Shafaq News- Baghdad
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Husseinsaid on Sunday that disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz had severely affectedIraq's financial and economic situation by disrupting oil exports, adding thatBaghdad was ready to host talks between Gulf states and Iran to help reach aregional settlement.
Speaking at a joint press conferencein Baghdad with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, Hussein said the visitcame after the talks in Switzerland, the signing of the US-Iran Memorandum ofUnderstanding, and the formation of Iraq's new government. Despite theagreement, he noted, military operations and clashes were continuing around theStrait of Hormuz.
Hussein reaffirmed that dialogueremains the cornerstone of Iraq's foreign policy, stressing Baghdad's rejectionof war and attacks against any country. He said Iraq had helped facilitatecontacts between Tehran and Washington and sought to narrow differences betweenthe two sides before the conflict escalated into war.
On relations with Iran, Husseindescribed the ties as historical, geographic, cultural, religious, economic,and strategic, thanking Araghchi for keeping the Iraqi government informedthroughout the negotiations and the conflict.
The Iraqi foreign minister added thefighting had caused heavy casualties across several countries, including Iraq,which he said had come under attacks from multiple directions, warning thatcontinued hostilities would only deepen the region's destruction.
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Baghdad has put forward proposals tohelp end the conflict and is prepared to host representatives from Iran and theGulf states for talks on regional security, Hussein said. "We are ready toserve both sides to end the state of war…The presence of the Iranian foreignminister in Baghdad among his family and friends is very important at this time.”
Earlier today, Araghchi arrived in theIraqi capital for a one-day official visit. Sources told Shafaq News that histalks with Iraqi officials would cover Baghdad's readiness to settle duesrelated to Iranian gas exports, the possible release of frozen Iranian fundsand assets held in several countries, including Iraq, under the US-IranMemorandum of Understanding, as well as security concerns involving Iranianopposition groups based in Iraq and other political and regional issues.
: No exit but Hormuz: Iraq's economic vulnerability exposed
