Iraqi PM secretly visits Iran following Trump phone call

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi arriving in Tehran, Iran, for an official visit on July 23, 2026. Photo: PMO Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – As part of regional mediation efforts, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi made an unexpected, secret visit to Tehran on Friday to meet with Iranian parliament speaker and senior negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. To help resolve the conflict between Iran and the United States, al-Zaidi’s short journey concentrated on diplomatic initiatives and de-escalation efforts. The visit came after a phone conversation between al-Zaidi and US President Donald Trump, with the Iraqi government attempting to prevent the country from being involved in a larger regional conflict, according to reports quoting official and media sources. Iranian officials, including top negotiator Ghalibaf, presented Tehran’s two-day plan at the discussions, stressing that Washington must respect Iran’s fundamental rights, lift sanctions, end naval blockade, and free frozen assets as part of the negotiations. Iraqi Ambassador to Iran Yasser al-Hajjaj confirmed that a recent visit to Tehran—involving an Iraqi delegation or Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi—was private and unannounced, coinciding with reports of regional diplomatic discussions.