The United States and Iraq launched much-anticipated strategic talks on Thursday that are to span the gamut of their bilateral relations, with Washington prioritizing the issue of the future of its forces in the country while Baghdad is expected to focus on the nation’s dire economic crisis. The talks, which began with an initial session in the afternoon with participants tuning in online because of the coronavirus measures, are expected to drag out over several months. Iran’s expanding influence in Iraq is also expected to be an underlining topic in the talks.