Iran Backs Regional Dialogue to Address Mideast Issues

Issues in the Middle East need to be addressed through dialogue, negotiation and cooperation among regional countries and neighbors, President Hassan Rouhani told an Iraqi delegation in Tehran on Monday. 
"Stability and security of the region have always been of high importance to Iran," he said in a meeting with a visiting politico-economic delegation headed by Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, the presidential website reported.  
The already volatile Middle East has been experiencing heightened tensions in recent months due to heightened friction between Iran and the United States over the 2015 nuclear deal. 
Washington last year abandoned the deal and reimposed sweeping sanctions on Iran that initiated its reciprocal plan in May by gradually reducing its nuclear commitments as other parties failed to uphold its economic interests.