America’s other battle with Iran
The two countries are vying for influence in Iraq.
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US President Donald Trump (right) and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on July 14.
PHOTO: EPA
The Economist
While America and Iran battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz, another contest between the two is unfolding on land in Iraq. On paper, America appears to have the upper hand. Iraq’s new Prime Minister, Ali al-Zaidi, chose Washington for his first foreign trip, ahead of Iran.
Unlike previous Shia prime ministers, Zaidi is no Islamist, but a businessman with no previous political experience who grew rich from government contracts. He arrived in Washington on July 13 with promises to disarm Iran-backed militias in Iraq and stem the flow of Iraqi dollars into Iran. He also brought a large business delegation offering a raft of prospective deals.