Zaidi’s first test in balancing American and Iranian pressure

Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi returned to Baghdad on Sunday after concluding his five-day visit to the United States. The trip was deemed a success in terms of the goals Zaidi planned to achieve in Washington, even if it is too early to determine the extent of its accomplishments. That perception is important because the visit has received both praise from some political factions and rejection from others. As a result, Zaidi now needs to manage relations with Iran while also taking advantage of the deals signed in the United States.