The Iraq Dialogue

The Iraq Dialogue will convene senior policymakers and experts to examine Iraq’s strategic role in a changing Middle East and the future of the US–Iraq partnership.

Event recap Research Agenda

Hosted by the Iraq Initiative, the Iraq Dialogue is the premier forum in Washington, DC, for examining Iraq’s role in the Middle East and the strategic choices shaping its future. The conference features a full-day public program bringing together policymakers, regional officials, and experts to assess Iraq’s political and economic transformation, its relationships with neighboring states and global partners, and the internal and external constraints shaping Iraq’s ability to navigate regional competition, economic reform, and institutional recovery.

If interested in sponsorship or speaking opportunities, please reach out to Nibras Basitkey at nbasitkey@atlanticcouncil.org.

Speakers

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Public Event Wed, May 13, 2026 • 9:00 am ET

The 2026 Iraq Dialogue

This full-day conference brought together senior officials from Iraq alongside US policymakers, business leaders, and regional experts.
Geopolitics & Energy Security Iraq Middle East Politics & Diplomacy

Agenda

8:30–9:00 a.m. | Networking breakfast and arrival 

Pastries and coffee in the Sky Lobby.

9:00–9:10 a.m. | Welcome remarks  

Featuring

Victoria Taylor
Director of the Iraq Initiative & Syria Project,
Atlantic Council

9:10–9:15 a.m. | Opening remarks 

Featuring

Jenna Ben-Yehuda
Executive Vice President,
Atlantic Council 

9:15–10:35 a.m. | The future of US-Iraq relationship 

Speakers

Abbas Al-Ameri
Secretary General,
Coordination Framework and State Administration Alliance

Hoshyar Zebari
Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq & Special Advisor to Masoud Barzani,,
Kurdistan Democratic Party

Ambassador James Jeffrey
Former Deputy National Security Advisor;
Philip Solodz Distinguished Fellow,
The Washington Institute

Victoria Taylor
Director of the Iraq Initiative and Syria Project,
Atlantic Council 

Moderated by

Vivian Salama
Staff Writer,
The Atlantic

10:35–11:55 a.m. | Transforming Iraq’s energy economy

Speakers

Raad Alkadiri
Managing Partner,
3TEN32 Associates, LLC

Ziad Daoud
Chief Economist,
Bloomberg  

Dunia Chalabi
Managing Director and Company Representative in Iraq,
TotalEnergies

Majid Jafar
Chief Executive Officer,
Crescent Petroleum 

Moderated by

Geoffrey Pyatt
Distinguished Fellow, Global Energy Center,
Atlantic Council;
Senior Managing Director, Energy and Critical Minerals,
McLarty Associates

11:55 a.m.–1:10 p.m. | Government formation in Iraq’s new political landscape

Speakers

Akeel Abbas
Nonresident Senior Fellow, Iraq Initiative,
Atlantic Council

Lahib Higel
Senior Analyst for Iraq,
International Crisis Group

Ali Taher Al-Hamood
Managing Director,
Al-Bayan Center for Planning and Studies

Hemin Hawrami
Former Deputy Speaker of  the Kurdistan Parliament,
Kurdistan Regional Government 

Moderated by

Omar Al-Nidawi
Nonresident Senior Fellow, Iraq  Initiative,
Atlantic Council   

1:10–2:10 p.m. | Lunch break 

Please join us for lunch. 

2:10–3:25 p.m. | Iraq in the region

Speakers

Mina al-Oraibi
Editor-in-Chief,
The National

Renad Mansour
Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa Program
and Director of the Iraq Initiative,
Chatham House

Ambassador Alina Romanowski
Former US Ambassador to Iraq and
Kuwait & Distinguished Fellow,
Atlantic Council

Qubad Talabani
Deputy Prime Minister,
Kurdistan Regional Government 

Moderated by

Ambassador Jonathan Wilks
Former Ambassador to Qatar, Iraq, Oman, and Yemen
& Distinguished Senior Fellow, Transatlantic Project,
Atlantic Council 

3:25–4:25 p.m. | Building Iraq’s future: Civil Society, entrepreneurship, and innovation

Speakers

Saif Aljaibeiji
General Partner,
Urth Capital 

Yazen Altimimi
Chief Executive Officer,
ZainCash

Zainab Jawad
Lawyer and Human Rights Activist,
Independent

Bilal Wahab
President,
American University of Iraq, Sulaimani 

Moderator

Marsin Alshamary
Assistant Professor,
Boston  College 

4:25–5:00 p.m. | Fireside chat

Featuring

Ahmed Albasheer
Host and Director,
Albasheer show

Moderated by

Safwan al-Amin
Nonresident Senior Fellow, Iraq Initiative,
Atlantic Council

5:00–5:05 p.m. | Final remarks & acknowledgements 

Featuring

Victoria Taylor
Director of the Iraq Initiative and Syria Project,
Atlantic Council

5:00–6:30 p.m. | Reception

Please join us for a reception featuring light refreshments and a live performance by an oud musician.

Previous Conferences

Public Event Tue, October 15, 2024 • 9:00 am ET

The trajectory of Iraq’s recovery, development, and global partnerships

A conference exploring the key challenges and opportunities in advancing the Iraqi energy sector, efforts toward sustainable economic diversification, and the evolving trajectory of US-Iraqi relations.
Energy Markets & Governance Politics & Diplomacy
Public Event Thu, October 26, 2023 • 9:00 am ET

Balancing global engagement and domestic growth: Iraq’s future in an evolving landscape

A conference exploring the key challenges and opportunities confronting Iraq’s future generations, particularly Iraq’s rising role in the international arena and the dire impact of climate change on the country.

Economy & Business Energy & Environment Iraq Middle East
Public Event Tue, October 25, 2022 • 5:00 am ET

Turmoil and transition: Iraq twenty years after the invasion

A conference exploring Iraq’s past two decades of change and upheaval and the key challenges and opportunities confronting future generations in Iraq.
Economy & Business Energy & Environment Iraq Middle East

Research

The Iraq Dialogue

New Atlanticist Nov 14, 2025

Experts react: How will Iraq’s parliamentary election shape the country’s politics?

By Atlantic Council experts

Our experts examine what the results of Tuesday’s elections mean for the future of Iraqi politics and Baghdad’s regional role.
Civil Society Democratic Transitions
The Iraq Dialogue

Dispatches Nov 10, 2025

Dispatch from Baghdad: Don’t confuse the calm around Iraq’s election with stability

By Yerevan Saeed

Iraqi society faces several slow-burning stressors, from water and climate problems to over-centralization and narcotics trafficking.
Democratic Transitions Elections
The Iraq Dialogue

Trackers and Data Visualizations Nov 9, 2025

Tracking Iraq’s 2025 elections and coalition building

By Victoria J. Taylor, Nibras Basitkey, and Daniah Jarrah

Keep up with what our experts want you to know about the Iraqi elections and the coalition building that follows.
Elections Iraq

Explore the program

The Iraq Initiative is driving policy-oriented programs and analysis that advance Iraq’s stability and sovereignty, regional integration, and democratic and economic development. It also aims to promote a strengthened US-Iraq partnership.

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