Iraq hosted rounds of talks between rivals Saudi Arabia, Iran: President Reuters Iraq
Iraq has hosted more than one round of talks between regional foes Iran and Saudi Arabia, Iraqi President Barham Salih said on Wednesday.
Salih made his remarks during an interview broadcast live online with the Beirut Institute think tank. He gave no more details.
Diplomats hope the opening of direct channels between Iran and Saudi Arabia will signal a calming of tensions across the Middle East after years of hostilities that have brought the region close to a full-scale conflict.
Baghdad hosted talks between officials from its two neighbours and mutual adversaries on April 9 in the only round of talks to have been previously reported.
Iraq president confirms hosting Saudi, Iran talks
Iraqi President Barham Salih during a press conference in Baghdad, Iraq on September 02, 2020 [Murtadha Al-Sudani/Anadolu Agency] May 6, 2021 at 1:38 pm
Iraqi President Barham Salih has confirmed recent reports that his country has held more than one round of talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Salih made the revelation yesterday during an interview aired live online with the Beirut Institute think tank, describing the ongoing talks as important and significant , but provided no further details.
Last month a senior Saudi official denied that Baghdad held secret talks between the two regional rivals, although Iran s Foreign Ministry stated that it welcomed Iraq s mediation in helping it mend ties with Gulf Arab states. This was also reiterated by Iran s Ambassador to Baghdad, Iraj Masjedi.
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A visitor takes picture of an art installation titled Menhara (collapsed) by Lebanese artist Carlo Kassabian reflecting on the devaluation of the Lebanese pound, at a club in Lebanon s capital Beirut on May 8, 2021. (Photo by ANWAR AMRO / AFP)
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TOPSHOT - A Syrian boy poses for a picture as he plays at a camp for the internally displaced in Maaret Misrin city in Syria s northwestern Idlib province on May 8, 2021. (Photo by OMAR HAJ KADOUR / AFP)
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08 May 2021, Saudi Arabia, Mecca: An aerial view shows Masjid al-Haram, the Great Mosque of Mecca during the holy fasting month of Ramadan. Photo: -/Saudi Press Agency/dpa
ISHM: April 29 - May 6, 2021
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Key Takeaways:
De-Baathification Returns As Election Nears; Iraqi President Confirms Ongoing Riyadh-Tehran Talks; Militia Commander Calls For Depopulating Volatile Towns On April 29, reports emerged of a push by the deputy speaker of parliament to re-establish the De-Baathification committee, causing uproar about its possible use to eliminate political rivals. On May 2, IHEC said it registered 267 parties and 33 electoral alliances, which include alliances between Abadi and Hakim, and between the PUK and Gorran. On May 2, the Federal Supreme Court rejected an appeal to revive provisional councils disbanded in 2019. On May 4, PMF Commision asked the Finance Minister to increase its funding so it could rehire former PMF fighters. On May 2, Kataib Hezbollah militia openly called for the forced displacement of residents from predominantly Sunni Arab towns witnessing frequent attacks, implying that depopulation was the only way to curb ISIS.On