Iran’s senior envoy to Baghdad has dismissed speculation about discord between Tehran and Iraqi Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr, describing him as a “dear and influential friend and brother” of the Islamic Republic.
In an interview with Alalam TV, Ambassador Iraj Masjedi said Iran “welcomes and supports the will of the Iraqi people” in the recent parliamentary election. He congratulated the Iraqi parties, groups and alliances that won seats in the legislature, Tasnim News Agency reported.
Highlighting Iran’s “warm and friendly ties” with the Iraqi people from varying political affiliations, the ambassador underlined that Tehran has “constructive relations with all (Iraqi) groups and coalitions in the neighboring Arab country.
He denied media reports of division between Iran and Sadr, the Shiite figure whose bloc came out on top in the recent vote, saying, “Seyyed Muqtada al-Sadr is a dear and influential friend and brother in our friend and neighboring country Iraq.”
Masjedi lauded what he called “age-old and deep-rooted relations” between Iran and the influential Shiite leader, saying the Islamic Republic had close ties with his highly respected father and uncle.
Sadr's Sairoon coalition took 54 out of 328 seats in the May 12 parliamentary election.
With no bloc winning the 165 seats required for an outright majority, negotiations to form a coalition government in Iraq are expected to drag on for weeks.
