Yemeni Sources: Prosecutor Orders Freeze of Dissolved STC Funds

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is set to visit the United States next month in a critical effort to secure financial assistance and prevent his oil-rich nation from facing bankruptcy. The visit comes amid intense pressure from U.S. envoy Tom Barrack, who is urging Baghdad to demonstrate concrete steps toward disarming armed factions before receiving long-awaited support.

Sources indicate that al-Zaidi, with backing from the powerful Shiite parties' alliance known as the Coordination Framework, hopes for assistance from U.S. President Donald Trump during his mid-July Washington meeting. This support may include securing loans, potentially with contributions from Gulf states, according to officials within the Shiite alliance. Dozens of Iraqi businessmen are expected to accompany al-Zaidi, aiming to revitalize the nation's depleted treasury.

However, the success of these efforts hinges on more than just disarming militias. Sources close to the matter revealed that al-Zaidi must also dismantle the economic infrastructure supporting these groups, remove their members from government positions, and sever Tehran's channels to Iraq's revenue-generating institutions. These points were central to Barrack's discussions in Baghdad and Erbil.

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The US president wants Iraq’s new government to become a ‘success story’

Since his government's approval, al-Zaidi has navigated a delicate balance between diminishing Iranian influence and mounting U.S. demands to curb armed factions. His administration has shown a discernible shift toward Washington. Barrack's visit signals a subtle contest between Iran, seeking to maintain its influence with minimal concessions, and the U.S., which desires to isolate the Iraq issue from broader nuclear and maritime negotiations.

Both Barrack and al-Zaidi agreed on the necessity of "complete disarmament and dissolution of all armed groups and formations operating outside the authority of the state." U.S. officials are reportedly seeking to maximize gains in Baghdad at Iran's expense, concerned about Tehran's potential to rebuild its regional influence. The U.S. president envisions Iraq's new government as a "success story," though U.S. intelligence focused on Iraq maintains a cautious outlook.

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The US president wants Iraq’s new government to become a ‘success story’