Trump Uses Iraq to Send Peace Proposals to Iran

President Donald Trump has requested that Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi convey peace proposals to Tehran to end the war. During telephone conversations, Trump expressed approval of proposals presented by al-Zaidi and asked Iraq to serve as a mediator. These diplomatic efforts coincide with plans for U.S. official JD Vance and Iranian General Rezaei to meet in Qatar next week. The news triggered a market reaction, with S&P 500 futures rising and oil prices dropping by more than $3.

These overtures follow the disclosure of a leaked U.S. war plan presented to Trump, which outlines three military scenarios for a conflict with Iran. Prime Minister al-Zaidi informed political allies that two of these scenarios involve the use of Iraqi territory: one envisioning U.S. ground forces entering southern Iran's oil-rich Khuzestan province via Iraq, and another suggesting Iran might pressure Baghdad to allow an incursion into Kuwait from Iraqi soil.

During a visit to Tehran on Friday, al-Zaidi met with Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who emphasized that the United States must respect Iranian rights to move forward with negotiations. Meanwhile, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein warned armed groups against participating in Iranian retaliation, as Baghdad continues to struggle with pressure from Washington to disarm Iran-backed factions and close border crossings.