Iraqi PM makes 'fruitful' trip to Cairo, possible Egypt-Iran reconciliation discussed

Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Tuesday, negotiating agreements and discussing possible Egypt-Iran reconciliation talks

Al-Sudani arrived in Cairo on Monday, accompanied by a large delegation which included cabinet ministers, the Iraqi central bank governor, and other officials. He met with Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly upon his arrival.

On Tuesday, the Iraqi premier and Egyptian president discussed bilateral relations between the two countries, which a government statement from Baghdad described as "witnessing tangible progress at various levels".

The talks focused on regional and international issues of "common interest."

رئيس مجلس الوزراء @mohamedshia يلتقي، في قصر الاتحادية، رئيس جمهورية مصر العربية @AlsisiOfficial .

وأكد سيادته أهمية إنضاج العمل المشترك، لمواجهة مختلف التحديات والأزمات، وتحقيق التكامل في مجالات عدة، بما يسهم في تحقيق التنمية المستدامة للبلدين والمصالح المتبادلة لشعبيهما. pic.twitter.com/xC5sMrsbCH

— المكتب الإعلامي لرئيس الوزراء 🇮🇶 (@IraqiPMO) June 13, 2023

Sudani later held a joint press conference with Madbouly.

An Iraqi official accompanying the visiting delegation to Cairo’s New Administrative Capital told The New Arab’s Arabic-language sister site Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the meeting discussed economic partnership, most notably trade and customs exemptions, and facilitating the work of Egyptian companies in Iraq, especially in the field of construction and infrastructure.

رئيس مجلس الوزراء @mohamedshia يؤكد مباشرة الحكومة بتنفيذ مشاريع مهمة في قطاعي السكن والتربية، فضلًا عن تأسيس صندوق العراق للتنمية برأس مال قدره ترليون دينار، وستتفرع منه صناديق تخصصية للسكن والمدارس والكهرباء والزراعة والصحة والصناعة، وسيكون التنفيذ من قبل القطاع الخاص، الذي… pic.twitter.com/js5Fn1wqG8

— المكتب الإعلامي لرئيس الوزراء 🇮🇶 (@IraqiPMO) June 13, 2023

The official, whose name was not given, said the meeting dealt with Baghdad’s proposed meditation between Cairo and Tehran and the "necessity" that it be continued.

Egypt and Iran have held talks in the Iraqi capital previously this year, but the outcome of the discussions has not officially been announced by Cairo.

Political analyst Ihsan al-Shammari said that Sudani’s visit to Cairo was tied to a recent visit by a top Iranian official to Baghdad that was reportedly linked to the Egypt-Iran talks.

"The timing of the visit by Iraqi PM Sudani to Egypt is very important, it comes just after a visit by Iran’s Quds Force commander Esmail Ghaani to Baghdad, also it comes within Iraq’s efforts to mediate between Iran and Egypt," Shammari, who heads the Iraqi Political ThoughtCenter in Baghdad, told The New Arab.

For Egypt, Iran is a security threat known for aiding Islamist and militant groups of concern to Cairo, including Hezbollah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and others, argues Thaer Mansour https://t.co/htVvD5XRfo

— The New Arab (@The_NewArab) June 5, 2023

"The visit also aims at translating the Iraqi policy of openness towards Arab countries, as well as implementing previous agreements - either the bilateral deals between Iraq and Egypt, or the trilateral alliance among Iraq, Egypt and Jordan," he said.

Ahmed al-Eidani, a professor of international relations at the University of Baghdad told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that Iraq’s meditation between Egypt and Iran was the main topic of discussion.

"The presence of [Iraqi] mediation may mitigate the objection exercised by political and armed forces allied to Iran," al-Eidani said, in reference to Iranian-backed Shia militias that have operated for years in Iraq and hold sway.

He said those same factions before "exerted pressure on previous [Iraqi] governments to hamper any Iraqi rapprochement with countries like Jordan and Saudi Arabia."

But Eidani added that Sudani’s closeness with Iran could help his efforts in trying to build bridges Tehran and Cairo.

Iraq’s Trade Minister Atheer al-Ghurairy said that the two sides agreed to increase trade, announcing the signing of 11 memorandums of understanding.

The minister told Iraq’s state-run news agency INA that the memorandums signed by the two parties are in the fields of sports, tourism, urban planning, culture and more.

🌇#مشاريع_مصر🇪🇬|
شهد الدكتور مصطفى مدبولي، رئيس مجلس الوزراء، والمهندس محمد شياع السوداني، رئيس وزراء جمهورية العراق، اليوم بمقر مجلس الوزراء بالعاصمة الإدارية الجديدة، توقيع 11 وثيقة تعاون بين جمهورية مصر العربية وجمهورية العراق. pic.twitter.com/f4Kfen5iun

— مشاريع مصر Egypt (@EgyProjects) June 13, 2023

He welcomed Egyptian investment in Iraq, saying the Iraqi market was "wide open and promising".

The Middle East has in recent months seen rapprochement between long-time foes, such as the historic China-brokered agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran in March.

The Syrian regime, suspended from the Arab League since the start of the war there in 2011, was also welcomed back to the pan-Arab body this year, as Damascus and Riyadh re-established ties.

Other non-Arab countries in the region such as Turkey are also seeking better ties with the Syrian regime after supporting rebel groups for over a decade.

Turkey and Egypt have also re-established ties after years of tension and animosity.