BAGHDAD — A summit organized by Iraq brought together regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran on Saturday as part of a broader effort by Iraqi leaders to fashion the country’s image as a friend among neighbors. Scarred by more than three decades of war, Iraq is recasting itself as a mediator among neighbors who are often at odds over weighty issues, including the civil war in Syria and U.S. sanctions against Iran. The summit, hosted by Parliament Speaker Mohamed al-Halbousi, brought together top lawmakers of Iraq’s six neighbors: Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey, Jordan, and Kuwait. Abdul-Mahdi made visits in quick succession to Iran and Saudi Arabia earlier this year, emphasizing that Iraq would not favor one or the other in the rivalry between them. “Iraq is coming back to the neighborhood,” President Barham Salih told The Associated Press in a nearly hour-long interview last month.

Source: Washington Post April 20, 2019 11:18 UTC