In Baghdad, Iranian FM hails Iraq’s resumption of its ‘natural’ regional role

Amir-Abdollahian arrived in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, on Wednesday to discuss bilateral, regional and international issues with high-ranking Iraqi officials.

“Today, the regional role of Iraq is more outstanding than ever,” he told reporters upon his arrival. “My presence in Iraq coincides with the [34th] Conference of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union in this country, which shows that Iraq has returned to its natural status.”

“We feel satisfied and content with the fact that the friendly and brotherly country is now in its natural status in the region, given our special relationship with Iraq and the various issues that are on the agenda regarding bilateral relations.”

The top Iranian diplomat also noted that his two-day visit to Iraq comes at the invitation of Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and is aimed at following up bilateral relations and finalizing the close Tehran-Baghdad consultations on important regional and international topics.

Amir-Abdollahian also paid a visit to the site where Iran’s legendary anti-terror commander Lt. Gen. Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the second-in-command of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), were assassinated by the US three years ago.

During his two-day visit, Amir-Abdollahian will meet with the Iraqi national security advisor, the deputy prime minister, and the foreign minister.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said the two sides will hold “a discussion of bilateral relations at all levels and ways to introduce dialogue to enhance aspects of joint cooperation in a way that enhances the security and stability of the region and reflects positively on the two neighboring peoples.”

The Iranian foreign minister’s trip comes weeks after his Saudi counterpart paid a visit to Iraq, where he discussed the resumption of Tehran-Riyadh talks aimed at restoring their bilateral ties under the auspices of the Iraqi government.

Iraq has hosted several rounds of negotiations between Iran and Saudi Arabia over the past two years. The two countries’ ties were severed in 2016 after the kingdom executed top Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr, sparking an attack on its Tehran embassy by angry protesters.

Meanwhile, earlier this month, Iraq’s foreign minister announced his “continued contact with US and Iranian officials” to reduce tensions between Tehran and Washington.

“It’s no secret that I am in contact with Iranian and American officials,” Hussein told Al-Monitor on February 12.

“Both sides trust us, and that’s a good thing,” he said. “It’s in Iraq’s interest that there be less tension between Washington and Tehran.”