Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi to hold talks with Rubio, Hegseth

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is expected to hold a series of meetings later this week with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and executives from major American energy companies to discuss expanding security and economic cooperation, Al-Monitor reports, citing sources.

Sources said the talks will include discussions on additional security guarantees to be provided by Baghdad for US energy companies operating in Iraq.

The disarmament of radical groups operating in various parts of the country is also expected to feature prominently on the agenda.

Earlier, the office of US President Donald Trump announced a scheduled meeting between the US leader and the Iraqi prime minister on Tuesday.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov