Iran, Iraq urge regional dialogue, cooperation for peace

President Seyyed Ebrahim Raeisi on Sunday called for dialogue among regional nations to settle issues and bring peace and calm to the region as he hosted Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi for key talks in Tehran.

“We believe that dialogue among regional officials can resolve regional issues,” Raeisi told a joint press conference after talks with Kadhimi, who flew to Iran after paying a visit to Saudi Arabia.

He added that peace and calm can be established in the region should all regional leaders play their roles.

The president stressed that foreign interference in the region and normalization of ties with Israel only add to the problems.

He pointed to the “futile” war in Yemen and demanded an immediate end to the devastating conflict, launched by Saudi Arabia and a number of its allies in 2015.

“Undoubtedly, the continuation of this war is futile and will only result in the suffering of the Yemeni people, so this war must be ended as soon as possible,” Raeisi said.

The president also called for talks between Yemeni groups and the lifting of the Saudi siege on the country which was imposed months after the war broke out.

Kadhimi echoed Raeisi’s remarks on the need for joint efforts to address “critical issues that regional nations are facing.

"We agreed to work together to bring stability and calm to the region," he said at the press conference.

The Iraqi prime minister also said the two neighbors agreed to voice their support for a cease-fire in Yemen and the need for dialogue to end the war.