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Iraq Holds Regional Summit Attended By Iran, Saudi Arabia

By RFE/RL August 28, 2021

Iraq is holding a regional summit aimed at reducing tensions in the Middle East and emphasizing the country's role as a mediator after decades of conflict.

The meeting on August 28 has brought together leaders and representative from a number of countries, including the foreign ministers of regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia.

French President Emmanuel Macron, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, and Jordan's King Abdullah II are among the leaders attending the summit in Baghdad.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian is also participating in the meeting.

Iran's new hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi has also been invited to the Baghdad summit, but it is not clear if he will attend. Raisi said in June that there are "no obstacles" to renewing ties with Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia has said it would be represented by its foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan.

Iraq seeks to play a "unifying role" to tackle crises shaking the region, sources close to Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi have said.

Macron and Kadhemi want to reduce regional tensions by fostering dialogue, including on security, a French presidential source was quoted as saying by Reuters. "The aim is to initiate something here and to continue [it] after this conference," the source said.

Organizers said they did not expect any diplomatic breakthroughs at the summit.

"Getting these countries to sit around the table -- that will be achievement enough," one Iraqi government official was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Iraq has been caught for years in a delicate balancing act between its two main allies, Iran and the United States.

Earlier this year, the country hosted several rounds of direct talks between archenemies Saudi Arabia and Iran, with midlevel officials discussing issues related to Yemen and Lebanon, according to Iraqi officials.

The United States has expressed "full support for the upcoming regional conference in Baghdad with an aim to develop diplomacy and dialogue across the Middle East region."

With reporting by AFP, AP, Reuters, and IRNA

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iraq-summit- iran-saudi-arabia/31432394.html

Copyright (c) 2021. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.