Iraq has set a date for the complete withdrawal of U.S. troops

U.S. troops are to withdraw completely from Iraq by September 30. Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi made this announcement during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington.

Previously, about 2,500 U.S. troops had been deployed to Iraq to participate in operations against the Islamic State, but their numbers have decreased in recent months. Donald Trump noted at the White House that the military presence there is no longer necessary.

The Iraqi government links the completion of the troop withdrawal to the disarmament of Iranian-backed armed groups. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi emphasized that after September 30, no armed group will be allowed to operate outside state control, adding that American companies will replace U.S. troops.

The main goal of the Iraqi prime minister’s visit to Washington is to attract investment in the country’s oil, gas, and energy sectors. During a meeting in the Oval Office, the parties announced the conclusion of an economic partnership agreement. In addition, an agreement is planned to be signed between Iraq, Chevron, TI Capital, and the Qatari company UCC to build an oil pipeline with a capacity of 2 million barrels per day, which will connect Basra with Haditha and continue on to ports in Turkey and Syria.

Iraq has suspended operations at its oil terminals following Iran’s attack on tankers.

Iraq is working to restore an abandoned oil pipeline that will allow oil to be transported from the city of Kirkuk directly to the Turkish port of Ceyhan, bypassing the territory of Kurdistan.