In a message sent to his Iraqi counterpart on Wednesday, Zarif referred to the personality of Jafari and his firm command of regional and global political issues, and expressed confidence that the Iraqi foreign ministry would move towards materializing the goals of the country's foreign policy and further improvement of the two countries' relations.
He also pointed to the deep brotherly and friendly relations between Iran and Iraq, and stressed the two countries' mutual understanding of the current sensitive regional and international conditions and the necessity for increasing consultations and enhancing mutual cooperation.
On Monday, the Iraqi parliament officially named Haider al-Abadi as the country's new prime minister, and approved the new cabinet proposed by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, with the majority of the lawmakers backing the prime minister’s programs and the cabinet line-up.
The parliament approved all the candidates proposed for Iraq's new government, with the exception of two posts, namely the defense and interior ministers. Al-Abadi requested an additional week to name them.
Outgoing Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi and former Speaker of Parliament Osama al-Nujaifi were given the largely ceremonial posts of vice-president.
Kurdish politician and former Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari was named as one of three deputy prime ministers.
Former Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jafari was named foreign minister.
Speaking before the parliament, Al-Abadi vowed to "back the military operations in all the areas of confrontation against armed gangs and terrorists and to ensure their continuation till victory is achieved".
Then on Tuesday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry congratulated the Iraqi government and nation on the formation of the new cabinet in that country.
"We hope that in light of continued and strengthened national consensus, the new Iraqi government could overcome the security challenges caused by the terrorist attacks (in that country) and materialize its national plans for the all-out development of Iraq and establishment of security and welfare for the great Iraqi nation in the shortest time," Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham said on Tuesday.
She underlined Iran's continued all-out support for Iraq's new government and Tehran's preparedness for the further development of bilateral ties.
