Iranian President congratulates Iraqi counterpart on election win

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Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi congratulated Abdul Latif Rashid on his election as President of Iraq, who was sworn in on Thursday, and sent him messages of support.

Rashid, a former water resources minister, was elected by Iraq's Parliament in what is seen as a major step toward ending a year-long political crisis.

President Ebrahim Raisi hoped that the election of Abdul Latif Rashid as Iraq's new President would be a step toward the country's development and strengthening of Iranian-Iraqi ties.

The President emphasized that Iran has consistently supported Iraqi political developments based on national will and has exerted strained efforts to strengthen brotherly relations with Iraq.

It is worth noting that Rashid was elected as President of the Republic of Iraq on Thursday, after winning 162 votes in the second round of the elections.

Iraq held early legislative elections on October 10, 2021, after which Iraqi parties failed to reach an agreement on electing a new president of the republic and naming a new prime minister.

The Iraqi Coordination Framework's nomination of Mohammad Shia Al-Sudani was a spark that ignited tension between the Framework and the Sadrist movement. 

The latter's supporters staged a sit-in in front of Parliament for about a month, but the Coordination Framework did not back down from its candidate and insisted on the formation of a government with full powers while Al-Sadr demanded the dissolution of Parliament and early elections.