Iraqi PM begins regional tour to reinforce neutrality
Ali al-Zaidi will visit Iran, Turkey, Syria and Saudi Arabia as Baghdad seeks balanced relations amid growing regional tensions
BAGHDAD, Iraq (MNTV) — Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is set to begin a regional tour of Iran, Turkey, Syria and Saudi Arabia in an effort to strengthen diplomatic ties while reaffirming Baghdad’s policy of neutrality amid escalating tensions across the Middle East.
According to an Iraqi official quoted by The New Arab news, the visit is intended to assure regional partners, particularly Iran, that Iraq does not intend to align itself with any competing regional bloc despite increasing geopolitical pressure following the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
The tour will begin with a visit to Tehran later this week, where al-Zaidi is expected to sign several memoranda of understanding covering bilateral cooperation, Iraq’s Foreign Ministry said.
Following the Iran visit, the prime minister will travel to Turkey, Syria and Saudi Arabia for talks focused on expanding political, economic and security cooperation while maintaining Iraq’s balanced foreign policy.
Iraq has faced mounting regional pressure since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, with Iran-backed armed groups launching rockets and drones at Israeli targets and US military facilities in Iraq and elsewhere in the region.
Several of those factions have recently announced plans to dissolve and integrate into Iraq’s official security forces.
Al-Zaidi’s visit to Turkey, expected in early August, will include discussions on Ankara’s military presence in northern Iraq, joint efforts against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), water-sharing arrangements involving the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and the resumption of Iraqi oil exports through Turkey’s Ceyhan port.
Talks with Saudi Arabia and Syria are also expected to address economic cooperation, regional security coordination and broader political developments, although official dates for those visits have not yet been announced.
The regional tour comes shortly after al-Zaidi’s visit to Washington and coincides with renewed efforts by Iraq’s ruling Coordination Framework to fill nine vacant cabinet positions, including the ministries of defence, interior, planning, higher education, labour, housing, culture and migration.
Coalition leaders are also considering administrative reforms, including the creation of new ministries or senior executive positions, as part of efforts to resolve political differences and improve government functioning.
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
