Iraq PM Visits Washington as U.S. Oil, Gas Deals Take Center Stage

Iraq’s Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is set to visit Washington on Monday as Baghdad and the United States seek to strengthen their strategic partnership through new energy, trade and investment agreements. The visit is expected to deliver several oil and gas deals aimed at boosting Iraq’s production capacity while expanding broader economic cooperation between the two countries.

According to Iraqi government spokesperson Haider al-Aboudi, the agreements will include multiple memorandums of understanding in the oil and gas sector. The planned partnerships are expected to bring more U.S. energy companies into Iraq, supporting efforts to increase crude oil production and modernize the country’s energy infrastructure.

A key objective of the agreements is to diversify Iraq’s oil export routes, reducing reliance on the Strait of Hormuz. The move comes after the recent U.S.-Iran conflict disrupted shipping through the strategic waterway, cutting into oil revenues for Iraq and other Gulf producers.

Beyond energy cooperation, the talks are expected to focus on expanding trade, attracting U.S. investment and strengthening Iraq’s economic development. Iraqi officials also said discussions will include enhancing the country’s military capabilities and continuing security cooperation with Washington.

The visit takes place as Iraq continues to balance its relationships with both the United States and neighboring Iran amid heightened regional tensions. Baghdad has long maintained close ties with Tehran while also relying on security and economic cooperation with Washington.

Relations between Iraq and the U.S. have periodically faced challenges over the presence of American troops, Baghdad’s ties with Iran, and U.S. efforts to limit the influence of Iran-backed armed groups operating in Iraq.

Despite these issues, bilateral ties have shown signs of improvement. After Ali al-Zaidi was nominated as Iraq’s prime minister in April, U.S. President Donald Trump congratulated him and expressed hope for stronger cooperation between Washington and Baghdad, setting the stage for deeper collaboration in energy, security and economic development.