Iran's Zarif discusses regional co-operation and dialogue in Baghdad

The visit comes after reports that Iraq has been hosting regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia for backchannel talks

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein, right, meets with visiting Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, April 26, 2021. AP 

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said he hoped Iraq would assume a bigger role for the aim of achieving security and stability in the region.

Mr Zarif made the comments following a meeting with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein in Baghdad.

“We welcome and praise Iraq’s vital and competent role in the region,” he said as he arrived on a two-day official visit to Iraq.

“We hope this role will continue towards achieving security and stability in the region, and we appreciate the Iraqi government's efforts to find common ground for dialogue in the region,” Mr Zarif said.

The visit comes as Iraq was reportedly spearheading mediation between Iran and Saudi Arabia on one side and Jordan and Egypt on the other.

The Iraqi foreign minister said that enhancing regional co-operation falls into Iraq’s interests to enhance stability.

“The co-operation between the countries [...] will lead not only to the region’s stability, but also to security and stability inside Iraq,” Mr Hussein said.

He added that discussions and co-operation between Iraq and Iran in this regard have reached important levels.

"There are now negotiations in different capitals and dialogues in different places,” Mr Hussein said.

Discussions are still in the early stages.

Both Iran and Saudi Arabia have not confirmed the talks officially.

Mr Zarif also said that ongoing nuclear talks in Vienna with Washington and world powers were progressing well.

“There is good dialogue with regard to the nuclear deal and hope that the new American government will adopt a rational policy to adhere to its commitments and to return to the deal,” he said.

The ministers only gave brief statements, without taking questions.

While on his way out from the airport, Mr Zarif stopped at the memorial dedicated to the Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.

Soleimani's memorial is at the spot where he was killed alongside a senior Iraqi militia leader and their aides, in a US drone attack in January last year.

Mr Zarif called the attacks as “illegal” during his press conference.

He later met with the Iraqi President, Bahram Salih, Parliament Speaker Mohammed Al Halbousi, as well as Sunnis and Shiite politicians. Later on Monday, he will have an iftar meal with the Prime Minister, Mustafa Al Kadhimi.

Mr Zarif is also scheduled to meet other senior Iraqi officials in Baghdad and the northern Kurdish region.

Before then, he'll visit the southern city of Najaf, the seat of Grand Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani, a cleric who is revered by millions of Shiites. Najaf is also home to the shrine of Imam Ali, one of the holiest historic figures among Shiites, and a place of pilgrimage.

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Gallery: Iranian and Iraqi foreign ministers meet in Baghdad