The Iraqi prime minister is making an unannounced visit to Tehran to push for a diplomatic initiative as US aggression against Iran continues.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi made an unannounced visit to Tehran on Friday to hold diplomatic talks aimed at ending the US-Iranian military standoff.
During the several-hour visit, Zaidi met with Mohammad Bajar Ghalibaf, head of Iran's negotiating team and speaker of the parliament, to discuss Baghdad's diplomatic mediation.
According to Iran's Fars news agency, the discussions focused on regional diplomatic initiatives, with Kalibaf stressing that Washington must respect Iran's rights within Tehran to advance negotiations.
The quiet diplomatic push coincided with statements by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Bakaei, who clarified to reporters that while Tehran had not made a new offer, its existing "two-day plan" remained active on the negotiating table.
Baka'i reiterated that any viable resolution requires an immediate end to the illegal US naval blockade, the complete removal of unilateral economic sanctions, the lifting of the Iranian state asset freeze and a permanent cessation of hostilities.
Baghdad's mediation comes as regional governments push to escalate the broader regional crisis triggered by the joint US-Israeli war that began on February 28, which has severely disrupted maritime traffic and regional security.