Saudi Arabia Reinvites Iraqi PM Amid Regional Tensions

Saudi Arabia has renewed its invitation for Iraq's prime minister to visit Riyadh in an effort to improve relations between the two countries. The planned trip was cancelled at short notice last month after Iran-backed militias in Iraq launched drones at Saudi energy facilities, prompting a response from Riyadh and the US with airstrikes against the armed groups.

Baghdad finds itself caught in the middle of regional rivalries, seeking to attract investment from its richer Gulf neighbors to develop its economy while being wary of Iranian influence on Iraqi politics. Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz has also had a significant impact on Iraqi oil exports, although Abu Dhabi's ADNOC has helped facilitate some passage through the chokepoint.