Iraq Set to Help Resumption of Iran Nuclear Talks 

Baghdad is pushing for the resumption of stalemated talks on the revival of Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the Iraqi foreign minister said. 
“We hope Washington and Tehran will return to the Vienna talks,” Fuad Hussein said during a press conference with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Baghdad on Wednesday. 
He also stressed that an understanding between Iran and the United States is important to Baghdad. 
The 2015 deal promised sanctions relief to Tehran in return for curbs on its nuclear program, but the United States pulled out in 2018 and reimposed tough sanctions that prompted Iran to scale down its commitments. 
The two began indirect talks in Vienna, Austria, in early 2021 to work out how they could both resume compliance, but the negotiations have been stalled for months over final issues. 
Several countries, including Iraq, have been trying to act as intermediary to facilitate the resumption of talks. 
“It is no secret that Iraq has had a positive and constructive role in the course of Vienna talks,” Amir-Abdollahian said at the press briefing. 
He added that Iran is ready to move toward the conclusion of negotiations through diplomacy, based on previous discussions and the Islamic Republic’s red lines. 
“If the American side chooses another path, we are ready for our alternative plan,” he said. 
Amir-Abdollahian was on an official visit to Baghdad at the top of a delegation, where he met several top Iraqi officials. 
During his meeting with Hussein, he described Iran-Iraqi relations as strategic, expressing hope that a security cooperation agreement and the high commission for economic cooperation between the two countries would be finalized as soon as possible.
He also said the activity of separatist and terrorist groups in northern Iraq are unacceptable, appreciating the Iraqi government’s efforts to address these issues. 
Hussein underlined that the Iraqi government would not allow its territories to be used for assaults against other countries as per the constitution. 
He shared the results of his recent consultations with Washington about Iran, including on banking and trade waivers. 
The Iranian minister also hoped that issues related to Iraq’s debts, that have remained unpaid as a result of US sanctions, would soon be resolved completely. 
He thanked the Iraqi government for its efforts to bring about reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia, as well as Iran and Egypt. 
Border security, operation of Iranian companies in Iraq, dredging of Arvandroud (river) and Iran-Iraq railroad project were among other topics of discussion between the two. 
Amir-Abdollahian also met Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani, President Abdul Latif Rashid and Parliamentary Speaker Mohammed Al Halbousi during his stay.