BAGHDAD, July 13 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi departed for Washington on Monday with a government and economic delegation, as Baghdad seeks to attract investment in its energy sector.
In a post on his X account, al-Zaidi said the goal is "to attract investment, transfer expertise, diversify the economy, and create jobs -- advancing development and reinforcing Iraq's position as a trusted partner and an active contributor to regional stability and prosperity."
During the visit, Iraq and the United States are scheduled to sign several memoranda of understanding in the oil and gas sectors, Iraqi government spokesperson Haider al-Aboudi said on Sunday.
Zaidi's trip to Washington marks his first overseas visit since taking office in May this year. The trip occurs amid ongoing regional tensions between Washington and Tehran, which saw direct retaliatory strikes. ■
