Overview
- In a Tuesday White House meeting, Prime Minister Ali al‑Zaidi publicly restated a September 30 deadline for all armed groups to hand over weapons and President Donald Trump said remaining U.S. forces would withdraw by that same date.
- U.S. officials told Zaidi that deeper defense and economic ties will depend on clear, verifiable steps to disarm Iran‑aligned militias and stop attacks on U.S. interests.
- Iraq and U.S. business groups are pressing a commerce-first push with a U.S. Chamber of Commerce summit expected to unveil roughly $60 billion in energy and investment agreements involving major U.S. firms.
- Several militias have signaled cooperation or partial integration but hardline groups such as Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat Hezbollah al‑Nujaba remain holdouts, and analysts say the tight deadline is unlikely and could spark violence or political fractures.
- Zaidi has used an anti‑corruption campaign and economic outreach to build legitimacy while he balances Tehran’s influence and U.S. pressure, leaving Iraq’s oil revenues, IMF talks, and civilian recovery at stake if security and political reform stall.