Mustafa Kadhemi was nominated by the Iraqi president on Thursday as the country’s third prime minister-designate this year, moments after predecessor Adnan Zurfi ended his bid to form a government.
The nomination ceremony was attended by the country’s top political figures, indicating an unprecedented support for Kadhemi.
Among them were gatherings attended by Iranian General Ismail Qaani, who has headed Iran’s powerful Quds Force foreuign operations unit since a US drone strike in Baghdad killed his predecessor Qasem Soleimani in January.
Tehran holds vast political and military influence in Iraq, and its approval is seen as necessary for any prime ministerial candidate.
Before Zurfi, former minister Mohammad Allawi had also been unable to pull together a cabinet.
Kadhemi, meanwhile, has long had close links with the United States but political sources say he has also improved ties with Tehran in recent months.
He now has 30 days to submit his cabinet lineup to the 329-member parliament for a vote of confidence.
Kadhemi has ascended to the role at a challenging time for Iraq, now facing a budget crisis brought on by the collapse in world oil prices and the spread of the novel Coronavirus.
