Trump hosts Iraq PM as Sept. 30 militia disarm deadline nears
What's new: Baghdad tied the future of Iran-backed armed groups to a Sept. 30 deadline as Washington weighs its support.
President Donald Trump welcomed Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi to the White House on Tuesday as both sides pushed a new economic partnership and weighed Iraq's effort to curb Iran-backed militias. The visit was al-Zaidi's first trip abroad since taking office. In Oval Office remarks, Trump praised the Iraqi leader, whom he had backed during months of political deadlock in Baghdad. Al-Zaidi said non-state armed groups would have no justification to exist after Sept. 30, the deadline Iraq has set for disarmament. The meeting came as Washington presses Baghdad to reduce Tehran's influence after attacks on U.S. bases and diplomatic sites during the U.S.-Israel war against Iran.