Sudani congratulates Mojtaba Khamenei, sends ‘best wishes’

BAGHDAD — Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani extended congratulations and “best wishes” Monday to Mojtaba Khamenei following his election as Iran’s new supreme leader after the death of his father Ali Khamenei.

In a statement, Sudani also renewed condolences over the death of Iran’s former supreme leader, and others killed since the start of the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran.

“We renew our condolences on the martyrdom of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, along with members of his family and the other martyrs from among the noble Iranian people,” Sudani said.

The prime minister expressed confidence in Iran’s new leadership, saying Iraq trusts in its ability “to manage this critical stage and to move forward in strengthening the unity of the Iranian people in confronting the current challenges.”

“We reaffirm Iraq’s solidarity and its standing alongside the Islamic Republic of Iran, as well as its support for all steps aimed at ending the conflict and rejecting military operations against its sovereignty,” he said.

Sudani’s message follows similar congratulations from a string of prominent Iraqi political and armed factions, including Kata’ib Hezbollah, Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, the Hikma Movement and the State of Law Coalition.

Mojtaba Khamenei is the second son of Iran’s former supreme leader Ali Khamenei. He has worked within the Office of the Supreme Leader and studied at the Qom seminary.