{"id":2629883,"date":"2026-07-15T07:01:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T11:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-tries-to-secure-middle-east-alliances-in-battle-against-iran\/"},"modified":"2026-07-15T07:07:35","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T11:07:35","slug":"trump-tries-to-secure-middle-east-alliances-in-battle-against-iran","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-tries-to-secure-middle-east-alliances-in-battle-against-iran\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump tries to secure Middle East alliances in battle against Iran"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrump-tries-to-secure-middle-east-alliances-in-battle-against-iran%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2629883&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>President Donald Trump is actively strengthening his relationships with Middle Eastern leaders amidst rising tensions with iran,especially as the end of their previous agreement. His management&#8217;s focus is on diminishing Iran&#8217;s regional influence by forming new economic partnerships and pressuring its allies. During a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al Zaidi, Trump praised Iraq&#8217;s efforts and announced upcoming oil deals, indicating deepening economic ties that could reduce Iran\u2019s sway in Iraq, although experts acknowledge Iran remains embedded in iraqi politics. <\/p>\n<p>Additionally, Trump announced plans to replace a planned 20% fee on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz with expanded trade and investment agreements with Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait.This strategy aims to weaken Iran through economic means while consolidating regional alliances. Trump also reportedly urged Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to withdraw forces from Syria and Lebanon, where Iran-backed Hezbollah operates, to prevent further conflict.<\/p>\n<p>The US president emphasized that Iran has become increasingly isolated regionally and globally, with the main tool against Iran being a naval blockade. While efforts to push Iran out of its regional influence continue, experts note the challenge remains critically important due to Iran&#8217;s deep integration within Iraqi government and militia groups. the approach combines military pressure with economic diplomacy to diminish Iran\u2019s power and stabilize the Middle East, aligning regional nations behind these efforts.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> is boosting his relationships with key leaders in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/middle-east\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"102\">Middle East<\/a> as hostilities with <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iran\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"100\">Iran<\/a> have increased following the end of the memorandum of understanding between the two nations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The administration\u2019s strategy is centered on weakening Iran\u2019s regional influence by pairing new economic partnerships with pressure on Tehran\u2019s closest allies. The strategy was evident Tuesday during a bilateral meeting with <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iraq\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"101\">Iraqi<\/a> Prime Minister Ali al Zaidi when Trump heaped praise upon the foreign leader, teased a future oil deal, and warned that Iran was losing its effectiveness as the war continues.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4647717\/trump-backtrack-strait-tax-gulf-pressure\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Gulf allies\u2019 backroom pressure campaign forces Trump to reverse tax on Strait of Hormuz<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/foreign-policy\/4645956\/marco-rubio-isolate-international-criminal-court\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Rubio launches effort to isolate \u2018radical and extreme\u2019 ICC<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/foreign-policy\/4645290\/lindsey-graham-death-foreign-policy-ukraine\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Graham\u2019s reputation as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/graham-opponent-annie-andrews-appeals-to-voters-as-democrats-see-hope\/\" title=\"Graham opponent Annie Andrews appeals to voters as Democrats see hope\">major foreign policy voice exemplified<\/a> by final day in Ukraine<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI just want to say it\u2019s a great honor to have the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/uk-govt-lockdown-to-last-12-months-expect-repeated-vaccinations\/\" title=\"UK Govt: Lockdown to Last 12+ Months, Expect Repeated Vaccinations\">prime minister<\/a> of Iraq with us,\u201d Trump said in his opening remarks. \u201cHe\u2019s been a great fighter, and he\u2019s been a great fan of America.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump also alluded to Energy Secretary Chris Wright taking the lead in announcing an oil deal with Iraq on Friday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIn a short period of time, he\u2019s changed that country so much, especially toward their thinking about the United States, and we have partnerships,\u201d Trump said while speaking of al Zaidi. \u201cChris was just saying we have tremendous oil partnerships all of a sudden being formed over the last short period of time, and I guess you\u2019re going to be announcing them this week or next week.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An expanded energy partnership would further <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-backed-candidate-nasry-asfura-wins-honduras-election\/\" title=\"...-backed candidate Nasry Asfura wins Honduras election\">deepen economic ties<\/a> between Washington and Baghdad and could help undercut the global reliance on Iranian oil.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump and al Zaidi also announced that on Sept. 30, U.S. forces will have left Iraq while U.S. companies will remain inside the country with a focus on the economy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIn Iraq, I think the administration definitely sees an opportunity here to create some space,\u201d said David Schenker, former U.S. assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs. \u201cWe\u2019ve got a prime minister who is saying all the right things about disarming the militia, signing big business deals with Washington already, Chevron, Halliburton.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Chevron is reportedly negotiating two Iraqi oil fields, while Halliburton recently secured a contract with Iraq\u2019s Basra Oil Company. These actions help to limit Iran\u2019s influence over Iraq.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yet Schenker also cautioned that despite Trump\u2019s efforts, \u201cit\u2019s going to be a hard endeavor\u201d to completely ice out Iran.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBasically, Iran is embedded in the Iraqi government, and the leading coalition of the government is comprised of Iranian-backed militia that don\u2019t want to give up their weapons,\u201d said Schenker, who is now a Taube Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute and director of the Linda and Tony Rubin Program on Arab Politics.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Iraq, however, is only one piece of a broader regional strategy that has emerged in recent days.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just before Tuesday\u2019s bilateral meeting, Trump announced on Truth Social that he would replace the 20% fee the United States had planned to charge for protecting shipping through the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/strait-of-hormuz\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"21488\">Strait of Hormuz<\/a> with expanded trade and investment agreements from Gulf partners.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThose Investments will be MASSIVE but, at the same time, extraordinarily good for them, and their future,\u201d he <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/@realDonaldTrump\/posts\/116918941071241802\">wrote on Truth Social<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump singled out <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/saudi-arabia\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"590\">Saudi Arabia<\/a>, the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/uae\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1666\">United Arab Emirates<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/qatar\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1398\">Qatar<\/a>, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bahrain\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"3266\">Bahrain<\/a>, and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kuwait\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1940\">Kuwait<\/a> as several nations that \u201cwould love to invest more money in the United States at record amounts, and that would be very acceptable.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The announcement illustrates how the administration is attempting to pair military pressure on Iran with deeper economic integration among Washington\u2019s Gulf partners, reducing Tehran\u2019s leverage while strengthening U.S. influence.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The president also <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2026\/07\/14\/trump-netanyahu-syria-lebanon-redeploy\">reportedly pressured<\/a> Israeli Prime Minister <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/benjamin-netanyahu\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"378\">Benjamin Netanyahu<\/a> to remove forces from <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/syria\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"109\">Syria<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/lebanon\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1192\">Lebanon<\/a>, where the Iran-backed <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/hezbollah\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"814\">Hezbollah<\/a> is stationed, last week. \u201cThey don\u2019t want you there. You should redeploy,\u201d Trump told Netanyahu, according to <em>Axios<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether Netanyahu follows through remains unclear, but the reported request signals Trump\u2019s desire to prevent the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/israel\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"219\">Israel<\/a>-Hezbollah conflict from expanding as the administration focuses on Iran.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump\u2019s actions \u201cprobably reflect exactly where the president\u2019s at \u2026 he thinks that Israeli presence is destabilizing and undermining,\u201d Schenker said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2026\/07\/13\/trump-bin-salman-houthis-yemen\">also reportedly<\/a> gave his approval to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman to act against the Iran-backed <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/houthis\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"5106\">Houthis<\/a> in Yemen.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump\u2019s comments underscored the administration\u2019s belief that weakening Iran politically and economically is as important as degrading its military capabilities.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe Middle East, believe it or not, is coming together,\u201d Trump said. \u201cWe are getting rid of the bully of the Middle East. Iran was the bully of the Middle East. They bullied Iraq. They bullied every country.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThere was fear all over the Middle East with other countries. I understand that, but there was fear,\u201d Trump continued. \u201cBut there\u2019s no fear anymore because their military capability has been knocked to hell.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The White House also emphasized that the Gulf nations are standing behind the U.S. in opposition to Iran ever obtaining nuclear capabilities that would destabilize their region.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIran is more isolated than ever before as they lash out against their innocent neighbors who bear no involvement in the current conflict,\u201d said Anna Kelly, a White House spokesperson. \u201cIn contrast, the United States is stronger than ever before and bolstered by our partnerships with allies in the region. As President Trump has emphasized for the past year, Iran can never have a nuclear weapon, and Gulf countries agree as the entire world is watching Iran\u2019s erratic, indiscriminate attacks in real-time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4647717\/trump-backtrack-strait-tax-gulf-pressure\/\">GULF ALLIES\u2019 BACKROOM PRESSURE CAMPAIGN FORCES TRUMP TO REVERSE TAX ON STRAIT OF HORMUZ<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So far, the most effective tool in Trump\u2019s arsenal against Iran is the naval blockade. But \u201cthe Iranians are going to try and drag this out,\u201d Schenker said. \u201cThey\u2019re willing to absorb a great deal of punishment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And as the U.S. and Tehran trade strikes, \u201cwe\u2019re still in the same situation we were in six or eight weeks ago,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump boosts Middle East ties to counter Iran&#8217;s influence<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2658,"featured_media":2629884,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26195601008012.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[20168,32404,3823,32726,3634],"class_list":["post-2629883","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-alliances","tag-geopolitics","tag-iran","tag-middle-east","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP26195601008012.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2629883","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2658"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2629883"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2629883\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2629887,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2629883\/revisions\/2629887"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2629884"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2629883"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2629883"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2629883"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}