ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi on Monday received US envoy to Iraq Tom Barrack, with the pair stressing the need to ensure “the complete disarmament and disbandment” of non-state armed groups, reiterating both Washington and Baghdad’s commitment toward that end.

Barrack met with the Iraqi premier after arriving in Baghdad on Monday, where he conveyed that US President Donald Trump “looks forward to welcoming” Zaidi to the White House mid-July “to discuss the future of this important relationship,” according to a joint statement released on Tuesday.

Zaidi, since his election into office in May, has enjoyed staunch US support. Trump personally congratulated him over a phone call, expressing his anticipation for a "highly productive" new bilateral relationship and extending an invitation for him to visit Washington following the formation of a government.

Zaidi and Barrack “discussed the shared aspirational vision for the Iraqi government to build a brighter future free from terrorism, to implement Iraqi plans for ensuring the complete disarmament and disbandment of all armed groups and formations operating outside the authority of the Iraqi state.”

The confinement of weapons within the authority of the Iraqi state has emerged as one of the central objectives of Zaidi’s government program.

Several pro-Iran Iraqi factions have already announced their willingness to hand over weapons, and integrate into the state security apparatus, with some also declaring willingness to sever their ties with the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).

The pair stressed the importance for the Iraqi state to “assert full sovereignty in order to keep Iraq away from conflict and ensure that Iraqi territory cannot be used by any side to threaten regional peace.”

They also discussed the need to further strengthen Iraq and the US’ trade relationship, commending an Iraqi decision to “finalize the operating license for Starlink to offer worldclass internet services for Iraqi consumers,” among a set of other strides taken by the two countries, including launching negotiations with Chevron to develop certain Iraqi oil fields.

The two sides reaffirmed their “shared commitment” to increase commercial cooperation to address Iraq’s electricity needs, as the country has historically struggled to meet energy demands, especially in sweltering summer heat.

Barrack was appointed as Special Presidential Envoy to Iraq by Trump In late May. The US president also renewed the diplomat’s role as Special Presidential Envoy to Syria while keeping him as US Ambassador to Turkey.

The US diplomat is set to travel to Erbil on Tuesday and meet with leaders from the Kurdistan Region on the second leg of his visit.

Barrack will reportedly meet with President Masoud Barzani as well as Prime Minister Masrour Barzani during his visit to the Kurdistan Region, among other Kurdish leaders.