Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein confirmed Tuesday that Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s secret visit to Iran was aimed at bringing Tehran and Washington closer together, as Baghdad reopened one border crossing with Iran and announced the temporary closure of another.
Speaking to the Iraqi News Agency (INA) on the sidelines of the Paris Peace Forum, Hussein described the visit as “an attempt to bring the Iranian and American positions closer together, alongside other efforts.”
He stressed Iraq’s interest in easing tensions, citing the economic impact of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and casualties from the US war on Iran.
“We have strong relations with our neighbor Iran, as well as excellent relations with the United States,” Hussein said. “That is why Iraq can play this role, although other countries are also doing so.”
Request for time
A senior Iraqi government official told Asharq Al-Awsat that al-Zaidi had conveyed an American message to Tehran outlining a possible formula for resolving the conflict between the two countries.
The Iranian side, however, requested more time to respond, according to the official.
A source familiar with the visit confirmed to Iran’s Fars News Agency that al-Zaidi had traveled to Tehran last Friday for several hours and met Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliament speaker and head of its negotiating delegation.
The agency reported that talks focused exclusively on Baghdad’s efforts to end the war.
Despite repeated official statements presenting the visit as a mediation effort, a source close to Iraq’s Coordination Framework suggested it might instead have been motivated by domestic concerns.
“Al-Zaidi’s recent policies, particularly the ban on Iranian flights and the closure of some border crossings, have caused considerable harm to Iran,” the source told Asharq Al-Awsat.
The visit may therefore have been intended to explain Baghdad’s position on those measures and avoid angering Tehran, it added.
It pointed to the recent public confrontation between al-Zaidi and Kataib Hezbollah, warning that tensions could lead to a direct clash. Given its influence and close ties with some armed factions, Tehran could help ease the dispute.
Regional role
Ihssan Shmary, an academic and head of the Political Thinking Center, believes al-Zaidi’s visit was primarily part of his efforts to establish a regional diplomatic role through an initiative he had previously presented to US President Donald Trump.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Shmary said that the trip coincided with extensive Arab and regional efforts to reduce tensions and prevent renewed fighting between Washington and Tehran.
He described the trip as an attempt to break the deadlock between the two countries and secure a foreign policy achievement for Iraq.
Nevertheless, he questioned Baghdad’s ability to bring Washington and Tehran to the negotiating table.
“Iraq may be very far from being able to play the role of a country that brings the US and Iran together at a table of understanding,” he cautioned.
Al-Sheeb reopens, Mandali closes
In a separate development, Omar al-Waeli, head of Iraq’s Border Ports Authority, announced Tuesday the reopening of the al-Sheeb crossing with Iran, which had been closed since October 21.
Authorities also decided to temporarily close the Mandali crossing in the Diyala province beginning Friday.
Al-Waeli explained that al-Sheeb would resume operations following completion of the required technical procedures, while Mandali’s closure would allow similar technical requirements to be addressed.
The decisions followed earlier remarks by Foreign Minister Hussein revealing that the US Treasury Department had formally requested Baghdad to close all its border crossings with Iran except two.
Ban on Iranian flights remains in place
Meanwhile, Iran’s Football Federation announced Tuesday that Iraq had refused permission for a direct flight carrying the Iranian national team to land at Basra airport.
The team was scheduled to participate in a friendly tournament alongside Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine.
Iran’s Mehr News Agency quoted the federation as blaming obstacles imposed by the Iraqi government, particularly its refusal to authorize a direct flight to Basra.
As a result, the players traveled to the Iranian city of Abadan, from where they would continue to Basra by road.
An Iraqi Transport Ministry official told Asharq Al-Awsat that Iranian aircraft were permitted to land only at Najaf airport.
The Iranian side had chosen to fly the team to Abadan because it was closer to the stadium in Basra, the official explained.
He confirmed that Iraq remained committed to its ban on Iranian flights landing at Iraqi airports, with Najaf as the sole exception, to avoid US Treasury sanctions.
