Tehran supports the end of Maliki’s rule, formation of new government by Abadi

(IraqiNews.com) Tehran has announced its support for Haider Abadi’s mandate to form the next federal government in Iraq.

The representative of the Islamic Revolution Leader, Secretary of Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani, said that the Islamic Republic of Iran supports the legal path, which was adopted on the election of the new Iraqi prime minister.

Shamkhani congratulated on Tuesday Haider al-Abadi for election to the office of Iraqi Prime Minister. Also, he congratulated the religious authority, the people and the Iraqi political blocs.

Shamkhani called all Iraqi parties and blocs to unity to maintain national interests, taking into consideration the Iraqi constitution and the sensitive situation in Iraq in order to face external threats.

Iraqi President Fuad Masum had commissioned Abadi on Monday to form a government to end the rule of Nuri al-Maliki, which lasted eight years. However, al-Maliki refused to step down after the publication of Special Forces and militias in the streets. Iranian officials have said recently that Iran believes that al-Maliki is no longer able to maintain the unity of Iraq and were looking for an alternative leader to tackle the extremists Sunni insurgents.