Iraq is emerging as the Middle East’s strategic connector – but can it turn foreign competition into advantage?

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi speaks at the U.S. Iraq Business Summit at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on July 17, 2026, in Washington. AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is on something of a diplomatic roll at the moment. Having concluded a weeklong visit to the United States on July 19, 2026, during which he charmed President Donald Trump, al-Zaidi is now expected to head to Tehran to do the same with Iran’s new leaders. Trips to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Syria all figure on his itinerary, too.

The U.S. visit was the first – and arguably most important – stop on a broader effort to give domestic legitimacy to al-Zaidi’s government and attract foreign investment while elevating Iraq’s status in the Middle East.