Iraq’s prime minister carries the title, but not the power

Author: Jasim Al-AzzawiPublished on: July 15, 2026Country: Iraq

PoliticsWorld / International

Iraq’s prime minister carries the title, but not the power

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi met Donald Trump on July 14, 2026, but wields little real power. He was chosen in 25 minutes by the Shia Coordination Framework under US pressure. The US Treasury froze Iraq's dollar shipments, forcing Nouri al-Maliki to abandon his bid. Real power in Baghdad lies with Tom Barrack, US ambassador and envoy, who controls Iraq's oil revenues held at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

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