Iraq's new PM wants business deals with Trump, but militias cloud visit

Iraq's new PM wants business deals with Trump, but militias cloud visit Submitted by Sean Mathews on Fri, 07/10/2026 - 21:20 Prime minister wants US to continue flow of oil funds as war tests Baghdad's delicate dance between Tehran and Washington This handout picture shows new prime minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi, centre, sitting ahead of presenting his government to the parliament in Baghdad, on 14 2026 (Iraqi prime minister's press office/AFP) Off When Ali al-Zaidi was nominated as Iraq’s Prime Minister in April, a senior Iraqi diplomat sitting with Middle East Eye breathed a sigh of relief and called Zaidi to congratulate him. “This was Trump’s pick. He is an Iraqi Trump, a businessman,” the official said.