Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani offered his congratulations to Mohammed Rikan Hadeed al-Halbousi on his election as the new speaker of Iraq’s parliament, expressing hope that ties between the two neighbors would develop on Halbousi’s watch.
In a message released on Saturday, Larijani hailed bilateral relations in all areas, parliamentary ties in particular, as very close and hoped that efforts would focus on further expanding ties.
“The great nation of Iraq has a special place in the minds of the people and government of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the Majlis speaker said.
“God willing, we will witness development, welfare and peace for the noble Iraqi nation after establishment of security in that country.”
The Iraqi parliament elected Mohammed al-Halbusi on Saturday, paving the way for the formation of a government more than four months after legislative polls. Halbusi was the candidate of a pro-Iran bloc led by Hadi al-Ameri's Conquest Alliance -- a coalition of anti-terrorist veterans close to Tehran, AFP reported. Iraq has been in political paralysis since the May 12 ballot, but election of the speaker is expected to help solidify parliamentary alliances.
The new speaker was governor of the Sunni-majority province of Anbar, a key battleground in the war against the self-styled Islamic State terrorist group, before his election to parliament on a local list in May. Born in 1981, he is the youngest speaker of parliament in Iraq's contemporary history.
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