Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has met with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and discussed strengthening political and economic relations.
An official Iraqi source said Wednesday that Tehran had asked Sudani to stick to Iraq's role in bringing views between regional countries closer.
On Tuesday, Sudani arrived in Tehran on an official visit where he met senior leaders, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Ebrahim Raisi.
Sudani's media office said the meeting with Amir-Abdollahian discussed the bilateral ties and their development, affirming Iraq's pivotal regional role and its efforts to strengthen security and stability.
The meeting addressed boosting economic and trade relations through constructive cooperation and partnership.
The source indicated that the Iranian leaders assured their full support for the new Iraqi cabinet to overcome obstacles.
He told Asharq Al-Awsat that the meetings addressed border safety, including the security between the Kurdistan region, Iran, and Iranian opposition bases, noting that they agreed on coordinating on drug control, among other topics such as economy and trade.
Iran requested that Iraq continued its role in the region to bring different views closer, according to the source.
Under the former cabinet, Iraq sponsored an Iranian-Saudi dialogue and held five rounds of dialogue between Riyadh and Tehran.
Iraq was preparing to complete the diplomatic aspect of the dialogue, but the leaders were busy with the government formation.
Professor of political science at al-Nahrain University Amer Hassan Fayyad said that Iraq can continue to mediate, noting that it enjoys a unique position among Arab and regional countries, especially in mediating between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Fayyad told Asharq Al-Awsat that Iran is aware that only Iraq can mediate with Gulf states, especially Saudi Arabia.
Iraq can also mediate between Iran and the US, said Fayyad.
