Iran backs truce in Yemen and regional dialogue after visit by Iraqi prime minister

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi on Sunday expressed his nation’s help for the UN-brokered truce in Yemen and known as for talks to resolve issues amongst international locations within the area after a gathering with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi in Tehran.

Mr Al Kadhimi travelled to the Iranian capital after a gathering with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, the place they mentioned “efforts to consolidate peace and calm within the area”, the prime minister’s workplace stated.

Baghdad has hosted 5 rounds of talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran since final 12 months in an effort to scale back tensions between the regional rivals, most lately in April.

After the talks with Mr Al Kadhimi, Iran’s president stated his nation “welcomed and pressured the necessity for a dialogue among the many international locations within the area with a view to discover options to its issues”.

On Yemen, Mr Raisi underlined the need of “persevering with the truce, ending the sanctions in opposition to Yemen and beginning a Yemeni-Yemeni dialogue that may put an finish to the gruelling conflict in Yemen and the struggling of its folks”.

“On this regard, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Iraq stress the necessity to help peace and stability within the area,” he stated.

The UN-brokered ceasefire in Yemen since April has galvanised worldwide efforts to finish the battle, which pits the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in opposition to forces of the internationally recognised authorities supported by a Saudi-led coalition.

“We mentioned the challenges the area goes via and we agreed on working collectively for calm and participating in [efforts] for calming the environment in our area,” Mr Al Kadhimi stated.

“We additionally talked in regards to the defining points associated to the folks of this area and we agreed on supporting the truce in Yemen and on the precept of dialogue to finish this conflict which impacts everybody.”

Mr Al Kadhimi’s journey to Saudi Arabia and Iran “comes within the context of the talks that Riyadh and Tehran lately held in Baghdad”, a Cupboard official stated earlier than the prime minister left for Jeddah with a high-level delegation on Saturday night time. The Iraqi delegation carried out Umrah in Makkah early on Sunday earlier than leaving for Tehran.

Riyadh severed ties with Tehran in 2016 after Iranian protesters stormed the Saudi embassy within the Iranian capital following the execution of a Shiite cleric in Saudi Arabia.

After the final spherical of negotiations in April, Mr Al Kadhimi stated he believed that “reconciliation is close to” between Riyadh and Tehran, an additional reflection of shifting political alignments throughout the area.

Iraqi Overseas Minister Fuad Hussein described the talks as “optimistic” and stated the 2 international locations had been planning to carry extra.

Iran’s Nour Information, which is affiliated with the nation’s Supreme Nationwide Safety Council, stated the “newest optimistic assembly has raised hopes for the 2 international locations to take steps in the direction of the resumption of ties”.

It additionally printed a photograph of two Iranian and Saudi officers standing alongside Mr Al Kadhimi.

In March, Prince Mohammed stated Saudi Arabia and Iran ought to discover a option to coexist.

“We’ve got had discussions and we’ve heard many statements from Iranian leaders which are very welcome in Saudi Arabia,” he stated in an interview with The Atlantic, the transcript of which was shared by Saudi Arabia’s state information company.

“I hope we are able to attain a place that’s good for each international locations and a brilliant future for Saudi Arabia and Iran.”

Mr Al Kadhimi’s journey comes amid a political stalemate in Iraq over the formation of a brand new authorities following a basic election in October.

Nonetheless, the go to was “not associated to inner Iraqi political affairs and the talks in regards to the formation of the brand new authorities”, the Iraqi Cupboard official stated.

Up to date: June 26, 2022, 5:32 PM