Al-Zaidi praises the results of his visit to Washington... amid popular support and political division.

Iran has officially distanced itself from the statements made by Ali Akbar Velayati, advisor to the Supreme Leader, against Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi in the wake of his visit to Washington, in an apparent move to prepare for Al-Zaidi's upcoming visit to Tehran.

Following the conclusion of his five-day visit to the United States, Al-Zaidi said in a post on the 'X' platform: 'As we conclude our visit to Washington and return to beloved Baghdad, we express our deep thanks to President Trump's administration and the friendly American people for the warm reception and appreciation.'

He added: 'We renew our government's determination to proceed with embodying the strategic economic partnership between the two friendly countries, and to enhance mutual trust and a shared vision for the future, based on the agreements and memoranda of understanding and cooperation we have concluded. These will lead to building a new phase of bilateral relations based on common interests in various fields, and joint coordination to consolidate stability and enhance the path of prosperity in Iraq and the entire region.'

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi in the center attending the US-Iraq Business Summit on July 17, 2026, in Washington (AP).

During the visit, Iraq and the United States signed 48 agreements that require parliamentary ratification, while the signed memoranda of understanding can enter into force without such a requirement. This has prompted many parties opposed to the visit, especially pro-Iranian armed factions, to view the achievements between the two countries with suspicion, 'on the grounds that the implementation of even a minimum of these agreements and memoranda could elevate the relationship between Baghdad and Washington to a new level, in contrast to the declining levels of cooperation with Iran, especially after the restriction of currency smuggling to it through an agreement between the Central Bank of Iraq and the US Department of the Treasury.'

In this context, Al-Zaidi described this agreement as 'representing an important step in the path of reforming the banking sector and enhancing its integration into the global financial system.'

He said that 'qualifying seven Iraqi banks to return to external correspondent banking channels in other currencies, in preparation for restoring their eligibility to deal in US dollars after completing compliance and governance requirements, confirms the success of the financial reform approach adopted by the government, enhances confidence in the Iraqi banking sector, and opens wider horizons for the national economy and investment.'

He emphasized the continued 'support for financial and banking reforms and the consolidation of transparency and governance principles, in a way that serves Iraq's interests and enhances its economic standing regionally and internationally.'

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi during a meeting at the Pentagon on July 14 (AP).

While Baghdad's steps this time appear confident regarding its relationship with Washington, the talk of transitioning to a 'new phase' in this relationship seemed surprising to many circles, especially the popular ones, which showed satisfaction with it. It was equally surprising to the opposition, especially parties close to Iran, as they are no longer able, as they were in the past, to stop such developments led by Al-Zaidi.

Abdul Rahman Al-Jubouri, head of the Academy for Political Development and Good Governance, told Asharq Al-Awsat: 'If the approach of the visit is adhered to and implemented on the ground, then Iraq and Al-Zaidi have abandoned the concept of balance and moved toward the Western camp and the United States, choosing an economic and financial ally that Iraq needs. After dismantling the factions' weapons, Baghdad can remain neutral in the war.'

In turn, Dr. Talib Mohammed Karim, professor of political thought at Mustansiriyah University, told Asharq Al-Awsat that 'it is too early to talk about a radical shift in the nature of the Iraqi-American relationship, but it can be said that Al-Zaidi's visit represents the beginning of an attempt to redefine this relationship. Moving from the dominance of security and military files to focusing on economy, investment, and energy reflects a trend toward building a relationship based on mutual interests rather than crisis management.'

Karim adds that 'the success of this shift does not depend on what was achieved in Washington, but on what the government will accomplish within Iraq. The Iraqi state is still facing structural challenges, most notably poor services, corruption, and multiple centers of decision-making, which are factors that have affected the efficiency of state institutions and their ability to attract investment and build trust with international partners.'

He explained that 'the United States has begun to view the reform path announced by the government positively, but this trust remains conditional and will depend on Baghdad's ability to translate pledges into tangible administrative, legal, and institutional reforms.'

US President Donald Trump welcoming Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi at the White House (AP).

Regarding the nature of the balance in the relationship between Iraq, the United States, and Iran, Dr. Karim says: 'Reading the relationship through a win-loss logic does not reflect Iraq's interest. Therefore, I do not see that Iraq's success is measured by moving away from Iran or getting closer to the United States, but rather by its ability to build a balanced foreign policy that stems from national interest and maintains stable relations with the United States, neighboring countries, and regional countries, without turning into an arena for settling conflicts between them.'

Velayati's insult...

Furthermore, Iran sought to contain the offensive statements made by Velayati against the Iraqi Prime Minister, describing them as 'unofficial.' On Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi informed his Iraqi counterpart, Fuad Hussein, in a phone call that 'relations between the two countries should not be affected by personal and unofficial statements.' He added that 'relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Iraq are deep-rooted and strategic, based on deep historical, cultural, and religious ties, and common interests between the two peoples,' explaining that 'these valuable relationships should not be affected by some personal and unofficial statements.'

Velayati, advisor to the Iranian Supreme Leader, had criticized Al-Zaidi's visit to the United States, describing the Iraqi Prime Minister as 'inexperienced,' according to media reports.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi during a press conference in Baghdad on June 28, 2026 (AFP).

In an op-ed published by the newspaper 'Farhikhtegan', he stated: 'The behavior of the head of government during his meeting with the American president, shortly after the funeral of the former leader Ali Khamenei, is considered a great disgrace,' as he put it.

Iran officially remained silent regarding the agreements signed between Baghdad and Washington, which would pull the rug from under its feet in Iraq, in parallel with the attacks of the armed factions loyal to it on the visit and its outcomes.