ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani met Sunday with the US Secial Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack, discussing ways Iraq can continue supporting stability and economic recovery in Syria and strengthen its own situation vis-a vis the region.

Sudani and Barrack discussed "practical avenues through which Iraq can continue supporting Syria’s stability, security, prosperity, and economic revival in ways that also reinforce Iraq’s own stability and prosperity."

The two officials also spoke of the need to prevent further escalation in the region and to advance diplomatic efforts to resolve disputes. Both sides emphasized that dialogue and cooperation could help steer the Middle East toward economic growth and long-term stability.

The US official underscored Iraq’s “constructive and essential” role in achieving these shared objectives.

Iraq has repeatedly engaged with the new Syrian administration of President Ahmed al-Sharaa, playing a salient role in mediating between Damascus and Tehran following the toppling of former leader and key Iran ally Bashar al-Assad in December.

Political sources told The New Region in October that official Iraqi delegations, including representatives from the intelligence service and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, have secretly visited Damascus, where they held meetings with senior officials in the Syrian foreign ministry. The discussions reportedly focused on reopening communication channels between Tehran and the new Syrian leadership.

Khalifa al-Tamimi, a professor of political science, told The New Region that Iraq is uniquely positioned to mediate between Tehran and Damascus.

“Baghdad has proven in recent years that it can handle sensitive regional files,” Tamimi said. “Iraq maintains direct relations with Syria’s ruling authorities, as shown through repeated meetings between the prime minister and the intelligence chief, who has traveled to Damascus several times to discuss political and security matters.”

US President Donald Trump-appointed envoys have played a salient role in projecting US influence in the Middle East, with Barrack having played a key role in Damascus' transition following the deposition of Assad, and Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner having been intimately involved in the peace process between Israel and Hamas.

Barrack has also led the push for the removal of Assad-era sanctions on Syria, hastened by Sharaa's seminal visit to the White House in early November that saw Trump further express his support for lifting economic measures against Damascus.