Iran’s Araghchi hails new Iraqi cabinet, welcomes Fuad Hussein’s renewed term as FM

BAGHDAD — Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi congratulated Iraq on Thursday following parliament’s confidence vote, expressing particular satisfaction over the reappointment of Fuad Hussein as foreign minister.

“I congratulate the formation of the new Iraqi government under Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, and the continuation of my brother Fuad Hussein in his position as Iraq’s foreign minister,” Araghchi said in a post on X. “Expanding friendly and brotherly relations between Tehran and Baghdad has always been at the top of our foreign policy priorities.”

Iran’s ambassador to Iraq, Mohammad Kazem al-Sadeq, also congratulated Iraqi leaders following the vote.

Parliament approved 14 ministers Thursday during a session attended by 266 lawmakers before Zaidi and the cabinet took the constitutional oath. Several ministries remain unresolved, with confidence withheld from nominees for planning, higher education, interior, construction and housing and culture. Voting on defense, labor, migration and youth and sports was postponed following political disagreements inside parliament.