Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi said that the understanding between Tehran and Riyadh is "close", at a time when rounds of dialogue between the two regional rivals resumed in the Iraqi capital last week after a break.
A fifth round of talks was held on April 21 in Baghdad, according to Iraqi officials, while the Iraqi Foreign Ministry has since confirmed that additional rounds will also be held between the two parties, even hinting at the possibility of resuming diplomatic relations between the two parties.
Relations between the two influential powers in the Gulf region have been severed since the beginning of 2016. However, the two countries, which stand at opposite ends in various regional files, began negotiations in April 2021 in Baghdad, facilitated by Al-Kazemi, who has good relations with both sides.
In an interview with the official Iraqi newspaper, "Al-Sabah", published today, Saturday, Al-Kazemi said that "the brothers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic are dealing with the file of dialogue with high responsibility and the requirements of the current situation in the region, and we are confident that the understanding is soon, God willing."
In the interview, Al-Kazemi spoke of the existence of a "real and wide breakthrough in relations between all the countries of the region."
He stressed that "Iraq has a direct interest in achieving understandings between the countries of the region and achieving regional stability."
And the Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein had announced to the Iraqi News Agency last Sunday that Baghdad will host a new round of talks after the end of the fifth round between Riyadh and Tehran.
He stressed that "the fifth round of talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran in Baghdad ended in a positive atmosphere."
The Iraqi Foreign Ministry also revealed last Tuesday that Al-Kazemi himself was present in the last round of negotiations between the two parties.
The Foreign Ministry, through its spokesman Ahmed Al-Sahhaf, confirmed that the dialogue included several files, including the security file.
He added that the round of dialogues began and is still extended and is on its way to creating fundamental and basic approaches, perhaps including the resumption of diplomatic representation between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Iran and Saudi Arabia are the two most prominent regional powers in the Gulf, and they are on opposite sides in most regional files, most notably the conflict in Yemen.
Saudi Arabia is also concerned about Tehran's regional influence, accusing it of "interfering" in Arab countries such as Syria, Iraq and Lebanon, and is suspicious of its nuclear program and missile capabilities.
Last March, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian welcomed the statements of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman regarding the neighboring relations between the Kingdom and Iran, saying that they showed Riyadh's "willingness" to resume diplomatic relations with Tehran.