After Mourning Khamenei, Iraqi PM Shakes Hands With Trump But Keeps Silent On Iran
After Mourning Khamenei, Iraqi PM Shakes Hands With Trump But Keeps Silent On Iran Published By, Last Updated: July 16, 2026, 12:39 IST For decades
After Mourning Khamenei, Iraqi PM Shakes Hands With Trump But Keeps Silent On Iran Published By, Last Updated: July 16, 2026, 12:39 IST For decades, Iraq has found itself navigating a delicate path between the United States and Iran, two rivals whose regional confrontation has frequently played out on Iraqi soil. US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington DC. (Source: Reuters) Just a week after attending the funeral procession of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi was in the Oval Office shaking hands with United States President Donald Trump, underscoring the delicate balancing act Baghdad continues to perform between Washington and Tehran. Zaidi’s visit to the White House on Tuesday was widely seen as a significant diplomatic moment for the Trump administration, which views Iraq’s new prime minister as a leader willing to strengthen ties with the United States while reducing his country’s dependence on Iran. The 40-year-old businessman-turned-politician assumed office in May after months of political deadlock in Iraq. Backed by both Shiite political factions and the Trump administration, Zaidi emerged as a compromise candidate whom Washington believed was less reliant on Tehran’s support than his rival, former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. His meeting with Trump came just days after he attended Khamenei’s funeral procession in Iraq’s holy city of Najaf. The visit highlighted Iraq’s long-standing challenge of maintaining strategic ties with both the United States and neighbouring Iran, particularly at a time when tensions between the two countries remain high.
Also Read: Why Do US Wars In The Middle East Keep Creating New Crises? From Iraq To Iran, The Pattern Continues Iraq’s Diplomatic Tightrope For decades, Iraq has found itself navigating a delicate path between the United States and Iran, two rivals whose regional confrontation has frequently played out on Iraqi soil. Successive governments in Baghdad have sought to maintain ties with both powers while avoiding being drawn into their conflicts. Last week, the holy cities of Iraq, where some of Shia Islam’s holiest shrines are located, held huge funeral processions for Khamenei, who was killed in a US-Israeli strike on Tehran in February. Zaidi was among senior Iraqi officials and religious leaders who received Khamenei’s coffin after it arrived at Najaf International Airport for funeral rites in one of Shia Islam’s holiest cities. Within days, however, the Iraqi premier was at the White House meeting Trump, whose administration has adopted a hardline stance toward Tehran and who has remained a central figure in Iran’s anti-US rhetoric, including calls for retaliation voiced during Khamenei’s funeral ceremonies. US Pushed Against Zaidi’s Washington Visit? Speaking to Axios, two US officials, Iranian authorities urged Zaidi and his team not to make Washington the destination of his first overseas trip as prime minister. Also Read: One Last Journey: Ali Khamenei’s Funeral Procession To Cross Iraq Before Burial In Iran However, they said Zaidi insisted on meeting Trump, a move US officials interpreted as a sign that he intends to pursue an “Iraq first" policy with greater emphasis on relations with Washington. ‘Fantastic Champion’: Trump Heaps Praise on Zaidi During their meeting, Trump lavished praise on the Iraqi leader and even added an unscheduled lunch to the visit.
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