Tehran and Riyadh ended diplomatic ties in 2016 following Riyadh’s execution of prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr. The two sides are also at loggerheads over the war in Yemen.
They began talks aimed at easing tensions in April 2020 and has so far held four rounds of such talks, before Iran suspended them in mid-March this year.
The Iraqi diplomat on Wednesday said that discussions so far have been held by representatives from security bodies of Iran and Saudi Arabia as well as the Iranian foreign ministry.
Hussein made the comments during a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian in the capital Tehran.
The Iraqi minister said that the security of Iran and Iraq is important and is related to regional security too.
“Iran and Iraq are neighbors which enjoy strong ties. When a security problem occurs, we should take the path of dialog,” Hussein noted, referring to complaints by Iran on certain security issues.
He said that his talks with Amirabdollahian also covered Syria, Afghanistan and Yemen.
“On Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq share the same view that an inclusive government consisting of all Afghan groups and ethnics should be formed, because Afghanistan needs stability.”
Hussein said stability is also needed in Syria, because it affects Iraq’s stability too.
And on Yemen, the Iraqi foreign minister said that his country welcomes the ongoing two-month ceasefire there, which took effect earlier this month, and expressed hope that Yemenis’ sufferings would end through negotiations.
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