Washington: US troops are set to fully withdraw from Iraq by September 30, according to the country's prime minister, Ali al-Zaidi, who met with President Donald Trump in Washington. The withdrawal is linked to the disarmament of influential Iran-backed militias in Iraq.

According to Deutsche Welle, Trump stated that the US military presence in Iraq is no longer necessary. Previously, about 2,500 US troops were stationed in Iraq, engaging in counter-Islamic State operations, but those numbers have decreased in recent months. Al-Zaidi's government has made the planned US withdrawal contingent on the disarming of powerful Iran-backed militias. "On September 30th, American forces will leave, and American companies will enter," Zaidi mentioned. He further stated that after September 30, Iraq would not allow any entity to bear arms outside the state.

The primary focus of al-Zaidi's visit to Washington is to secure significant US investment in Iraq's oil, gas, and power sectors. During the meeting at the Oval Office, al-Zaidi hinted at an impending announcement of an "economic partnership" between the two nations. Trump highlighted Iraq's potential, primarily due to its oil resources, and expressed intentions to engage in numerous deals. He emphasized job creation for both countries and the extraction of oil, although he did not provide specific details.

Two Iraqi officials indicated that Iraq, along with Chevron, TI Capital, and Qatar's UCC, is set to sign an agreement on Friday to construct a 2 million-barrel-per-day oil pipeline. This pipeline will connect Basra to Haditha and extend to ports in Turkey and Syria.