Baghdad offers to mediate in growing row between Saudi Arabia and Iran

[webfact]

Baghdad offers to mediate in growing row between Saudi Arabia and Iran
By Seamus Kearney



"Iraq is at the heart of the region and we have sought to use our broad relations with Arab countries and other countries"

LONDON: -- There is an offer of mediation from Baghdad in the growing feud between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

The Iraqi foreign minister is in the Iranian capital meeting his counterpart there, amid fears of a new sectarian conflict.

This after Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia executed a Shi’ite dissident cleric, angering Shi’ite Muslim Iran.

Ibrahim al-Jaafari, the Iraqi Foreign Minister, told a joint news conference: “Iraq is at the heart of the region and we have sought to use our broad relations with Arab countries and other countries so that Iraq can play its role and alleviate tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia. This responsibility has been given to us”.

Among those expressing their anger against Saudi Arabia are Shi’ite Muslims in Iraq.

Riyadh and some of its allies, including Bahrain and Djibouti, have also cut off diplomatic ties with Iran after the Saudi embassy there was ransacked by protesters.

Bahrain is also claiming that it has captured what it calls a “terrorist” group planning attacks in the kingdom.

Local media claim the cell is linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and Hezbollah.

There is no reaction yet from Saudi Arabia to the Iraqi offer to act as mediator.

Riyadh executed the Shi’ite cleric and 46 others, including three other Shiite dissidents and al-Qaida militants.

-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-01-07

[jaidam]

Any info out there regarding costings for the wall that will eventually have to be built around the whole middle east? I would have thought it a better solution to achieve harmony through dialog and diplomacy, but when dealing with a deranged cult all bets are off, common sense does not dictate strategy for these zealots. I would advocate subterranean fencing down to about 100 meters and above ground the same, you can't be too sure.

[kiwikeith]

The Saudi's (usa) to negotiate with Iraq (USA) sounds fair.

[neverdie]

Baghdad is flat out immersed in it's own chaos, seriously. 555555