Unlike Iran, Saudi Arabia never interferes in Iraq: parliament speaker

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) Iraq’s parliament speaker Salim al-Jabbouri has lauded Saudi stances on his country, saying that Riyadh never interferes in Iraq’s domestic affairs.

Speaking to Saudi al-Riyad newspaper, Jabbouri, a senior figure of Iraq’s largest Sunni coalition, said Saudi Arabia has supported Iraq in its war against the Islamic State.

“Saudi Arabia’s rule has obviously helped return Iraq as an Arab decision-maker, and the continuity of that support in the building of the Iraqi state, especially with the kingdom not interfering in our domestic affairs, is important to us”, Jabbouri said.

“Over the past period, Iraq has suffered of states which practiced a presence and interference in its internal affairs”, he said.

“Iran did interfere, and Turkey also had some degree of presence,” according to Jabbouri.

Relations between Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia and the Shia-dominated Iraqi government have been tensional over the past few years due to Saudi Arabia’s opposition to the involvement of Iraqi Shia paramilitary forces in the fight against Islamic State militants.

Saudi Arabia has always been irritated by the influence of Shia Iran, its arch regional enemy, over Iraqi politics. On the other hand, several Iraqi Shia politicians and militia leaders accused Riyadh of supporting terrorists in the country.

But the past year has seen an obvious rapprochement between both countries, with top-level officials exchanging visits and expressing eagerness to boost political, security and economic cooperation.

In October, more than 60 Saudi companies attended the Baghdad International Exhibition.

In July, both countries established a joint coordination council to boost ties on all levels.