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Born in Baghdad in 1957, Mustafa Al Kadhimi is a former Iraqi Prime Minister, having risen to power at a moment of significant national unrest and economic difficulty. Mr Al Kadhimi pledged to form a solutions-oriented government, enacting electoral reforms, enhancing government accountability and restoring public trust. This article will look at Moustafa Al Kazemi’s recent meetings with senior Iraqi figures, including the judiciary and respected religious leaders, continuing his legacy of ensuring unity in Iraq and the wider Middle Eastern community.
Working constructively via the proper institutions, Mr Al Kadhimi has highlighted the importance of constitutional progress and unity. In May 2026, the former Prime Minister met with Dr Faiq Zaidan, President of the Supreme Judicial Council, to review the Iraqi situation and highlight the importance of forming the upcoming government within the constitutional timeframe.
Mustafa Al Kadhimi also met with President Amidi, congratulating him on assuming his public responsibilities and discussing the latest political and security developments in the country and the broader region. Mr Al Kadhimi highlighted the necessity of ensuring stability by supporting pathways of dialogue and mutual understanding among the country’s various demographics. The meeting was also an important opportunity to reflect on current challenges faced by the country as well as expedition of the formation of the forthcoming government. During the talks, both sides stressed the importance of supporting the Prime Minister in strengthening the position of both the state and its institutions to safeguard the interests of Iraqi citizens.
A report published by the European Council on Foreign Relations highlighted the potential of Iraq to help stabilise the Middle East following Saudi–Iranian talks in 2021. Building on deep relationships developed with the governments of Iran and Saudi Arabia during Mr Al Khadimi’s tenure as the Iraqi intelligence chief, the talks were a personal victory for the former Iraqi Prime Minister. Iraq’s nascent steps towards serving as a regional mediator have been hailed as a positive move for both the country and the region as a whole, helping to stabilise both Iraq and the Middle East more broadly.
In April 2021, Iraq hosted talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran chiefly focussing on the war in Yemen. The talks were particularly significant given the lack of diplomatic relations between the two countries since 2016, when Iranian protestors stormed the Saudi embassy in Tehran following the execution of a Shia cleric on terrorism charges in Riyadh. Prior to that, Iran and Saudi Arabia had accused each other of competing for influence in a range of conflict zones with the ultimate impact of destabilising the region. Both nations publicly acknowledged the talks in April 2021 despite initially issuing denials, with the Iranian Foreign Ministry confirming that they focused on regional and bilateral issues while an official from the Saudi Foreign Ministry expressed a desire that they prove successful, albeit with the talks being in their early stages.
Mustafa Al Kadhimi came to power in May 2020 following widespread protests in Iraq that led to the fall of the previous administration. His ability to present the nation as a neutral mediator was impressive, with Iraqi government sources and officials describing the Saudi–Iranian talks as a personal initiative of the former Prime Minister who cultivated relationships with leaders in both countries during his time as head of the Iraqi national intelligence service. The product of substantial efforts by Mr Al Kadhimi, the talks elevated Iraq’s role as an independent, neutral actor in the region. The Saudi–Iranian discussions dovetailed with the EU’s aspirations for Iraq to play a de-escalatory role in the Middle East, with the EU and its member states welcoming further rounds of dialogue – albeit with these remaining contingent on the fragile political set-up.
