On October 12, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Baghdad and met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. The meeting took place amid heightened regional tensions in the Middle East, particularly the Israel-Hamas conflict and related unrest in Lebanon.
During the talks, both sides focused on measures to boost bilateral ties, security cooperation, and coordination on regional issues. Araghchi stressed the importance of maintaining security and stability in Iraq and expressed a desire to strengthen economic ties between the two neighboring countries.
For his part, Prime Minister al-Sudani reaffirmed Baghdad’s support for diplomatic efforts to de-escalate conflicts in the region. He highlighted Iran’s influence over armed groups in the Middle East, especially as cease-fire negotiations in Gaza and Lebanon have yet to yield tangible results.
Araghchi’s visit to Iraq is part of Iran’s shuttle diplomacy aimed at rallying regional support for Tehran’s stance while reducing the risk of a broader conflict. He previously held similar talks in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
