Al-Araji, Iranian envoy stress diplomacy to address regional issues

BAGHDAD — National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji met Thursday with Iran’s Ambassador to Baghdad Mohammad Kazem al-Sadeq, emphasizing dialogue and diplomacy to promote regional stability as U.S.-Iran tensions remain elevated.

Al-Araji said “the Iraqi and Iranian peoples share deep-rooted historical ties and multiple cultural and social commonalities,” and stressed the importance of “adopting dialogue, diplomacy, and constructive communication in addressing issues between countries, in a way that contributes to calming tensions and consolidating stability in the region.”

The meeting comes as Iran and the United States are engaged in indirect nuclear talks, including a third round of discussions in Geneva. U.S. officials have warned Iran could face consequences if a deal is not reached, with ongoing disagreements over Tehran’s nuclear activities and sanctions pressure from Washington.