In order to discuss the lingering political crisis in Iraq, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Iraqi Shia cleric Ammar al-Hakim on Friday.
According to Saudi Arabia’s official press agency, the meeting came after the leader of Iraq’s Hikma Movement, a political coalition, arrived in the Kingdom on an unannounced visit.
Saudi-Iraqi relations alongside a number of issues of common interest were discussed during the meeting, the agency reported.
“The Saudi crown prince and I emphasized the close historical relations between the two brotherly peoples,” Hakim tweeted for his part.
“We discussed the importance of dialogue between the various parties to reach solutions to the current political impasse in Iraq,” he added.
The importance of stability on both sides of the Gulf was stressed and Iraq’s role in mediating between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore bilateral relations was praised by Al-Hakim.
The centrality of the Palestinian cause was also underlined by the Iraqi Shia cleric.
With the aim of resolving the country’s political crisis, al-Hakim’s visit came after his participation on Wednesday in a national dialogue.
Following general elections last October, which has since failed to agree on a new government between rival parties, Iraq has been in a political deadlock for nine months.
