Cordial Ties to Iraq Will Grow

Saudi Arabia does not have much room for maneuver in Iraq despite the electoral victory of a political bloc led by the cleric Moqtada al-Sadr whose rare visit to the oil kingdom last year signaled a possible rapprochement with Riyadh, says a lawmaker. The Sairoon electoral list backed by Sadr and who has challenged both United States and Iran—won the parliamentary election, winning 54 parliamentary seats, Reuters reported, citing a Saturday announcement by the electoral commission.
"Saudi Arabia may be able to wield influence on certain people in isolated cases and for a limited period. But the overall situation in Iraq is not against Iran from different perspectives, and Iran has a diverse connections in Iraq," Elias Hazrati told ICANA.