Iranian Official Hails Iraq’s Role in Regional Security

TEHRAN– An Iranian parliamentary official praised Iraq for safeguarding its unity and territorial integrity in the face of foreign invasion and terrorist groups, highlighting the Arab country’s role in stabilizing security in the region.

“Iraq has a major role in stabilizing security in the region,” senior adviser to the Iranian parliament speaker for international affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian said Sunday in a meeting with a group of members of Iraq’s new parliament, Tasnim News reported.

He also hailed Iraq’s success in preserving its independence, national unity and territorial integrity against foreign invaders and terrorists as a great achievement of its people, government, parliament and religious leadership.

Iraq has a significant geoeconomic and economic position in the region, Amir Abdollahian further said.

Iraq held parliamentary election in May. Last week, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi called on the political blocs to accelerate their negotiations, and on President Fuad Masoum to invite the new parliament to hold its first session soon.

Following the Supreme Court’s ratification of final results, incoming MPs are now expected to hold a first session to elect a new assembly speaker.

Within 30 days of that first session, a two-thirds majority of the assembly will elect the country’s next president, who will then task the largest bloc in parliament with drawing up a government.

The new government will have to be referred back to parliament for approval.

M.Wassouf