The Jerusalem Post (Link) - Seth J. Frantzman (October 14, 2024)
Iran's Foreign Minister Araghchi tours region, seeking alliances against Israel, focusing on Gaza conflict, and discussing ties with Iraq, Oman.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has been on a regional tour, on a mission to improve Iran’s ties with Saudi Arabia, and cement ties with Iraq, Oman, and Qatar – all with the goal of ensuring Israel’s isolation. This extends to Iranian officials visiting Lebanon and Syria and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin; Iran is trying to put together a regional and global alliance against Israel.
On Sunday, Araghchi met Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani and his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein in Iraq. Their discussion extended beyond just Iran-Iraq relations to focus on Israel, Lebanon, and Gaza. His trip came on the backdrop of Iranian-backed militias in Iraq seeking to attack Israel with drones.
He then went to Oman, a state that recently conducted joint military drills with Iran. Iranian media stated that Araghchi discussed Israel’s “genocidal war in the Gaza Strip.” He met Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Al Busaidi as Iran “embarked on intensive talks with regional nations in a bid to hold the Israeli regime accountable for the ongoing war in Gaza,” Iranian state media IRNA noted.