Postponement of the Eighth Baghdad Dialogue in Light of Regional Developments and in Pursuit of a Conducive Strategic Environment

The Iraqi Institute for Dialogue (IID) announces the postponement of the Eighth Baghdad Dialogue, which was scheduled to be held in Baghdad on May 2–3, 2026, to a later date to be determined and announced in due course.

This decision comes in light of the rapidly evolving regional developments and the continued state of uncertainty associated with the ongoing conflict, along with its profound political, security, and logistical repercussions across the region. These conditions currently limit the availability of the necessary prerequisites for convening a high-level strategic dialogue capable of achieving its intended objectives.

The Institute had initiated preparations for this edition of the Baghdad Dialogue based on an assessment that the intensity of escalation might recede, allowing space for diplomatic pathways to emerge. However, an objective reading of the current realities indicates the persistence of a complex regional environment, characterized by overlapping crises and widening trust deficits, which do not, at this stage, permit the establishment of an appropriate framework for a balanced and effective dialogue.

The Iraqi Institute for Dialogue reaffirms that the Baghdad Dialogue was not designed to be merely a platform for discussion, but rather a strategic space for generating ideas and formulating practical approaches that contribute to addressing regional and international challenges. Accordingly, preserving the quality and impact of its outcomes necessitates convening it at a time when the conditions for meaningful participation, genuine engagement, and regional and international readiness to move from crisis management toward pathways of stability are in place.

The decision to postpone also reflects an institutional commitment to maintaining the Dialogue’s standing as a credible platform for strategic discourse, and a determination to ensure that it is held within a context that enables diplomacy to fully perform its role, while laying the groundwork for substantive discussions that help bridge perspectives and advance constructive understanding.

The Iraqi Institute for Dialogue reiterates its commitment to convening the Eighth Baghdad Dialogue at the earliest appropriate opportunity, in line with its mission to support dialogue and promote strategic partnerships. It also expresses its deep appreciation to all partners and international participants for their understanding, and affirms its intention to maintain close communication and coordination with them in the coming period.