑ground security.
- If Washington secures verifiable disarmament and reforms, Iraq could unlock large U.S. investment and new export routes that would ease its reliance on the Strait of Hormuz; if not, the visit may leave stalled deals and continued political risk for Iraqi citizens and foreign investors.