Iraq joins Trump-GCC talks in New York focused on Iran

US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi during a meeting at the White House in Washington, DC, on July 14, 2026. Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) — Iraq will participate in high-level meetings between US President Donald Trump and Arab leaders in New York this week, placing Baghdad at the center of regional debates over Iran, armed groups, and the future of the Middle East war. The conference will take place on the fringes of the United Nations General Assembly, and officials from Gulf nations, Iraq, and Jordan are likely to attend, according to The National. Egypt is also scheduled to participate. The negotiations take place at a very difficult time for Iraq. The US-led coalition will conclude its military operation in Iraq on September 30, marking a significant shift in Baghdad’s security relationship with Washington. The future of strong Iran-aligned Iraqi militias is also anticipated to play a significant role. Prime Minister Ali Falih Al-Zaidi has been working to put weaponry under state control, although numerous powerful forces have opposed disarmament. The problem has grown more pressing as drones fired from Iraqi territory recently targeted Saudi Arabia, putting further pressure on Baghdad to prevent armed organizations from pulling Iraq into the larger conflict between Iran and its regional enemies. Trump’s meetings with Arab leaders are anticipated to be mainly focused on the battle with Iran and Tehran’s regional network, which includes the Houthis in Yemen, whose recent strikes on Saudi Arabia have further destabilized the region. Trump has said that he is reaching a key decision on the course of the Iran issue and is seeking feedback from regional states. Al-Zaidi is traveling to New York to address the UN General Assembly and meet with Trump as Iraq aims to redefine its relationship with Washington around investment and economic cooperation in the aftermath of the coalition pullout. The meeting follows Al-Zaidi’s visit to the United States earlier this year, during which Baghdad inked substantial deals with American corporations and encouraged investment in Iraq’s energy, infrastructure, technology, and other areas. The New York meetings come as Baghdad seeks to keep Iraq out of the escalating regional conflict while shifting its relationship with the United States from military cooperation to longer-term economic ties.