Saudi crown prince, Iraqi PM discuss relations by phone

By Ibrahim Saleh

BAGHDAD

Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi on Thursday received a phone call from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, according to a statement released by Abdul-Mahdi’s office.
The two leaders reportedly discussed bilateral ties and Riyadh’s continued support for the Baghdad government.
Thursday’s phone call was the first conversation between bin Salman and Abdul-Mahdi since the latter assumed office late last year.
Abdul-Mahdi, for his part, reportedly called for stepped-up relations between Baghdad and Riyadh.
In recent years, Iraq has sought to improve relations with Arab states of the region, especially the Arab Gulf States.
Some observers attribute this policy to Baghdad’s desire to reduce its dependency on neighboring Iran and avoid regional conflicts.