Iraq’s Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi will visit Washington on Monday to deepen strategic ties with the US, with oil and gas deals expected to be signed as part of a broader push for economic, trade and investment cooperation.

Iraq has been seeking to balance its ties with neighbouring Iran and the US as military escalation between the two rivals continues. Government spokesperson Haider al-Aboudi said the planned oil and gas agreements would also seek to create alternative export outlets to reduce Iraq’s exposure to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.