TEHRAN – Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi on Saturday congratulated Mohammed Rikan Hadeed al-Halbousi on his election as the new speaker of Iraq’s parliament, hoping for the immediate formation of new government in Iraq.

In a statement, Qassemi said the Islamic Republic “has been always a supporter of Iraq’s democracy, territorial integrity and sovereignty, and supports the decisions made by the representatives of people,” the Foreign Ministry website reported.

It came after Iraq’s parliament elected al-Halbousi as speaker, paving the way for the establishment of a new government four months after the national election.

MH/PA