Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi speaks during a parliamentary session to vote in a new government headed by Ali al-Zaidi as prime minister at the parliament headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq, May 14. Reuters-Yonhap
BAGHDAD — Iraq's prime minister will visit Washington on Monday to deepen strategic ties with the United States, with oil and gas deals expected to be signed as part of a broader push for economic, trade and investment cooperation.
Iraq has been seeking to balance its ties with neighbouring Iran and the U.S. as military escalation between the two rivals continues.
"The agreements to be signed will include several memorandums of understanding in the oil and gas sector as Iraq prepares to bring in various U.S. companies that will provide momentum to increase oil production capacity," government spokesperson Haider al-Aboudi said.
Iraq's state news agency, citing al-Aboudi, said the planned oil and gas agreements would also seek to create alternative export outlets to reduce Iraq's exposure to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
