Arch-rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia met in Baghdad on Saturday as Iraq’s Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi seeks to mediate between the two in order to improve diplomatic relations.
Parliamentary leaders from the two rivals in addition to leaders from Jordan, Syria, Turkey and Kuwait also attended the one-day conference to discuss economic issues, diplomacy and security in the region as reported by Reuters.
It is unusual for Iranian and Saudi officials to meet at such events.
Prime Minister Abdul Mahdi just recently returned from diplomatic visits to both Iran and Saudi Arabia, two oil super powers in the Middle East, although Iran is now suffering from US-placed sanctions since October.
The Iraqi premier ensures that Baghdad will maintain its relations with Tehran, which many regional neighbors consider a foe, as well as work on improving ties with Washington and Saudi Arabia.
Baghdad’s parliamentary speaker Mohammed al-Halboosi chaired the conference.
“What binds us to our neighbors is our common geographical destiny and common interests,” al-Halboosi said in a statement.
All visiting delegations pledged support for development and reconstruction efforts in war-torn Iraq as well as continuing assistance in stability following three years of ISIS control and Iraq’s victory over the terror group.
Iraq and Saudi Arabia are pushing to restore diplomatic relations which fell apart with Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in the 1990s under the Baath regime.
Several of Iraq’s leaders come from a Shiite majority and still maintain close diplomatic ties with Shiite-ruled Iran.
