Iran stresses need for inter-Iraqi dialogue

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Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told his Iraqi counterpart that Tehran sees that "resolving issues in the Iraqi political arena through the legal framework" is the most optimal way out of the crisis, noting that the country is undergoing tensions in light of the Sadrist Movement leader Muqtada Al-Sadr announcing that he was retiring from politics.

A statement issued by the Iranian Foreign Ministry after Abdullahian met Monday with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein, "stressed the Islamic Republic of Iran's viewpoint regarding resolving issues in the internal Iraqi arena within the framework of legal processes and preserving the authority of the Iraqi government."

"Fouad Hussein sees the bilateral ties between the two countries as highly important and appreciates the reasonable point of view of the Islamic Republic of Iran with regards to the internal developments in Iraq," the statement added.

Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi also received Iraqi Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein. He told the top Iraqi diplomat that "security and stability in Iraq can only be established through dialogue."

"Iraq's initiatives to improve the atmosphere of cooperation among the countries of the region without foreign interference will be effective in promoting regional integration," Raisi told the Iraqi official.

"The five rounds of dialogue between Iran and Saudi Arabia, mediated by Iraq, are beneficial, and rebuilding and strengthening relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran is beneficial to the security of the region," Raisi stressed.

The main political leaders of Iraq agreed earlier in the month to work on a political road map that culminates with a solution to the impasse that has had a hold on the country for nearly a year, but key political leader Muqtada Al-Sadr was not present at the talks called for by Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi met with top national officials and party leaders on Wednesday to discuss the political state of the country and the deadlock it is undergoing without the participation of the leader of the Sadrist movement.

Nearly a year after the country's general election, Baghdad is still running without a new government, prime minister, and president due to domestic disagreement about forming a coalition.

Leader of the Sadrist movement Muqtada Al-Sadr said earlier today that he was quitting politics. In a tweet, Sadr announced his final resignation from politics and the closure of all his party offices.

Al-Sadr's supporters have been staging a sit-in outside Iraq's parliament for several weeks, after storming it on July 30 to protest the Coordination Framework's nomination of Mohammad Shiya Al-Sudani for Prime Minister.