Iraqi FM to Asharq Al-Awsat: Current Tensions Demand Dialogue between Regional Countries

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein (Abdulaziz al-Numan)
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein (Abdulaziz al-Numan)
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Iraqi FM to Asharq Al-Awsat: Current Tensions Demand Dialogue between Regional Countries

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein (Abdulaziz al-Numan)
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein (Abdulaziz al-Numan)

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said his country was suffering the consequences of fighting and destruction, emphasizing the need for dialogue to ease tension in the region.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Hussein, who was on an official visit to Riyadh, noted that security and political instability in Iraq affected the country’s neighbors, including the Gulf states, while the situation in Syria also had an impact on the Iraqi interior.

“Tensions in the region affect the internal Iraqi arena, as well as the internal situation of Saudi Arabia and other countries. In order to eliminate tension, we need honest discussions and debates. National security cannot be guaranteed without the security of the regional environment,” he said.

Hussein noted that the escalation of conflicts to a state of violence leads to fighting and wars, and the result is devastation.

“We, in Iraq, are victims of devastation, whether in the infrastructure or at the social, cultural and economic levels… all of which are a result of armed conflicts. Therefore, in order to reach a healthy condition, we need security and safety, and for that purpose, we need to create an appropriate atmosphere for dialogue,” the Iraqi minister underlined.

On his recent meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Hussein said that talks have focused on bilateral relations and the various fields of cooperation between the two countries, including economy, energy, banking and investment.

He added that discussions also touched on the regional tension and its impact on the internal situation in Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

“We need cooperation and communication to manage these crises and keep tensions away from the region,” the minister stated.

Commenting on the remarkable improvement of Saudi-Iraqi relations, Hussein said: “Historically, the relationship between the two countries passed through many stages and included some gaps, but during recent years, they have been bridged and many bonds built, as these visits are evidence that this relationship has developed. There are also tangible matters, such as the interests of the two countries, the two peoples and the region.”

Hussein said his visit to Riyadh was preceded by a visit of the Iraqi interior minister at the head of a big delegation that discussed with Saudi officials issues related to border security and commercial exchange.

He added that border cooperation was further revived with the recent re-opening of the Arar crossing following years of closure.

On the need to activate the mechanisms of joint action between Iraq and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the minister noted: “First of all, we were supportive and happy about the Gulf reconciliation at AlUla summit. Its success would yield positively on the Gulf states and the region, including Iraq. We have also built bridges for cooperation and progress in relations between each member of the Council, and we have good relations with all Gulf countries.”

As for major joint projects between Saudi Arabia and Iraq, Hussein said those fall in the fields of investment, energy and electricity, petrochemicals, agriculture, housing, contracting and others.

“However, these investment projects are also linked to the political and security situation,” he said, noting that when security threats arise in a certain area, investments are suspended.

The better the security situation, the better the investments and the flow of foreign capital, he stressed, adding that many Gulf companies and investors were ready to invest in his country.

“Iraq has vast opportunities, as we need investments in agriculture, tourism, energy and petrochemicals, services, real estate and others. I believe that investors, especially in the Gulf, are waiting for a state of complete stability in Iraq in order to invest and bring in capital, and that Gulf companies can play a role in building the Iraqi economy,” Hussein emphasized.

He also underlined the high coordination in oil policy with the Gulf states, especially Saudi Arabia, whether through bilateral collaboration or within the framework of OPEC.

“Saudi Arabia and Iraq play an important role in this organization, and coordination continues between the two countries in all fields related to energy, as it is a vital issue for the country's economy,” he remarked.

Hussein revealed a Memorandum of Understanding to import 400 megawatts of electricity from the Gulf network, adding that discussions were underway between specialists from Iraq and the Gulf States about the means to support power stations in Iraq.

“Besides the issue of electricity production, there is another problem in the distribution networks. So we need to build infrastructure for electrical distribution networks, and Gulf companies can play a role in that,” he said.



Hevolution CEO Discusses Career in Innovation, Medicine, and Business

Dr. Mehmood Khan, CEO of the Hevolution Foundation
Dr. Mehmood Khan, CEO of the Hevolution Foundation
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Hevolution CEO Discusses Career in Innovation, Medicine, and Business

Dr. Mehmood Khan, CEO of the Hevolution Foundation
Dr. Mehmood Khan, CEO of the Hevolution Foundation

Dr. Mehmood Khan, CEO of the Hevolution Foundation, the largest philanthropy organization funding aging medicine in the world, expressed that receiving Saudi citizenship will boost his scientific and practical capabilities.
He said this new status will help him advance his research, especially in addressing aging.
This comes as part of a recent royal decree granting Saudi citizenship to several notable scholars, doctors, researchers, and innovators.
“Our Chairman, his Royal Highness (Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman), has very high expectations of our work and the impact we need to do; We were created in part because of his vision,” Khan told Asharq Al-Awsat.
“Living up to the expectations and challenges we get faced with is itself exciting, but it is challenging,” revealed Khan, affirming that Hevolution’s team is “up to that task.”
Khan, who has experience in both corporate and medical fields, told Asharq Al-Awsat that his work across academic, public, and private sectors has been a continuous learning process, with each area enhancing the others.
According to the CEO, these industries are interconnected, and combining their strengths often leads to the best solutions.
This insight inspired the Hevolution initiative, which brings together the scientific community, NGOs, pharmaceutical companies, policymakers, academia, biotech firms, CEOs, and others to promote healthy aging.
Khan highlighted the value of integrating insights from different sectors.
Academia provides detailed research, the public sector offers insights on population health and regulations, and the corporate world brings innovation and efficiency, explained Khan, adding that by merging these perspectives, the world can tackle complex health challenges more effectively.
“We’ve been working through, and are now investing, funding and partnering with over 200 scientists around the world, and over 150 different university labs,” said Khan.
Hevolution uses this integrated approach to advance healthy aging.
This initiative embodies my passion for addressing major challenges and offers a significant opportunity to make a global impact.
Khan talked about the first $400 million commitment Hevolution made in the last 23 months, calling it “unprecedented.”
“There has never been a non-profit organization in the world that has gone from not existing to now becoming the largest philanthropy funding aging biology and medicine in the world,” affirmed Khan.
Khan stressed that work at Hevolution not only pushes scientific boundaries but also promotes cross-sector collaboration to improve global health outcomes.
Since Khan’s early days in medical school, he’s been deeply interested in nutrition and population health, which was an unconventional focus back then. This journey set the foundation for his later work in community health.
Khan’s time as an endocrinology faculty member at the Mayo Clinic was crucial. He led programs on diabetes, endocrine diseases, metabolism, and nutrition, which strengthened his expertise in designing disease prevention systems.
In the private sector, Khan took on a key role at Takeda Pharmaceutical as the global head of R&D, which shaped his approach to innovative healthcare solutions.
At PepsiCo, as Chief Scientific Officer, he learned crucial principles of scale, impact, transformation, and tackling global challenges.
As CEO of Hevolution, Khan uses all his professional experience to advance the foundation’s mission of developing health sciences to address age-related diseases.
Khan serves on the boards of Reckitt Benckiser and the Saudi Research, Development, and Innovation Authority (RDIA).
He is the CEO of Life Biosciences, a member of Saudi Arabia’s biotechnology strategy committee, and the chair of the advanced technology visiting committee at the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
Khan told Asharq Al-Awsat that he feels honored to have recently become a Saudi citizen by royal decree, while also holding dual US and UK citizenship. This helps him lead Hevolution effectively and work closely with international partners.
Khan commented on his recent Saudi citizenship, saying that in addition to feeling honored to receive Saudi citizenship by royal decree, alongside other distinguished individuals, this recognition is a great privilege.
Being a Saudi citizen, as per Khan, is a significant milestone and acknowledges the progress in his work in aging science and global health. It also strengthens Khan’s commitment to the work at Hevolution.
Khan noted that this new status enhances his ability to build relationships and collaborate within the Kingdom and internationally. It offers a deeper connection with the local community and better opportunities to engage with policymakers and leaders.
He also said that this recognition boosts Hevolution’s global presence and credibility, making the foundation’s collaborations with international scientists and business leaders stronger. It positions Hevolution as a key player in addressing age-related diseases.
Khan emphasized that this honor reflects the hard work and innovation of Hevolution’s entire team.
The CEO said that it was collective efforts that have made this achievement possible.
Khan also said he is excited to engage more deeply with the scientific and medical community in the Kingdom, adding that his new citizenship helps him contribute to Vision 2030 and the national biotechnology strategy, promoting innovation and attracting top global talent.