Baghdad: Independent Kurdish politician Mahmoud Othman praised the efforts of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and the head of the Supreme Judicial Council, Judge Faiq Zaidan, in combating corruption, describing the steps taken as “very good,” and expressing his hope that they would continue “to reach the big fish.”

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Othman considered al-Zaidi’s visit to the United States, his meeting with President Donald Trump and several officials, and the signing of security and economic agreements a “positive step.” However, he stressed that “implementation after his return will be difficult” for several reasons, most notably the Iranian stance on the Iraqi-American rapprochement, as well as the presence of armed factions that refuse to surrender their weapons.

Othman emphasized that “the file of security and economic agreements and investments in Iraq, and their success, is linked to the security situation and the state’s monopoly on weapons. Therefore, it is impossible to work in difficult security conditions, and this file poses a challenge to the Prime Minister.”

The Kurdish politician pointed out that “these factions, which offered a $10 million reward for the head of President Trump, sent a ‘message of defiance’ to al-Zaidi during his stay in Washington.” He indicated that “the government’s decision to set September 30 as the deadline for the withdrawal of American forces and the disarmament of the factions will face a major challenge” in implementation, predicting that the situation after that date will be “difficult.”

Othman added, “Al-Zaidi will visit Iran a few days after returning from Washington, where he will present Iraq’s position on regional developments and raise the issue of factions linked to Tehran.” He considered this visit “crucial” in the government’s handling of this matter.

He emphasized the continued “struggle for influence” in Iraq between the United States and Iran, expressing his hope that Al-Zaidi would be able to “resolve this dilemma” and that Iraq would become “strong and assert its sovereignty over everyone.”