Iran pledges respect for Iraq election outcome
Shafaq News – Baghdad
Iran pledged on Tuesday to respect the outcome of Iraq’s sixth parliamentary elections, as Tehran and Baghdad navigated a minor diplomatic flare-up over comments by an Iranian official on US involvement in Iraq’s internal affairs.
Mohammad Kazem Al-Sadiq, Iran’s ambassador to Baghdad, told ISNA that Tehran views Iraq’s elections as “very important,” stressing that the results will determine the country’s next leadership, including the president, parliament speaker, and prime minister.
“We will respect and support the outcome of the Iraqi elections,” Al-Sadiq said, describing ties between the two neighbors as “deep and extensive.” He added that Iran hopes bilateral relations “will continue with the same momentum under the next government.”
The statement came a day after Iraq’s Foreign Ministry rejected remarks by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei, who accused the United States of meddling in Iraq’s domestic affairs.
In a statement, the ministry expressed its “astonishment” at Baqaei’s comments, calling them provocative and an unacceptable interference in Iraq’s sovereignty.
Tuesday’s election marks Iraq’s sixth parliamentary vote since 2003, with 20,063,773 registered voters across 18 provinces. A total of 31 coalitions, 38 political parties, and 75 independent lists are competing under the proportional representation system.
