Iraq to Resume Mediation between Saudi Arabia, Iran ahead of Jeddah Summit

A handout picture released by the Saudi Royal Palace on June 26, 2022, shows Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R), receiving Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, in the Saudi city of Jeddah. (Saudi Royal Palace)
A handout picture released by the Saudi Royal Palace on June 26, 2022, shows Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R), receiving Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, in the Saudi city of Jeddah. (Saudi Royal Palace)
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Iraq to Resume Mediation between Saudi Arabia, Iran ahead of Jeddah Summit

A handout picture released by the Saudi Royal Palace on June 26, 2022, shows Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R), receiving Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, in the Saudi city of Jeddah. (Saudi Royal Palace)
A handout picture released by the Saudi Royal Palace on June 26, 2022, shows Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R), receiving Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, in the Saudi city of Jeddah. (Saudi Royal Palace)

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi will resume his mediation between Saudi Arabia and Iran before the Gulf-Arab-American summit in Jeddah later this month, revealed an informed Iraqi source on Sunday.

The declaration of the restoration of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran is expected to be announced in Baghdad, it told Asharq Al-Awsat.

The declaration will be made in the presence of Saudi and Iranian officials, Kadhimi and Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, it added, without specifying if the announcement will be made before the Jeddah summit. The ties were severed in 2016.

Moreover, the source remarked that Kadhimi had made progress over several pending files between Saudi Arabia and Iran during his visits to Jeddah and Tehran last week.

This will help ease overall tensions in the region, he stressed.

Asked if Saudi officials will visit Baghdad before the Jeddah summit, the source said such a trip requires arrangements between Riyadh, Baghdad and Tehran.

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian had announced from Damascus on Sunday that Tehran welcomes the restoration of relations with Riyadh, the reopening of embassies and the launch of political dialogue.

On reports that talks between Egypt, Jordan and Iran would be held in Baghdad, he said there are no direct negotiations with Egypt over restoring ties at the moment.

Efforts are underway however, to set them back on the right path as part of the joint cooperation between the two countries, he added.

Amirabdollahian made his remarks days after Iraqi FM Hussein revealed for the first time that Baghdad was sponsoring dialogue between Iran and Jordan, and Iran and Egypt.

Meanwhile, aide to Kadhimi, Dr. Hussein Allawi told Asharq Al-Awsat that the PM’s efforts aim to establish a period of regional stability, peace, cooperation and development.

Kadhimi kicked off the mediation in April 2021 and, in spite of the crises and media tensions, he has succeeded in holding four other rounds of dialogue between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Allawi went on to say.

"We can say that Iraq has managed in shifting Saudi-Iranian ties towards a period of understanding and the exchange of views over several regional issues,” he said.

They have set the path towards solutions and strategic initiatives to issues at hand, he added.

“Iraq is keen on establishing stability in the region because it is approaching economic changes through major projects tackling transportation, energy, electricity, food security, water shortages and climate change,” he continued.

The success of these projects demands constant partnership and cooperation between the countries of the region, he explained.



Saudi Crown Prince: No Ties With Israel Without Establishing Palestine State

The Saudi Crown Prince addresses the advisory Shura Council. SPA
The Saudi Crown Prince addresses the advisory Shura Council. SPA
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Saudi Crown Prince: No Ties With Israel Without Establishing Palestine State

The Saudi Crown Prince addresses the advisory Shura Council. SPA
The Saudi Crown Prince addresses the advisory Shura Council. SPA

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman reiterated on Wednesday that the Palestinian issue is at the forefront of the Kingdom’s concerns.
He reaffirmed that Saudi Arabia will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The Crown Prince announced this while inaugurating, on behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, the activities of the first year of the ninth session of the Shura Council in Riyadh.
Delivering the annual address of the King at the Shura Council, the Crown Prince renewed rejection and strong condemnation of the crimes of the Israeli occupation authority against the Palestinian people, ignoring international and humanitarian law in a new and bitter chapter of suffering.
While asserting that the Kingdom will not stop its tireless work towards the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, the Crown Prince affirmed that the Kingdom will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel without that. 
He also extended thanks to the countries that recognized the Palestinian state, saying that this is an embodiment of international legitimacy. He urged the rest of the countries to recognize Palestine.
During the speech, the Crown Prince stressed the importance of progress and achievements made by Saudi Arabia on the domestic front. 
“Since the launch of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, the citizen has been our focus, as they are its pillar and goal, and any achievement made through its comprehensive umbrella of various paths is an elevation for the homeland, a benefit for the citizen, and immunity for future generations from fluctuations and changes,” he highlighted. 
The Crown Prince said that Saudi Arabia has achieved many remarkable accomplishments during this great journey, and among the examples of these non-oil activities in the Kingdom, saying that it recorded its highest contribution to the real GDP at 50% last year, which enhanced the sustainability and comprehensiveness of growth and achieved high quality in economic diversification.