Iraqi PM looking forward to visiting the White House before the end of the year
The Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani is looking forward to visiting the White House before the end of the year, officials close to him said on Friday.
US President Joe Biden extended an invitation to visit Washington to Sudani after meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in New York on Monday. Although local media outlets reported that the visit is expected to take place before the end of 2023, Iraq did not disclose the official date of the visit.
Due to the Baghdad government's close ties with Tehran, close associates of the PM said the visit would "open the door wide for Iraq to the international community."
Following news of the invitation, Tehran exerted a lot of pressure on the Iraqi delegation in New York.
Pro-Iran Shiite factions in Baghdad have many questions and fears that need to be addressed by Sudani.
Sudani will head to the White House with several issues raised by his allies, whom Washington disapproves of.
Iranian delegations attending the General Assembly met with Iraqi officials traveling with Sudani to New York. According to local media, the Iranians made a list of demands the PM should deliver to the Americans as a result of his visit to the White House.
It is not clear if the Iraqi PM will act as a communicator for Iran.
Among their demands is removing American restrictions on Baghdad that prevent it from paying financial dues to Tehran and urging Iraqis to end American troop deployment in the country.
He said the situation in Iraq "required a delicate approach" from the Iranians.
According to members of the pro-Iran Coordination Framework, Sudani will be met with more pressure from Shiite factions once he returns to Baghdad.
The political forces will provide Sudani with great support before and during his visit to the White House because Iraq needs the Americans, given its dollar crisis.
However, it is important to note that not all Shiites, particularly those aligned with Iran, will support the PM's visit. They will ask him questions relating to the United States military plans regarding the border between Iraq and Syria. They will also ask him about the freedom of American navigation in Iraqi skies.
No one wants the Shiite visit to be canceled, even though there are contradictions among them. Instead, they see it as an opportunity to remove the pressure the Baghdad government has been under for months, and they will want to exploit it for Iran, even if it means undermining and embarrassing Sudani.
As a result of pressure from Iran and its allies, Sudani has to strike a difficult balance between his government's interests in the international community and its interests. According to an Iraqi politician who works closely with the PM, he will want to appear trustworthy before the Americans, but he will not make long-term commitments to them.
