Iraq's prime minister meets Trump in Washington as MP holds talks in Tehran

WASHINGTON, United States — Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Zeydi met U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, where he expressed Iraq's interest in establishing a strategic partnership with the United States, according to Iraqi state media. Separately, Iraqi lawmaker Mustafa Sand met with an Iranian minister in Tehran to discuss a permanent partnership in the telecommunications sector. The talks in both capitals took place within the same period. The simultaneous outreach to Washington and Tehran has renewed debate over the direction of Baghdad's foreign policy amid regional and international competition for influence. Observers cited by Iraqi outlets said decision-making is being distributed across different capitals, making the country's alignment difficult to determine. Questions remain over whether the proposed partnerships with both countries will translate into concrete strategy in terms of Iraq's economic interests, security and sovereignty. The dual-track diplomacy underscores the limits of Baghdad's efforts to maintain a balanced foreign policy.