ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Iraq intends to bring Iran and Saudi Arabia closer by preparing grounds for bilateral meetings on the sidelines of an upcoming regional summit in Baghdad, Iranian state media reported on Tuesday.
The leaders of Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and several other Middle Eastern countries will meet at a regional summit in Baghdad later this month, state media said, citing al-Mayadeen – an outlet close to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force.
“Baghdad seeks to end the severance of ties between Tehran and Riyadh following closed-door bilateral meetings,” it said, adding that foreign ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibazadeh has previously expressed desire for negotiations with Riyadh.
The office of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi confirmed the summit on Monday evening, to be held in coordination with France.
French President Emmanuel Macron plans to attend the conference, he told Kadhimi in a phone call on Monday, and reiterated “his commitment in the fight against Daesh (Islamic State) and in favour of the stability and security of Iraq and the region.”
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein is in Tehran to invite President Ebrahim Raisi to the summit, the foreign ministry confirmed on Tuesday.
“Iraq is continuing its effort to bring Saudi and Iran closer and now the idea is to have the leaders present in the same room,” Farhad Alaadin, the Chairman of the Iraqi Advisory Council told Rudaw English on Tuesday. “France is playing a more central role… becoming a stronger player in the absence or reduced role of the US.”
Relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia took a notable dive in 2016, when Iranian protesters attacked the Saudi diplomatic missions following the Kingdom’s execution of Shiite cleric, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.
Iraq and Saudi have enjoyed closer ties in recent years, as Saudi Arabia looks to offset Iranian influence in the region. Rapprochement between the two began in 2015, when Saudi Arabia reopened their Baghdad embassy after 25 years of closure. In October, the two countries agreed to open the Arar border crossing, originally closed in 1991.
Iran’s ambassador to Iraq has welcomed Baghdad’s efforts to mend regional relations. “If Iraq can play any role in bringing Iran closer to the countries with which we have some challenges, or our relations have cooled or political cooperation with them has stopped; we will be happy,” Iraj Masjedi told Iranian state media in April.
In late April, Iran said it could enter a “new chapter” with Saudi Arabia, welcoming a “change of tone” from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said he hoped for improved ties with Tehran.
Representatives of Iran and Saudi Arabia have previously held talks in Baghdad, facilitated by Kadhimi.
