Iraq: Al-Zaidi completes his government with members linked to factions allied with Tehran, with an American green light
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi completed his government formation by including ministers from pro-Iran factions with an implicit American green light, which included appointing Laith al-Khazali, listed on the US 'terror' list, as his deputy, in exchange for promises to disarm the factions and protect American interests.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi completed his government formation by including ministers from factions loyal to Iran, with an implicit American green light, according to what 'France Presse' agency reported from two diplomatic sources. The formation included the appointment of Laith al-Khazali, listed on the US 'terror' list, as deputy prime minister. The announcement came on Thursday evening, more than five months after al-Zaidi assumed office and pledged to confine faction weapons to the state, a key American demand. A diplomatic source in Baghdad said that al-Zaidi obtained implicit American approval during his visit to the United States in September, where he participated in UN General Assembly meetings and met with President Donald Trump. The source added that Washington turned a blind eye to the participation of factions close to Iran in the government after al-Zaidi promised to move forward with disarmament plans and provided guarantees that those groups would not attack American interests in Iraq. Laith al-Khazali is the brother of Qais, the leader of Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, and both are on the US terror list.