Baghdad, Jun 19 (IANS): Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah arrived in Baghdad on Wednesday for talks with Iraqi leaders over bilateral relations, international and regional developments, the media reported.

The Kuwaiti Emir, heading a ministerial delegation for an official visit, met Iraqi President Barham Salih, according to state-run Iraqiya channel.

The Emir was also expected to meet Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi and Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halbousi to discuss bilateral ties and the developments in the Middle East, Xinhua news agency reported.

The relations between Kuwait and Iraq have strengthened in years. Earlier, their diplomatic ties were cut when Iraqi former leader Saddam Hussein invaded neighbouring Kuwait in 1990.

The visit is the second for Sheikh Sabah since he became the Kuwaiti Emir in 2006. On March 29, 2012, he headed a Kuwaiti delegation to the Arab summit held in Baghdad.

His latest visit came just days after two oil tankers were attacked in the Gulf of Oman off the Iranian coast amid rising tensions in the Middle East between the US and Iran.

Some Gulf Arab countries and the US blame Iran for the attacks which threaten oil supplies that pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran has denied all accusations.