ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iran’s foreign ministry on Monday hailed Iraq’s efforts to revive talks between Tehran and Washington, after the two countries agreed to hold renewed talks in Baghdad. 

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Saturday revealed that Tehran and Washington have agreed to hold meetings in Baghdad, with Iraq urging the US to lift economic sanctions on Iran and to engage with the country “respectfully and to avoid threats.”

“Iraq’s concern over regional stability, similar to Iran’s own concern for the security of its surroundings, is worthy of appreciation,” Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said during a presser.

Iranian authorities have previously stressed that negotiations with Washington could be possible if the US changes its approach and the discussions are held on the basis of mutual respect and equality.

“Our Iraqi friends and other regional countries know well, given the experience of the past five or six months, that starting a negotiation process requires the parties’ commitment to the etiquette of negotiations,” Baghaei said, stressing that “until this is available, talking about a negotiation process cannot be realistic.”

Baghdad has also stressed the need to lift the crippling economic sanctions on Tehran “as a goodwill initiative” to resume negotiations between both parties, Sudani stated in a televised interview with the Hezbollah-affiliated Al Mayadeen on Saturday

US President Donald Trump, during his first term, unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal that alleviated economic sanctions on Tehran in return for curbing its nuclear program. 

Trump signed a memorandum in February to restore his maximum pressure policy on Iran, introducing a series of new economic measures during his second term as president.

The two sides engaged in several rounds of indirect talks to restore the deal, but the process stopped following Israel’s large-scale offensive against Iran in June, targeting Iranian nuclear and military facilities across the country and killing dozens of high-profile military commanders and nuclear scientists.

The US demands Iran halt its nuclear and missile programs. Tehran routinely refuses the prospect of negotiating its missile system, while showing openness to engage in dialogue over its nuclear program, but refusing to comply with zero enrichment.