Egyptian, Jordanian and Iraqi leaders meet in Baghdad

Egypt's president and Jordan's king have held tripartite talks with Iraq's prime minister in Baghdad

BAGHDAD -- Egypt's president arrived in Baghdad on Sunday on a first official visit to the country in over 30 years, for tripartite talks with Jordan and Iraq to deepen economic and security cooperation. Abdel Fattah el-Sisi was greeted by Iraq's President Barham Saleh upon arriving Sunday morning. It marked the first time Egypt's president paid an official visit to Iraq since the 1990s when ties between both countries were severed after Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. Jordan's King Abdullah II arrived shortly afterwards, he and el-Sisi then met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi. The meetings are seen largely as an attempt to neutralize Iran's influence across the region. Al-Kadhimi also aims to shore up regional alliances and bolster Iraq's standing in the Middle East as a mediator, after it recently hosted talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia focusing on the war in Yemen.