The story: High-ranking Iranian and Saudi officials have met in Baghdad for a fifth round of talks. The two sides agreed on a series of practical steps to improve relations, Amwaj.media has learned, paving the way for further talks “in the coming weeks”—including an upcoming session in Oman.

The resumption of diplomacy in Baghdad between the regional powerhouses follows a seven-month lull in the engagement in Iraq. Importantly, the meeting comes also comes in the shadow of a ceasefire in Yemen, where Saudi Arabia is mired in a years-long war with the Iran-backed Ansarullah movement, better known as the Houthis.

The participants: Hosted by Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, Saudi intelligence chief Khalid Al-Humaidan and Deputy Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Saeid Iravani met on Apr. 21, each heading senior delegations...