It comes in anticipation of the Biden summit with the leaders of the region... What are the implications of Al-Kazemi's visit to Saudi Arabia and Iran?

BAGHDAD -

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi concluded his visit to Saudi Arabia and Iran a few days ago, with the aim of converging the views between the leaders of the two countries, within the framework of mediation consultations between the two arch-rivals that took place in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

Al-Kazemi’s visit at this time carried many dimensions and connotations, especially as it comes in anticipation of the upcoming US President Joe Biden summit with the leaders of the Gulf states, Egypt, Jordan and Iraq in Riyadh next July, which made that visit receive great echoes inside and outside Iraq.

Al-Kazemi's visit (left) to Riyadh anticipates the upcoming US President's summit with the leaders of the Gulf, Egypt, Jordan and Iraq (communication sites)

Mediation or review?

Apparently, the visit was linked - according to the official announcement - to discussing several files, including diplomatic relations between Riyadh and Tehran, which was confirmed by some observers, especially after holding five rounds of talks between the two countries in Baghdad that somewhat eased the tension between them.

But observers also point to the success of the Al-Kazemi government, whose days are nearing an end after the Sadrist movement - led by Muqtada al-Sadr - withdrew from the political scene in Iraq and the coordination framework - which includes the rest of the prominent Shiite forces - went through negotiations to form a government.

Abdul-Ilah: Al-Kazemi has completed the mediation journey between Tehran and Riyadh and presented his government’s achievements in this file (Al-Jazeera)

This quest highlighted Al-Kazemi’s success in the regional relations file and transforming the country from a conflict zone into a land for negotiation and calm, according to the Dean of the College of Political Science, Khaled Abdul-Ilah, who shows that the visit came to complete the mediation journey that Baghdad played between the two countries, and also presented the achievements of the Al-Kazemi government in this The file, and its quest to keep the settling of accounts away from the Iraqi land, and the prices that Iraq paid for these liquidations.

Abdul-Ilah did not rule out the presence of internal political and security files in Iraq on the visit, although the political scene and its complexity do not allow for solutions that require a second term for Al-Kazemi based on a recommendation from outside the borders.

And political analyst Ali Al-Baydar agrees with this opinion, certainly that the opposition of the coordinating framework forces to the renewal of Al-Kazemi’s mandate cannot change even with the recommendation of their ally Iran, warning that Al-Kazemi himself will not accept harsh conditions set by the framework, if the Iranian recommendation succeeds in passing it, and these conditions You will make him a nominally acting prime minister.

Al-Baydar: Al-Kazemi's visit included a demand for Tehran to play a positive role in Iraqi affairs (Al-Jazeera)

Reassurances for fears

For his part, political analyst Ali Al-Baydar says that the main goal of Al-Kazemi’s visit to Tehran is to convey messages of reassurance to it and inform it before the Riyadh summit that Iraq and its current government are far from any projects he plans in the region under the auspices of the United States regarding it, noting that Al-Kazemi “sought to inform Iran.” Iraq, with its current policy, is far from the policy of the axes and away from any future endeavor led by the United States to create an alliance facing Iran,” he explained, explaining that Iraq’s participation in the summit requires Al-Kazemi to hurry to reassure the most powerful regional player inside Iraq about not contributing and harming - in any way, in any way. Pressures - with the closest neighbor, Iran.

Al-Baydar also made it clear that the visit cannot be devoid of a request for Tehran to play a positive role in internal affairs and to intervene to influence the treatment of the current crisis political situation.

water and electricity

While most political analyzes indicate that Al-Kazemi’s visit to Tehran and Riyadh came with the purpose of completing the mediation effort between them and delivering messages of reassurance, the Iraqi government indicated that the visit was not without presenting important service files such as water, electricity and investment, as Al-Kazemi spoke about this in the cabinet session - Yesterday, Tuesday - according to a statement issued by his media office.

Al-Kazemi said, "The visit to Saudi Arabia was very good, in which we discussed common issues, Saudi investments in Iraq and future prospects, and we talked about the electrical connection and many projects that benefit Iraqis, and the importance of the region being stable and calm, and for Iraq to play its role in humidifying the atmosphere for the sake of Iraq and the region." ".

As for the visit to Tehran, Al-Kazemi indicated that it included talking about the crisis of cutting off the incoming rivers and finding solutions for it, explaining that “in our visit to Tehran, we talked about the same points, and in common files as well as working on the issue of energy and water, and the leaders in Iran expressed their willingness to send a minister Energy to Baghdad to talk about the issue of water and electric energy and solve all problems.

Qusay: Iraq seeks to remain in the region of balance in economic relations with the countries of the region (Al-Jazeera)

For his part, financial expert Safwan Qusay shows that "Iraq seeks to remain in the area of ​​balance in economic relations with the countries of the region," noting that "Iran represents an economic dimension, especially in the energy file, given that Iraq is in constant need of electricity and gas."

Qusay pointed out that "the process of rearranging energy import papers and the mechanism for paying dues to Iran was certainly among the axes of the visit," and stressed that the energy obstacle stands in the way of economic integration, as well as the existence of a map of agricultural integration, which was presented in Tehran.

He stressed that this "will contribute to the process of price stability at the Iraqi level, because the presence of an Iraqi agricultural map far from production inside Iran will contribute to confusion of farmers, and therefore the process of integration between Iraq and the region will contribute to achieving security and stability for Iraq in the long run."

He added, "It is possible that Iraq will be the crossing for production from the continent of Africa towards China through Iran, which will increase Iraq's economic ability to diversify, in addition to the port of Al-Faw and the possibility of Iran operating from this port is also important issues in the long run, especially since the operation of Its operation will contribute to trade exchange between Asia, the European Union and Africa."

The financial expert pointed out that "the Baghdad conference, clearly showed Iraq's attempt to be within the balance area and rearrange papers and relations between countries on the basis of interests."

Saleh: The Riyadh summit may draw a new map for the oil-exporting countries (Al-Jazeera)

economic summit

The dimensions of Al-Kazemi’s visit before the Riyadh summit, and the many speculations it carried about Tehran’s fears of it, and Iraq’s attempt to broadcast reassurances to the nearest neighboring countries before participating, required clarifications for the upcoming summit itself.

In this context, Mazhar Muhammad Salih, the economic advisor to the Iraqi Prime Minister, stressed the importance of the Riyadh conference, which Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi will attend with a number of ministers and officials concerned with the conference.

Saleh said, "The political situation has nothing to do with us. We are talking about an important conference that may draw a new map for the oil-exporting countries. Countries that own half of the world's oil exports will participate, and these countries - including Iraq - own two-thirds of the world's oil reserves."

"We have to prepare to see what it will result in - at least in what concerns us, the interest of Iraq - and we must come out victorious winners from the conference," he added.

And Saleh indicated that "Iraq lives on oil at the present time, with all its development and revenues, as Russian oil competes with Iraqi oil in Asia," noting that "the oil market is in turmoil, and we have to be strong partners in this matter, because our economy depends on oil."