The visit came amid heightened tensions in the region between the US and Iran, especially after the recent attacks on two major Saudi oil facilities that the US and Saudi governments have blamed on Iran, Saudi Arabia’s arch-rival.
Adel Abdul Mahdi (Front) arrives at the parliament in Baghdad, Iraq (Photo: IANS)
Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi will visit Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to discuss with Saudi leaders the bilateral relations and regional tensions, according to Abdul Mahdi ‘s media office.
Abdul Mahdi’s visit will last several hours, during which he will meet with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed, the office said in a statement on Tuesday, Xinhua news agency reported.
The two countries have strengthened their relations in recent years with a number of senior officials from Iraq visiting the Kingdom.
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A Saudi economic delegation travelled to Iraq in April and during the visit, a new consulate was opened in Baghdad.
A few weeks later, Abdul-Mahdi visited Riyadh and met King Salman.
The visit came amid heightened tensions in the region between the US and Iran, especially after the recent attacks on two major Saudi oil facilities that the US and Saudi governments have blamed on Iran, Saudi Arabia’s arch-rival.
The relations between Iraq and Saudi Arabia have improved since Riyadh reopened its embassy in Iraq in 2016 after 25 years of closure following Iraq’s invasion of neighbouring Kuwait in 1990.
(With agencies inputs)
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