Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Wednesday for talks on regional security and bilateral cooperation, reaffirming Baghdad’s opposition to the use of Iraqi territory to launch attacks on neighbouring countries.
The meeting, held at the start of al-Zaidi’s Gulf tour, comes as Baghdad seeks to contain regional tensions and strengthen economic and investment ties with Saudi Arabia.
Al-Zaidi condemned the targeting of Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport and attacks that harm civilians and civilian infrastructure, according to a statement from his office.
He reiterated "Iraq’s unwavering position against the use of its territory as a launchpad for any attacks or actions that undermine the security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and countries in the region."
He also stressed Iraq’s commitment to good neighbourly relations and respect for the sovereignty of Iraq and other states.
The two leaders discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations, in particular security coordination to address regional challenges. Mohammed bin Salman expressed Saudi Arabia’s support for the Iraqi government’s efforts to promote dialogue and regional stability, the statement said.
Iraqi sources told The New Arab that the talks would cover security developments alongside economic and trade relations, with energy and investment also on the agenda.
"Baghdad has expressed its rejection of the use of its territory as a launchpad for attacks on Gulf states or other neighbouring countries," the sources said.
They added that armed groups inside Iraq had made several attempts in recent weeks to derail the visit.
Visit follows military escalation
Al-Zaidi’s trip had originally been scheduled for July but was postponed following joint US-Saudi air strikes on Popular Mobilisation Forces headquarters across seven Iraqi provinces.
The Popular Mobilisation Forces announced an initial toll of 20 people killed and 32 wounded. Iranian nationals were also killed in the strikes.
The visit marks the first high-level political engagement between Baghdad and Riyadh since the latest military escalation.
Mukhtar al-Mousawi, a member of the Iraqi parliament’s foreign relations committee, told The New Arab that the agenda included efforts to contain the escalation and end the war through diplomacy and dialogue.
Talks would also address closer cooperation between Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, he said.
"Al-Zaidi is carrying messages from political forces setting out Iraq’s position: staying out of the wars taking place in the region, protecting the country’s security and interests, and preventing its territory from being used for any attack," al-Mousawi said.
He added that Iraq was seeking stronger engagement with Arab and regional countries to contain crises and limit their consequences.