Iraq forms unity govt. amid disintegration bids: Iran

A top Iranian official says a united government has been established in Iraq despite enemies’ plot to disintegrate the country.

“Despite the intention of Iraq’s enemies to prevent the holding of elections and break up the country, all Sunni, Shia and Kurdish groups opposed this issue and finally elected a Sunni parliament speaker, a Kurd president and a prime minister, which was very important,” Ali Akbar Velayati, who is the president of the Center for Strategic Research of the Expediency Council, told reporters on Saturday.

He added that the resignation of former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in favor of new Premier Haider al-Abadi was “very important and a good phenomenon” because this strengthened national unity in Iraq.

“These developments and events were very promising for us because an integrated government has been formed [in Iraq],” Velayati said.

“We have currently more confidence in Iraq’s future. The Iraqi people have proved that they are supporting their country’s integrity,” he added.

On August 14, Iraq’s Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki stepped down to make way for Prime Minister-designate Haider al-Abadi and voiced support for his successor.

On July 24, the main Kurdish blocs in Iraqi parliament picked veteran politician Fouad Massoum as the country’s president. The Iraqi lawmakers also on July 15 elected Salim al-Jabouri, a well-known moderate Sunni politician, as the country’s new parliament speaker.

Earlier in the month, Iraq’s President Massoum appointed the deputy parliament speaker Abadi to form a new government.

Iraq has been fighting ISIL Takfiri terrorists since they took control of the city of Mosul on June 10. The ISIL terrorists have been committing heinous crimes in the captured areas, including the mass execution of civilians and Iraqi security forces.