ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iran’s foreign ministry on Monday slammed “American interference” in Iraq’s parliamentary elections, asserting that it is to the detriment of the entire region despite Tehran routinely facing accusations of interfering in Baghdad’s affairs. 

“Any foreign interference in this process is condemned and rejected by the Iraqi people, the government of this country, and other responsible countries. American interference is definitely harmful,” ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said in a presser, responding to a question about sanctions imposed by the US on Shiite actors within Iraq and Washington’s alleged attempts to remove Iran-backed militias from the elections. 

Iraq is poised to hold parliamentary elections on Tuesday, where more than 7,750 candidates are competing for 329 parliamentary seats under a proportional representation system. The country held an early polling process on Sunday to allow security forces, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and detainees in certain facilities to cast their ballots.

“History and experience show that whenever the US intervenes in various countries, the result has been to the detriment of the peace and stability of that country and the entire region,” Baghaei added, hoping that the process “will be for the good of the Iraqi people and in strengthening the stability and security of the entire region.” 

“Our big neighbor certainly knows how to manage its problems with other players. Our relationship with Iraq is very important and friendly, and we are confident that whatever the election results, this friendly process between the two nations will continue,” Baghaei asserted.

Iran has been repeatedly accused by Western countries, such as the US, of exerting political influence among Iraq’s ruling elites and certain Iraqi armed factions. 

Around 20 million people have registered to cast their ballots in the upcoming general election, out of a total of some 29 million who were eligible to submit their biometric data to participate in the process.