Iraqi PM secretly visits Tehran 'at Trump's request' in bid to ease tension

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi made an unannounced visit to Tehran last week, in an effort to ease tensions between Iraq, Iran, and the United States. The trip, which took place on Friday, was reportedly requested by US President Donald Trump, according to Iraq's ambassador to Tehran, Yasir Abdul Zahra Al Hajjaj. The mission aimed to reduce tension and prevent the conflict from escalating, according to a government official who spoke to The National.

During his brief visit, Mr. Al Zaidi met with Iran's parliament speaker and chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. The meeting, as reported by Fars News Agency, focused solely on Iraq's role in resolving the conflict between Iran and the US. Afterwards, Ghalibaf thanked the Iraqi side for its efforts and outlined Iran's two-day proposal, stating that negotiations could only progress if the US respected Iran's rights under the proposal.

Iraq has historically played a role as a mediator between Tehran and Washington, leveraging its close ties to both countries and its interest in avoiding the negative consequences of another war on its own territory.