Iraq News Posted by Tishwash at TNT 9-21-2026
TNT:
Tishwash: Al-Zaidi meets Trump in New York ahead of the end of the coalition's mission.
All eyes are on the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi to New York next Tuesday to participate in the United Nations General Assembly meetings.
During the visit, al-Zaidi is scheduled to meet with US President Donald Trump, at a time when the country is witnessing a withdrawal of coalition forces as the September 30 deadline approaches.
This visit comes at a different political juncture, as the Iraqi diplomatic move intersects with an internal debate about restricting weapons to the state and the future of the American military presence in Iraq.
Channel 8 has learned that (Al-Zaidi will visit the United States this week to attend the United Nations General Assembly meeting, where he will deliver Iraq's speech).
The visit's schedule will include meetings with Trump and the heads of several states.
The Zaidi movement embodies the strategic relations between Iraq and those countries.
Al-Zaidi will attend a meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce, as part of efforts to sustain economic and trade relations between the two countries.
September 30th represents an important sovereign milestone, which will move the relationship with Washington towards long-term economic cooperation, according to Haider Al-Aboudi.
Meanwhile, Iraqi Ambassador Krikor Der Hagopian presented his credentials to Trump as Iraq’s resident ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the United States.
Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs: The presentation of credentials ceremony took place at the White House.
The ambassador conveyed the greetings of the Iraqi government to the US president, and affirmed their pride in his appointment as ambassador to the United States.
Iraq is approaching a pivotal moment in its relationship with the United States, with the government's security advisor, Qasim al-Araji, confirming that the international coalition forces led by Washington will leave the country by the end of September, in accordance with the agreement concluded between Baghdad and Washington in 2024.
While the results of the visit remain contingent on the outcome of the political meetings and contacts, the presence of the arms issue and the relationship with the United States in the Iraqi scene makes the New York visit more than a routine diplomatic stop; it comes at a moment when international obligations intersect with internal questions related to the future of Iraq’s security and sovereign decision-making. link
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Tishwash: Al-Zaidi will speak at the United Nations about the situation in the region and the sovereignty of Iraq.
The Prime Minister’s Media Office spoke today, Monday, September 21, 2026, about Al-Zidi’s agenda for his participation in the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, explaining that he will deliver Iraq’s official speech to present Baghdad’s positions on regional crises, review the government’s steps in the files of economic reform, diversification of income sources, combating corruption, openness to investment, and affirmation of national sovereignty, in addition to holding bilateral talks with leaders and heads of international delegations to build new economic partnerships.
The media office of Al-Zaidi stated in a statement, a copy of which was received by 964 Network , that “Prime Minister Ali Falih Al-Zaidi is heading today, Monday, to New York to participate in the meetings of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, and to deliver Iraq’s speech before the representatives of the member states of the United Nations.”
During his speech, Al-Zaydi will present “Iraq’s positions on regional and international developments and crises, and the Iraqi government’s approach to addressing the economic and developmental challenges that Iraq is overcoming.”
The Prime Minister will present “the strong and prominent steps that Iraq is taking in the paths of economic reform, achieving diversification in sources of income and national output, addressing corruption, opening up to investment, and affirming national sovereignty.”
Al-Zaydi will hold “a series of bilateral meetings and discussions with a number of heads of state, heads of government, and heads of participating delegations, addressing relations between Iraq and those sisterly and friendly countries, and opportunities to build and strengthen economic cooperation, in the interest of common interests.” link
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Tishwash: After September 30th... US forces in Baghdad: this is their mission
The head of the parliamentary Reconstruction and Development bloc, Bahaa al-Araji, confirmed on Sunday that American forces will remain in Iraq to protect the American embassy, diplomatic missions and American interests, noting that this is different from the presence of the international coalition.
Al-Araji told Shafaq News Agency that Iraq agreed with the United States that September 30 would be the date for the withdrawal of the international coalition forces, but some do not distinguish between the presence of the US-led international coalition and its withdrawal, and the American presence designated to protect the embassy, diplomatic missions and American interests.
He explained that there is a difference between the presence of the international coalition led by the Americans and their withdrawal, and the American presence to protect diplomatic missions in Iraq.
Regarding the issue of weapons, Al-Araji stressed that "the decision to regulate weapons is an Iraqi decision," emphasizing that "it cannot be done in one day," but rather requires a period of time and dialogue with the armed factions.
Earlier today, Andrew Tabler, a researcher at the Washington Institute and a former official at the US National Security Council, confirmed to Shafaq News Agency that some US forces will remain after September 30 to protect the embassy in Baghdad and the consulate in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region.
September 30, 2026, is the date set for the end of the international coalition's military presence in Iraq, which some factions use as a basis for linking the future of their weapons to the withdrawal of foreign forces. link
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Tishwash: Kurdistan Presidency: Baghdad is responsible for protecting oil facilities after September 30
On Monday, the spokesperson for the Kurdistan Region Presidency, Dilshad Shahab, confirmed that the federal government will bear a great responsibility for defending Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region, after September 30, particularly in the airspace, noting that protecting the region's oil facilities is part of this responsibility.
Shahab said in a press conference, attended by a correspondent from Shafaq News Agency, that the protection of oil facilities by air in the Kurdistan Region comes in accordance with the agreement between the regional government and the federal government, noting that a major part of Iraq’s revenues comes from the region.
He explained that the threats to oil facilities in the region have had a significant and negative impact on the Iraqi economy, stressing that the issue is not only related to the Kurdistan Region, but to the Iraqi economy as a whole.
He added that the President of the Kurdistan Region and the regional government made it clear to the federal government that Kurdistan would support the protection of these oil facilities.
He noted the arrival of federal delegations to the Kurdistan Region and to the oil facilities, indicating that there is an agreement in principle with the federal government regarding the protection of the oil facilities, but he clarified that he does not know the remaining military details.
Regarding military support, Shihab said that the support provided by the coalition forces during the past period came within the agreement with the federal government, and that the date for the end of the coalition forces’ mission will come sooner or later, explaining that there is a strategic agreement between Iraq and the United States, which includes a part related to military matters.
He added that it is possible that in the future the coalition forces will not be present in their current form, but military support is not limited to a military presence on the ground.
He continued: "We heard from senior military leaders that Iraq still needs international support because of the many threats in the region," noting that unifying the Peshmerga forces was a prerequisite for the coalition forces to continue their support.
Regarding relations between the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Shihab said that he is not directly involved in this matter, but he believes that, when comparing the current situation to what it was a month ago, there has been an improvement in relations, with an exchange of views and some meetings, as well as a cessation of mutual media attacks.
Regarding the formation of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Shahab indicated that there was a "good atmosphere," stressing the need to activate the parliament, and considering that the current developments represent "good hope" for the formation of the government.
The September 30th date coincides with the deadlines related to ending the international coalition's military presence in Iraq.
In September 2024, Iraq and the United States agreed to end the military mission of the US-led international coalition against ISIS in Iraq, as part of a phased plan to move the security relationship between the two countries from the framework of the coalition to a bilateral partnership.
The first phase of the mission ended in September 2025, while forces remained in the Kurdistan Region to support operations against the organization in Syria, with the final phase to be completed by the end of September 2026.
The international coalition was formed in 2014 to assist Iraqi forces in confronting ISIS, which at the time controlled large areas of Iraq and Syria. The mission of the coalition forces later shifted primarily to training, advising, and intelligence support, while Baghdad asserts that its forces are now capable of assuming responsibility for security and pursuing the organization's cells. link