Dubai: Iraq’s influential Shiite cleric Moqtada Al Sadr made a rare visit to Saudi Arabia on Sunday, where he met the Saudi crown prince and other officials, Saudi state news agency SPA reported.Iraq and Saudi Arabia announced last month they were setting up a coordination council to upgrade strategic ties as part of an attempt to heal troubled relations between the Arab neighbors.
Saudi Arabia reopened its embassy in Baghdad in 2015 following a 25-year break, and in February Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir made a rare visit to Baghdad.
Al Sadr commands a large following among the urban poor of Baghdad and the southern cities, including Saraya Al Islam, or Peace Brigades militia.
He has organised large and effective anti-government demonstrations against the Iran-friendly government of Haider Al Abadi and his predecessor Nouri Al Maliki.He met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah and discussed issues of common interest, SPA reported.
Riyadh has long-complained that Iran is meddling in the affairs of Arab states, pointing to Iraq as a prime example.
Gulf News broke the story of the cooperation council in April, in an exclusive interview with Ahmad Jamal, Iraq’s foreign ministry spokesman.
Jamal denied that Iraq was under the influence of Iran and that “Iraq will never be Iran’s backyard”.
“Iraq was unfortunately caught in the middle of the dispute between Saudi Arabia and Iran, but we do consider ourselves as a Gulf country and are keen on improving our relationship with GCC states and other Arab countries,” Jamal told Gulf News.
