Government spokesperson Haider al-Aboudi announced that Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faeh al-Zaidi will lead a high-level delegation to the United States on Monday to sign key memorandums of understanding in the oil and gas sectors.

Al-Zaidi will be accompanied by several cabinet ministers, the Central Bank Governor, and private investors from the energy and banking sectors.

Channel8 earlier reported that the delegation will discuss key security, economic, and banking issues with U.S. officials, with a central focus on drawing American investments into Iraq's oil, electricity, and natural gas sectors.

Al-Zaidi previously stated that his trip to Washington is "not just a routine protocol visit" and that Iraq "prioritizes American companies" as it actively pivots from military to economic ties. 

Al-Aboudi: Al-Zaidi's US Visit to Prioritize Balanced Ties 

Al-Aboudi told a press conference on Sunday that the visit aims to build balanced foreign relations based on mutual interests, noting that al-Zaidi will hold crucial meetings with President Trump and financial institutions to turn these dialogues into real progress.

He stressed that the visit aims to strengthen ties with Washington, with discussions focusing primarily on developing economic and investment relations.

Al-Aboudi highlighted that the visit aims to boost Iraq's regional presence by prioritizing talks with the U.S. on economic cooperation, development, and investment in the energy, trade, and technology sectors.

Economic Partnership and Focus on Energy and Framework Integrity

The spokesperson noted that unlike previous visits, "its primary theme is the economy," emphasizing that all new agreements will remain fully based on the existing Strategic Framework Agreement.

He emphasized that upcoming Iraq-U.S. energy agreements will bring in specialized American firms to boost oil and gas production and build alternative export routes to avoid the Strait of Hormuz crisis.

Haider al-Aboudi further emphasized that the bilateral dynamic will transition from "crisis management to a long-term economic partnership."