TEHRAN: Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian left for Iraq Friday to participate in a regional summit, the ministry said.
Foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh announced the departure to the “meeting to support Iraq” in a short statement.
The Islamic republic’s new President Ebrahim Raisi has also been invited to the Baghdad summit, but it is not clear if he will attend.
The Saturday meeting seeks to give Iraq a “unifying role” to tackle the crises shaking the region, according to sources close to Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhemi.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II have said they will attend, as has French President Emmanuel Macron, the only official expected from outside the region.
Leaders from Saudi Arabia and Turkey have also been invited.
Iraq is seeking to establish itself as a mediator between Arab countries and Iran.
Baghdad has been brokering talks since April between regional heavyweights Riyadh and Tehran on mending ties severed in 2016.
Raisi, who took office last week, has said he sees “no obstacles” to restoring ties with Riyadh.
He has made improving relations with regional countries one of his priorities.
Iran Foreign Minister heads to Iraq regional summit
https://arab.news/6weap
Iran Foreign Minister heads to Iraq regional summit
- Iraq is seeking to establish itself as a mediator between Arab countries and Iran
GCC says attack on one is threat to all, asserts right to self-defense after Iran strikes
NEW YORK: Gulf Arab states, joined by Jordan and Syria, told the UN Security Council on Saturday that an attack on any one of them constitutes a threat to the security and stability of the entire region, as they condemned Iranian missile strikes on their territories.
Delivering a statement by the Gulf Cooperation Council — which comprises the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain — as well as Jordan and Syria, Bahrain’s UN Ambassador Jamal Fares Alrowaei said: “These attacks are a blatant violation of our sovereignty and territorial integrity, and they threaten the security and stability of the entire region.”
He added that the strikes had caused injuries to civilians, killed at least one person, damaged infrastructure, disrupted air travel and threatened maritime navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
He held Iran fully responsible, saying: “There is no excuse for these cowardly acts, and they cannot be justified under international law or the UN Charter.”
Alrowaei emphasized that the targeted countries reserve their right to self-defense under the UN Charter, and to respond proportionally to protect their territories, populations and national interests.
He also warned against using regional territories as a stage to escalate the conflict, noting prior efforts by Gulf states, Jordan and others to facilitate dialogue with Iran.
Alrowaie urged the UNSC to take a firm stance condemning the attacks and preventing their recurrence, calling for urgent action to contain the crisis and safeguard regional and international peace and security.
