BAGHDAD, Jun 26 (NNN-NINA) – Iraqi Prime Minister, Mustafa al-Kadhimi, is scheduled to pay an official visit, in the upcoming days, to Iran, before heading to Saudi Arabia for talks with leaders of the two countries, an official news agency reported yesterday.
It quoted sources as saying that, the two trips will take place within the framework of direct talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia, that were held previously in Baghdad.
During his upcoming visits, al-Kadhimi would discuss several issues, including diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
On Jun 16, Iraqi Foreign Minister, Fuad Hussein, said in a phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian that, “Iraq is ready to continue facilitating direct talks between the Saudi and Iranian foreign ministers in Baghdad, to restore relations to normal,” according to a statement by the Iraqi Foreign Ministry.
To improve bilateral relations and ease regional tension, Baghdad hosted four rounds of direct talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia last year, and the fifth round was held in Apr this year.
In response to the attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran, after the kingdom executed a Shiite cleric, Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran in early 2016.
The two rivals’ strained relations showed signs of improvement, after they resumed direct talks on normalising diplomatic relations in Apr, 2021.– NNN-NINA
