Iraq preparing to host ‘public’ meeting between Iran, Saudi FMs

Baghdad, The Gulf Observer: Iraq on Saturday said it was ready to host a “public” meeting between the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Iran as the two regional foes attempt to bury the hatchet.

Five rounds of negotiations between Iran and Saudi Arabia – which back opposing parties in a number of regional crises – have taken place in Iraq since April of last year.

However, these interactions, which involved security and intelligence officials, were privately held to ensure secrecy.

However, the Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein announced on Saturday that a meeting between his Saudi and Iranian colleagues would take place in Iraq at a future time.

“I contacted the foreign minister of Iran about this,” Hussein said in an interview with Kurdish television channel Rudaw.

“We are preparing the meeting, trying to find the best time to invite the foreign ministers of Iran and Saudi Arabia,” he said.

“It will be a public meeting, (unlike) previous encounters which were secret and were held between intelligence and security officials,” Hussein added.

Days prior, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the foreign minister of Iran, had stated on Iranian state television that Saudi Arabia and his nation are prepared to advance reconciliation negotiations.

On Thursday, Amir Abdollahian claimed that earlier rounds of security official meetings held in Iraq had “progressed.”

The Saudi side is prepared to advance the talks to the political and public level, the Iraqi foreign minister stated in a statement sent to Iran last week.

Riyadh severed ties with Tehran after Iranian protestors attacked Saudi diplomatic offices in Iran in 2016 following the Saudi execution of Shia Muslim preacher Nimr al-Nimr.

However, Amir-Abdollahian expressed optimism on Thursday that fresh talks will result in the restoration of “normal diplomatic ties.”