# Iraqi PM Conducts Secret Tehran Visit Following Trump Warning Baghdad seeks to prevent regional conflict after US pressure regarding armed factions. - **Source:** [The New Arab](https://www.newarab.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-09 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/20aae7bb-b247-4605-9f27-3c3878a47994 ## Unannounced Diplomatic Mission Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi conducted a surprise visit to Tehran this past Friday. He met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf to discuss regional security. The delegation included key figures like Falih al-Fayyadh and Hadi al-Amiri, signaling the high-stakes nature of these urgent bilateral talks. ## Pressure From Washington The visit followed a stern telephone warning from US President Donald Trump to al-Zaidi on Thursday. Trump, joined by envoy Tom Barrack, demanded that Baghdad take concrete steps to bring all armed factions under state control. Washington is explicitly pressuring Iraq to prevent these groups from engaging in any future military confrontation. ## Internal Security Challenges Baghdad faces the difficult task of managing powerful Iran-aligned armed groups operating within its borders. These factions often function outside official state institutions, creating significant instability. The Iraqi government is now under immense pressure to neutralize these independent military activities to avoid becoming a primary target in a wider regional conflict. ## Tehran's Negotiating Stance During the meetings, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, acting as Iran's chief negotiator, outlined Tehran's position regarding potential agreements. He emphasized that any deal must respect Iran's rights while acknowledging Iraq's diplomatic efforts. Despite these discussions, reports indicate the visit failed to produce any immediate outcome that would be considered acceptable by the US administration. ## Previous Diplomatic Precedents This visit follows a prior trip by al-Zaidi to Tehran on July 23, where he reaffirmed the strategic necessity of bilateral cooperation. During that earlier engagement, he pledged that Iraq would not allow its territory to be used as a launching point for attacks against Iran, highlighting the delicate balance Baghdad maintains. ## Strategic Balancing Act Iraq is attempting to shield itself from the consequences of a renewed US-Iran conflict by maintaining relations with both capitals. The presence of Iran-aligned factions complicates this strategy, as Washington views their autonomy as a direct threat. Baghdad must now decide how to implement practical measures to satisfy US security demands. ## Regional Escalation Risks The primary objective of the Iraqi government is to prevent the country from being drawn into a broader regional war. By engaging in these high-level talks, al-Zaidi hopes to mitigate the risk of Iraq becoming a battlefield. The situation remains volatile as the government struggles to assert authority over its own armed groups. ## Future Diplomatic Outlook The failure to reach a concrete outcome in Tehran suggests that the diplomatic path remains fraught with difficulty. Iraq's ability to navigate these competing pressures will determine its stability in the coming months. Observers should monitor whether Baghdad takes tangible steps to curb the influence of Iran-aligned factions as demanded by Washington. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.newarab.com/news/iraqi-pm-makes-secret-iran-visit-after-trump-warning-baghdad — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._