Iraq
US ambassador to Iraq Alina L. Romanowski in a meeting with Iraqi Minsiter of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein in Baghdad on February 23, 2023. Photo: INA
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein on Thursday received US ambassador to Iraq Alina L. Romanowski to discuss the results of the minister’s visit to Washington as well as the suspension of talks between the US and Iran.
Iraqi state media cited Ahmed al-Sahaf, spokesperson for Iraq’s foreign ministry, as saying that the meeting touched upon the end of US-Iran talks, as well as the “need to crease a joint mechanism to follow up on the desire results of the visit” by Hussein to Washington earlier last week.
A high ranking Iraqi delegation led by Hussein met with an American government delegation led by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, where both sides discussed the different challenges facing Iraq’s economy and energy sector.
The meeting with Romanowski comes two days after a visit by Iran’s foreign minister to Baghdad.
“The regional role of Iraq has become more prominent today than ever before,” Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told Iranian state media on Tuesday, indicating that Baghdad may play a role in mediating talks between Tehran and Baghdad.
Iraq has played a key mediator role between regional foes Iran and Saudi Arabia, hosting several rounds of talks aimed at de-escalating tension and achieving a ceasefire in war-torn Yemen.
Since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003, Iraq has been caught between the US and Iran, attempting to maintain balanced relations with both. Tehran has since increased its influence over Baghdad, and the country has dozens of armed groups who are affiliated to the Shiite rule in Tehran.
Iraq’s main purchases from Iran are agricultural products, engineering services, construction materials, and energy, such as electricity and natural gas. Baghdad has received waivers from Washington allowing it to buy Iranian electricity and natural gas.
In 2021, indirect talks began in Vienna between the US and Iran aimed at reviving the nuclear deal after the US withdrew from the pact in 2018. However, Negotiations to return to the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), began to falter in September as nationwide protests sparked by the death of a young Kurdish woman engulfed Iran.
Iran’s crackdown on protesters has also triggered renewed harsh condemnations and sanctions on Tehran by Washington.
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