Zaidi tells Atlantic Council delegation Iraq is open to US initiatives

BAGHDAD — Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said Iraq is open to initiatives to strengthen relations with the United States, citing development, energy and the economy, in a meeting with an Atlantic Council delegation.

He stressed “Iraq’s openness to all initiatives that work to strengthen bilateral relations” and said Iraq offers a promising investment environment with government measures intended to make it easier for major American companies to invest, according to his media office. The delegation was led by Victoria Taylor, who directs the Iraq Initiative in the council’s Middle East programmes.

It follows his July visit to Washington, his first foreign trip in office, where he met President Donald Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Iraqi agencies and companies announced 48 agreements and memoranda with U.S. firms in oil, electricity, industry, technology and finance, which Zaidi called the opening of a new phase. His office has not published the texts or said how many are binding contracts.