Iraqi, French FMs voice support for fence-mending talks between Iran, Saudi Arabia

Iraq and France have expressed their support for the talks in Baghdad between representatives from Iran and Saudi Arabia as part of a diplomatic process aimed at mending relations, calling for its continuation in order to ensure security and stability in the Middle East.

During a telephone conversation between Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and his French counterpart Catherine Colonna on Tuesday evening, the two sides exchanged viewpoints on rapprochement talks between Riyadh and Tehran and stressed the need for the negotiations to continue, the official Iraqi News Agency reported.

They also discussed ways to advance initiatives that would guarantee security and stability in the region, and would facilitate the process of cooperation in order to establish peace and achieve desirable development.

The senior diplomats also referred to the talks on lifting the sanctions against Tehran and reviving the 2015 nuclear deal, stating that a final agreement will have positive repercussions on regional security and stability.

On July 23, Hussein said Iraq will host a “public” meeting between Iran and Saudi Arabia at the level of foreign ministers as part of successive reconciliation talks mediated by Baghdad.

• Fence-mending talks between Iran, Saudi Arabia have made 'remarkable progress', says Iraqi PM

“The Saudi crown prince asked us to host the meeting of the Saudi foreign minister with his Iranian counterpart in Baghdad. I contacted the foreign minister of Iran about this. We are preparing the meeting, trying to find the best time to invite the foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia,” the Iraqi foreign minister said.

 “It will be a public meeting, unlike previous encounters which were secret and were held between intelligence and security officials,” Hussein noted.

Iraq has hosted five rounds of talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran at the level of intelligence and security heads since last April, the top Iraqi diplomat added.

Last month, Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian appreciated the “constructive” role of Iraq in advancing regional dialogue and said there has been “progress” in the last five rounds of talks with Saudi Arabia.

Amir-Abdollahian said he had told Iraqi mediators that Tehran is ready for a new political and security phase with Riyadh, expressing hope that the measure would “eventually lead to the return of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran relations to normal.” 

Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic relations with Iran in January 2016 after Iranian protesters, enraged by the Saudi execution of prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr, stormed its embassy in Tehran.

• Iran: New talks with Saudi Arabia 'progressive and positive'

The kingdom then pursued a confrontational foreign policy toward the Islamic Republic, especially during the administration of former US president Donald Trump, with whom the Saudi rulers shared close ties.

Saudi Arabia appears to have recently changed course, showing willingness through diplomatic channels and third parties to mend fences with Tehran and resume bilateral relations.

The two neighbors remain deeply divided over a set of regional issues, mainly the destructive Saudi war on Yemen.

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