Iranian, Saudi FMs may hold talks in Iraq

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein has said that Iraq is making efforts to prepare an official meeting between Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Saudi Arabian Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in Baghdad.

"We are organising the first talks between the Iranian and Saudi foreign ministers since the break in diplomatic relations in 2016. This request was made by Crown Prince [of Saudi Arabia] Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud following the summit of Arab leaders in Jeddah on July 16," Hussein told Rudaw TV channel, according to TASS.

The Iraqi minister noted that he cannot disclose a date for the Iran-Saudi Arabia talks in Baghdad yet.

"However, this will be the first public meeting as all the previous five rounds were secret ones and the heads of law enforcement agencies took part in them," he said.

Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic relations with Iran in January 2016 after its embassy in Tehran and consulate in Mashhad were attacked by protesters outraged by the execution of prominent Shia cleric, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr in Riyadh.

The dialogue between the two regional powers resumed in April 2021 following a reconciliatory initiative by Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.

According to Rudaw, the bilateral meetings in Baghdad were overseen by Director General of the General Intelligence Directorate of Saudi Arabia, Lieutenant General Khalid bin Ali Al Humaidan and Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani.