Iraq has a new prime minister, Ali al-Zaidi, after almost six months of uncertainty, which started with the elections in November 2025. Since then, the political parties have not been able to decide on a pick for the prime minister.
Iraq’s prime minister is chosen by Shi’ite political parties to reflect the fact that Shi’ites are the largest group in Iraq, while the Kurds receive the presidency.
The autonomous Kurdistan Region is now hoping the new prime minister will bring some stability.
This comes after the Kurdistan Region was targeted by around 800 drone and missile attacks after the US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Both Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Iran itself carried out attacks on the Kurdistan Region.
Many of the attacks targeted Kurdish Iranian political parties that have members in exile in northern Iraq. The PDKI party, for instance, says it was attacked over the last few days and says it has suffered around 114 attacks since February.
Zaidi meets with Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Barzani
On May 2, Rudaw media in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, noted that “Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi arrived in Erbil on Saturday, where he was received at the airport by Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, as part of efforts to advance talks on forming a new federal government with Kurdish leaders.”
This is an important meeting. The US and Iran, which have been unable to agree on a deal, have both welcomed the new Iraqi prime minister-designate. Zaidi may visit Washington.
“Zaidi later met President Masoud Barzani, leader of the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), with government formation taking center stage. The two sides emphasized “the importance of unifying visions and positions and working to form a strong government capable of confronting challenges and overcoming crises,” according to a statement from the Iraqi prime minister’s media office,” Rudaw noted.
The report added that “they also agreed that the next government must contribute to ‘strengthening stability and development and fulfilling the aspirations of all the Iraqi people.’”
Much remains to be done. Iraq needs to find a way to rein in the Iranian-backed militias that are very powerful in Iraq. These groups have their own bases and weapons. They are also technically part of the state as a paramilitary force called the Popular Mobilization Forces. They are, therefore, both part of the state and also attacking the state. The US has offered rewards for three leaders of the PMF militias. It has also listed most of them as terrorist groups.
Rudaw noted that while in the Kurdistan Region, “Zaidi is scheduled to meet Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, as well as Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, during his visit to Erbil.” These are important meetings with key Kurdish KDP party leaders.
He will also go to Sulaimani, where he is meeting with Bafel Talabani, head of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK). Many issues remain in the Kurdish region. The PUK and KDP don’t get along. They both want ministries and influence in Baghdad. The KDP has been angered by the fact that a PUK-linked politician was chosen as Iraq’s next president. There are other issues afoot as well because PUK is perceived as closer to Iran.
