Top Iran, Iraq Diplomats Discuss Relations, Region

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein who is in Tehran to meet Iranian officials, held talks with his counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif on Tuesday. 
The two top diplomats discussed bilateral ties as well as regional and international issues, ISNA reported. 
Hussein is expected to officially invite Iranian President Ebrahim Raeisi to a key summit of regional leaders which aims to defuse regional tensions, according to Iraq’s foreign ministry.  
Iraqi Prime Minister Al-Kadhimi has appointed a committee to work on preparations for the summit, which sources said will be held in Baghdad at the end of August or the beginning of September and bring together representatives from Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, Syria, and a few other Arab states, in addition to representatives of the European Union.
The office of al-Kadhimi confirmed the summit on Monday evening, saying it is to be held in coordination with France whose President Emmanuel Macron plans to attend the conference. 
Hussein had earlier delivered an official invitation letter to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday while Planning Minister Khaled Battal Al-Najm handed a written invitation to the Emir of Kuwait Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah o Tuesday. 
The agenda includes addressing security issues, as well as political and economic stability.

Regional Facilitator

Baghdad has been promoting itself as a regional facilitator. Al-Kadhimi has recently said that Iraq will seek to play a bigger role in bringing regional powers together.
It has also sought to play peacemaker between regional and international powers including the United States, Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Along this line, Iraqi officials are planning to hold a bilateral meeting between Saudi Arabia and Iran on the sidelines of the Baghdad conference, according to Al-Mayadeen TV channel. 
“Baghdad seeks to end the severance of ties between Tehran and Riyadh following closed-door bilateral meetings,” the channel reported. 
Tehran and Riyadh cut diplomatic ties in 2016 and have been at odds on a number of regional issues. 
Both sides, however, seem to be taking steps toward rapprochement and have recently held direct talks in Iraq.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has called for the two nations to overcome differences that have divided the region.
He noted that their joint “interests” could “push the region and the world toward prosperity.”
Iranian officials also welcomed a “dialogue-oriented approach,” saying Iran and Saudi Arabia can enter a new chapter of interaction and cooperation to achieve peace, stability, and regional development.