ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday congratulated Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi after the Iraqi parliament voted in favor of his government, expressing his hopes for a "new chapter of strategic cooperation" between the two countries.

Zaidi on Thursday had his program for government approved by a majority of the 270 lawmakers who attended the parliament sitting, with 14 of 23 ministerial posts having been successfully appointed.

"Iran will remain by Iraq's side on the path of development and the consolidation of security," the Iranian president wrote in a congratulatory message on X.

"I hope that in this new phase, and drawing on the deep ties between our two peoples, we will witness a new chapter of strategic cooperation."

The day prior, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi extended his well-wishes to the businessman-turned-premier and Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, the latter of whom retained his portfolio, saying that expanding "friendly and fraternal relations" between Tehran and Baghdad remains a top priority for Iran.

The United States also welcomed the development, with US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack saying on Thursday that Washington looked forward to working with the new government on "a sovereign, prosperous, stable Iraq, at peace with its neighbors."

He added that US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were ready to cooperate closely with Baghdad on economic development and counterterrorism efforts.

Both Iran and the US maintain strong influence in the Iraqi political sphere, exemplified when Trump late last year rejected State of Law Coalition leader Nouri al-Maliki's bid for the premiership, sending government formation efforts into turmoil.

Zaidi has presented himself as a compromise figure in Iraqi politics, backing stronger state control over weapons and closer economic cooperation with foreign partners, while also rejecting the use of Iraqi territory for foreign military operations.