Iraq Brings Saudi and Iran Closer as Biden Resets Policy

Baghdad convened indirect talks between Tehran and Riyadh
Efforts come as world powers hold Iran nuclear talks

Mustafa Al-Kadhimi during a meeting with Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on March 31.Source: Saudi Kingdom Council/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

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By Khalid Al Ansary, Golnar Motevalli, and Zainab Fattah

May 6, 2021 at 4:00 AM UTC

Updated on

May 7, 2021 at 12:57 PM UTC

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Iraq is carving out a mediating role between Iran and Gulf Arab oil producers including Saudi Arabia, a shift for a country better known as a victim of regional conflict than a conduit to defuse it.

In recent weeks, Iraq convened indirect talks between its neighbors Saudi Arabia and Iran, with a focus on Yemen’s war, where the two countries back opposing sides. Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, a former intelligence chief experienced in regional security issues, is seen by Saudi Arabia and its ally the United Arab Emirates as having a degree of autonomy from Iran. He’s been able to build up trust to make such engagement possible, four people briefed on the talks say.