Some Arab media outlets said the Iraqi-Egyptian rapprochement was provoking Saudi Arabia, given Iraq’s submission to Iran. In addition, some are warning Sisi of the consequences of the deepening relationship with Iraq based on the tension with Saudi Arabia, particularly with regard to the Egyptian labor force in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
Some might say Iraq and Egypt need each other, since after Aramco stopped supplying Egypt with oil, the Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum looked for a replacement but Iraq was the one to take the initiative since it needs Egypt, especially in terms of military expertise, just like Egypt needs oil.
Iran was kept in the loop of the oil rapprochement between Iraq and Egypt, and perhaps it was not even far from the political rapprochement when Egypt refused the presence of Turkish troops in Iraq. Now Tehran insists on the necessity of Cairo taking part in the Lausanne talks on Syria, to win the largest number of supporters and for Egypt to join the Iranian alliances on the Syrian crisis.
Iraq is certainly not going to be the sole beneficiary of supplying Egypt with oil; in addition to Cairo, Tehran may be the biggest beneficiary since it needs to strengthen its Arab alliances against Saudi Arabia, especially if it is with a former ally of Riyadh.
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