Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein Meets Uzbek Counterpart in Istanbul to Discuss Regional Developments and Bilateral Relations

On Saturday, June 21, 2025, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mr. Fuad Hussein, met with Foreign Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Mr. Bakhtiyor Saidov, on the sidelines of the 51st session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), held in Istanbul.

During the meeting, the two ministers discussed recent regional developments, particularly the ongoing Israeli war against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Both sides expressed a shared perspective on the urgent need to end the conflict and resort to political solutions to prevent further escalation.

Minister Hussein highlighted that Iraq is directly affected by the repercussions of this war, given its shared border with Iran that extends over 1,400 kilometers, in addition to the deep historical and cultural ties between the two countries.

On his part, Minister Saidov reaffirmed Uzbekistan’s supportive stance towards Iran in light of the current circumstances. As well he emphasized that Central Asian countries believe in the importance of respecting the rights of the Palestinian people and see regional stability as essential for achieving sustainable development and prosperity.

The two sides also reviewed ways to strengthen bilateral relations and exchanged views on issues of mutual concern. They commended the longstanding ties between the friendly peoples of Iraq and Uzbekistan and underlined the importance of enhancing cooperation in political, economic, and cultural fields.

At the end of the meeting, Minister Saidov extended an official invitation to Minister Fuad Hussein to visit Uzbekistan. Minister Hussein expressed his readiness to accept the invitation at an appropriate time and, in turn, invited his Uzbek counterpart to visit Iraq in order to further advance the bilateral relationship.