As Iraqi PM departs for Tehran, Saudi Arabia struggles to counter Iran’s influence in Iraq

Tabnak – While the Iraqi prime minister is going to visit Iran for the first time in a bid to expand bilateral ties, Saudi Arabia is trying to counter Iran’s influence in the neighboring country by offering tempting deals. The Iraqi officials, however, show no sign of willingness to sacrifice their good relations with Iran for the sake of the Saudis of other foreign actors.

Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi is scheduled to come to Iran on Saturday, a member of his office said, in his first official visit to the country rivaling Washington for good ties with Baghdad. The first official visit of the Iraqi premier to Iran, at the top of a high-ranking delegation, will come at an official invitation by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

Abdul-Mahdi would spend two days in the neighboring country, a member of his office said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press, arabnews.com reported.

He is expected to discuss “the issue of trade outside the framework of sanctions” in addition to “the rapprochement and the convergence of views between Iran and Arab countries,” the official was quoted as saying by AFP.

Meanwhile, it was reported on Friday that Saudi Arabia has reopened its consulate in Iraq as Riyadh seeks closer ties with Baghdad amid Iran’s growing relations with his neighboring Arab country following the defeat of Daesh (ISIS). The diplomatic mission in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad was inaugurated on Thursday during a ceremony attended by senior Iraqi and Saudi officials.

Saudi Minister of Trade Majid bin Abdullah al-Qasabi was leading a business delegation to Iraq as part of efforts to enhance ties between the two nations. Following the reopening of the consulate, he told reporters that the move marked a "new phase" in relations between Riyadh and Baghdad.

Al-Qasabi also said that the kingdom would provide Iraq with one billion dollars in loans for development projects plus $500 million to boost exports and a gift of a 100,000-seat sports stadium to be built on Baghdad's outskirts.

The Middle East Monitor writes that the Saudi move is thought to be prompted by Iran’s deepening influence in Iraq which increased following the US led invasion of 2003. While Tehran capitalised on the situation due to cultural ties between the two majority Shia Muslim nations, Saudi Arabia’s influence in the region by contrast had been limited.

However, Iran’s influence in Iraq has economic aspects as well and Iran currently is the second-largest supplier of imported goods to Iraq. Iran played a key role in Iraq’s victory in fight against Daesh terrorists. A high-ranking Iraqi delegation also arrived in Iran on Tuesday, Mehr News Agency reported.

A string of top officials have visited the Iraqi capital in recent months, including Iranian president in March, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in January, and a host of Arab leaders.

Back in March, President Rouhani made a historic visit to Iraq, which was described by experts as Iran’s response to US President Donald Trump’s snap trip to Iraq in December.