At a joint press conference Tuesday evening, President Trump and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi outlined a new phase in US-Iraq relations, emphasizing a transition from military presence to economic cooperation. Al-Zaidi stated that after September 30, all armed groups must disarm and transfer weapons to the state. Trump described Iran as a 'burden' on Iraq and said US companies would enter Iraq at unprecedented scale.
President Trump hosted Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi at the White House on Tuesday evening for a joint press conference that covered the full spectrum of US-Iraq relations. The Zioneer earlier reported Trump's opening quip about Al-Zaidi being 'young and handsome' (published 19:04 Jerusalem). The main substance of the evening, however, was a detailed roadmap for transitioning the bilateral relationship from a military footing to an economic one.
Al-Zaidi said that after September 30, all armed groups—a reference to the Iran-backed militias that have operated in Iraq for years—must disarm and transfer their weapons to the state. This aligns with his earlier statements, as The Zioneer reported on June 24, that the US withdrawal would eliminate the need for armed groups. Trump echoed that theme, stating that US military presence in Iraq is no longer necessary and that American companies would enter the country at 'unprecedented' scale to develop the oil sector. He also described Iran as a 'burden' on Iraq, calling it the 'bully of the Middle East.'
The press conference marks the public culmination of Al-Zaidi's Washington visit, which began Monday. The two leaders are expected to sign economic agreements in the coming days.
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