Soleimani was in Iraq to discuss de-escalating Iran-Saudi tensions

LONDON: Qassem Soleimani, the Iranian Quds Force commander who was killed in a US drone attack in Baghdad on Friday, was in Iraq to negotiate a de-escalation in tensions with Saudi Arabia, according to the Iraqi prime minister.

Adel Abdul Mahdi, Iraq’s caretaker prime minister, told his parliament on Sunday that President Trump called him to ask for help in mediating with Iran after the American embassy in Baghdad was attacked, international media reported.

On Tuesday, people belonging to Kataib Hezbollah overran security and scaled the walls of the embassy. No Americans were injured during the protests. Trump blamed Iran for the embassy incidents and threatened retaliation.

The attack on the embassy on Tuesday unfolded after thousands attended the funerals of the Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah fighters killed in the American airstrikes last Sunday. US fighter jets bombarded three locations in Iraq on Sunday night, in retaliation for last week's 36-rocket attack which killed an American contractor and injured several others at a base in Kirkuk, 170 miles north of Baghdad. On Sunday the US struck a total of five Kataib Hezbollah controlled weapon depots in Iraq and Syria, killing at least 25 people and wounding 51.

Abdul Mahdi said he worked hard to defuse tensions outside the embassy. He said he went so far as to threaten to resign if the crowds did not disperse. Abdul Mahdi even told Iraq's parliament that Trump thanked him for his efforts. He expressed disappointment that while the American president was grateful, he was also simultaneously planning an attack on Soleimani.

Soon after Trump made his request to Abdul Mahdi for mediation, US forces launched their drone strike on Friday killing Soleimani, the Iraqi leader said.

Abdul Mahdi slammed the Americans for what he called a ‘political assassination’ in targeting Soleimani. Abdul Mahdi suggested that the Iranian military leader was in Baghdad as part of Iraqi-mediated negotiations with Iran’s main regional rival, Saudi Arabia. He said that Soleimani was going to meet him on the same day that he was killed.

“He came to deliver me a message from Iran, responding to the message we delivered from Saudi Arabia to Iran,” Abdul Mahdi said. The Iraqi leader did not provide any further details. Tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia have been high since September, when Iran was blamed for an attack on Saudi oil facilities.