[1] Halldór studied at the Co-operative College in Bifröst, and became a certified public accountant in 1970.

As Minister of Foreign Affairs, Halldór put Iceland on the Coalition of the Willing, the alliance supporting the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

On 5 June 2006, following poor results for his party in the 2006 Icelandic municipalities elections, Halldór announced his resignation as prime minister and stated that he intended to step down as leader of the Progressive Party in August 2006, and leave politics all together.

At the convention Halldór ended his political career with an emotional and dynamic farewell speech to the party.

Halldór Ásgrímsson was an Honorary Member of The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation.