BAGHDAD, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi President Barham Salih on Saturday met with the Iranian Ambassador to Iraq Iraj Masjedi amid rising tension between the United States and Iran.

A statement by the presidency's media office said that Salih received Masjedi at the presidential office in Baghdad where the two discussed the "latest political developments in the region."

It said that the two sides stressed the need to "adopt a positive dialogue to reduce tensions in the region and establish stability."

The meeting came amid the tense situation in the region after U.S. President Donald Trump decided not to re-issue the sanctions waivers for major importers to continue buying Iran's oil when they expired in early May.

The United States has also increased its military activities in the region recently, citing a threat of Iranian "attack."