Trump meets with Iraq prime minister at White House, vows ‘a lot of deals’

What Happened

United States President Donald Trump met with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi at the White House on Tuesday, where both leaders pledged to deepen economic ties and increase Iraq’s oil output. Trump vowed 'a lot of deals' and stated that the U.S. would 'be taking out a lot of oil.' Al-Zaidi described the visit as the beginning of an 'economic partnership' and said relations were shifting from militaristic to economic. Both Trump and al-Zaidi announced that the remaining U.S. forces in Iraq, believed to number fewer than 2,000, would completely withdraw by September 30. Al-Zaidi also pledged that armed factions in Iraq would disarm by the same date. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed armed groups, stated it would reject any outcomes from al-Zaidi’s visit.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The meeting signals a U.S. attempt to pivot Iraq from a military dependency to an economic partner, while leveraging oil production to reshape the bilateral relationship. The parallel deadlines for U.S. withdrawal and disarmament of Iran-aligned factions on September 30 could significantly alter Iraq’s internal power dynamics and Iran’s influence if implemented. Iraq’s economic need for stable oil exports, amid Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, adds urgency to OPEC quota negotiations and the broader regional contest between Washington and Tehran.

Watch For

Monitor the September 30 deadline for U.S. military withdrawal and faction disarmament, including any concrete steps by the Iraqi government. Watch for the signing of expected oil and gas agreements, OPEC quota decisions, and responses from Iran-backed groups such as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq. The implementation of the disarmament plan and the feasibility of Iraq maintaining security without U.S. troops will be critical.