[REVISION HISTORY]

Iraqi diplomatic engagement in the Middle East

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2026-11-04 19:50 UTC → 2026-11-09 18:44 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has undertaken several high level diplomatic visits to strengthen regional ties. In late October 2026, al-Zaidi visited Damascus to meet with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. This meeting, the first of its kind since the change in the Syrian government in late 2024, focused on economic, energy, and security cooperation. Discussions included oil exports via the Baniyas pipeline, trade through border crossings, and connecting Iraq’s Al-Faw port to Syria’s Tartus port. Security talks also addressed counter-terrorism and smuggling. During this visit, al-Zaidi also made a personal donation of $10 million to the Umayyad Mosque and the Sayyida Zeinab shrine. In early November 2026, the Prime Minister traveled to Bahrain for his first visit to the country since 2003. During meetings with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, discussions centered on investment, trade, and political cooperation. The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of regional stability and economic integration, inviting the Bahraini King to visit Iraq. In mid-November 2026, al-Zaidi conducted an unannounced visit to Tehran to meet with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. The discussions reportedly focused on Baghdad’s efforts to prevent a renewed conflict between Iran and the United States from spilling into Iraqi territory. The visit followed a telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump, who reportedly warned Baghdad against allowing Iran-aligned armed groups to participate in a US-Iran conflict. While the Iraqi delegation sought to mediate, some sources indicated the visit failed to produce an outcome acceptable to Washington.

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