US President to Al-Zaidi: Iran is a burden on you

Washington – Agencies: U.S. President Donald Trump and Iraq’s new Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi discussed the future of the American presence in Iraq and the disarmament of Iranian-aligned Iraqi militias during a meeting at the White House, marking al-Zaidi’s first foreign visit since assuming office.

Trump told reporters at the White House that he was pleased with al-Zaidi’s election as head of the Iraqi government, noting that his rival had taken positions he described as unfavorable toward Washington. Trump added that he did not believe there was a need for the continued U.S. military presence in Iraq, affirming that matters regarding the disarmament of Iraqi armed factions were progressing well. He clarified that the United States and Iraq were moving toward establishing a strong partnership in the oil sector, to be announced shortly, noting that oil companies would enter Iraq at unprecedented levels.

Trump characterized Iran as a burden on Iraq, describing it as a bully in the Middle East. For his part, al-Zaidi stated that his visit to the United States was to a key strategic partner for Iraq, emphasizing that U.S. forces would withdraw from the country, while American companies would enter to invest and operate. He stressed that he had issued a decision to centralize weapons in the hands of the state, explaining that after September 30, there would be no need for armed factions in Iraq, and no entity would be permitted to carry weapons outside official institutions.

Al-Zaidi’s office said in a statement that the purpose of the visit was to strengthen economic and developmental partnerships, attract investments, expand the role of U.S. companies in implementing infrastructure projects, and develop Iraq’s oil-rich energy sector.

Before the Oval Office meeting, the Associated Press cited a Trump administration official as saying the United States would make considered decisions based on Iraq’s efforts to disarm Iranian-backed armed factions within its borders.

For his part, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth affirmed that the United States believed that strengthening relations with Iraq required Baghdad to disarm militias allied with Iran. Hegseth posted on his X account, “I hosted Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi at the Pentagon.” He added, “To strengthen our partnership, Iraq must assert its sovereignty and disarm militias allied with Iran.” He continued, “Washington looks forward to Iraqi security forces taking a leading role in efforts to defeat ISIS.”

Hegseth noted that Iranian-aligned militias were responsible for more than 600 attacks on U.S. personnel this spring. He concluded, “A secure Iraq opens the door to strong commercial and defense cooperation.”