Iraq seeks to host U.S.-Iran dialogue in Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani said Tuesday that his government is communicating with both Iran and the United States to explore establishing a dialogue platform in Baghdad for the two nations.

Iran and the United States have experienced strained relations in recent days, as Washington has repeatedly threatened to intervene in Iran's recent protests triggered by currency depreciation and inflation.

Al-Sudani made the remarks during a meeting with European Union ambassadors, warning that the world is experiencing widespread instability due to a "weakening of the international order" and an "extremely dangerous" return to "the logic of force, wars" and imposed wills, according to a statement by al-Sudani's media office.

The prime minister also noted Iraq's progress in taking over security responsibilities. He said Iraqi forces have recently taken full control of the Ayn al-Asad Airbase in the western Anbar province from the international coalition tasked with fighting against the Islamic State (IS), and that the coalition's mission at the Harir Air Base near Erbil in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region is scheduled to conclude by September.

Regarding neighboring Syria, al-Sudani expressed concern over the growing presence of IS elements and other extremist groups currently held inside prisons, noting that security in Syria requires collective responsibility and genuine international cooperation. ■