DUBAI, UAE - Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Thursday received Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and discussed strengthening bilateral relations and regional issues.

During the meeting, Sudani and the Saudi FM focused on enhancing political and economic ties between Iraq and Saudi Arabia. 

They discussed expanding collaboration across various sectors and emphasized the importance of the Iraqi-Saudi Coordination Council in fostering mutual benefits.

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Al Saud arrived in Iraq on an official visit to explore ways to enhance bilateral relations across multiple fields. 

The talks also covered recent developments in the Middle East, particularly the ongoing conflict in Gaza. 

Sudani and bin Farhan stressed the need for continued joint efforts and coordination among Arab nations and the international community to halt the violence. 

They called on global leaders to take action against what they described as an ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people, advocating for their right to live on their land.

After a 25-year diplomatic hiatus following Saudi Arabia's closure of its embassy in Baghdad in protest of Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait, the two countries resumed diplomatic relations in 2015. 

Since then, they have signed numerous agreements and memorandums of understanding, in addition to exchanging visits between officials from both nations.