Iraqi FM Fuad Hussein stressed for Direct Negotiations between Iran and the US

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On Thursday, the Iraqi foreign minister called for direct negotiations between Iran and the United States. The Iranian media reported that FM’s comments came days before world powers are set to resume talks over the tattered nuclear accord in Vienna. Iraqi FM Fuad Hussein met with his Iranian counterpart in Tehran and issued a press conference. He stressed that increasing tension between Iran and the United States directly affects the stability of his country. Hussein said, “Any opening in Tehran-Washington relations will positively impact Iraq’s internal situation from political, economic, and security perspectives. We think it’s time for direct talks between Tehran and Washington so that the two countries reach a common understanding not only on the nuclear issue but also on sanctions imposed on Iran”.

Point to be noted that Tehran’s 2015 atomic deal with world powers provided Iran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program. The former US President Donald Trump withdrew from the accord 3 years ago. So, Iran stepped up its nuclear program and now spinning a stock of Uranium enriched to 60% purity. Iranian government struck a hard line in negotiations since conservative President Ebrahim Raisi came into office. The European Union said that the parties to the landmark deal will resume their efforts on Monday. However, Iran has rejected to directly speak with American officials in the rounds of talks since the US abandoned the accord. Iraqi Foreign Minister also touched on the hasty evacuation and sudden death of Iran’s top diplomat in war-torn Yemen, Hassan Irloo.

It is noteworthy that Washington has identified Irloo as a member of Iran’s powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. Hussein said the US cooperated with Saudi Arabia and Iran to transfer Irloo on an Iraqi plane from Yemen to Tehran. Iranian authorities said Irloo died of COVID-19. Yemen’s Houthi rebels had sought permission for his transfer from Saudi Arabia, which maintains an air blockade on Yemen’s capital of Sanaa. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian repeated calls for the US to lift sanctions before Iran walks back its nuclear advances. He said, “We say it out loud that if you want your concerns over Iran’s peaceful nuclear issue to be removed, then all of the nuclear deal-related sanctions must be removed. We will attend the upcoming round of talks with Saudi Arabia in Baghdad”.