Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Friday praised Iraq for completing "successful" parliamentary elections this week.
The country held its sixth general election on Tuesday since the fall of the Saddam Hussein regime in 2003. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani's coalition, Reconstruction and Development, came first in the election, according to the Independent High Electoral Commission.
His coalition received 1.3 million votes in Tuesday's election, the commission said.
Mr Pezeshkian said the "results reflect the will of the people", during a phone call with Mr Al Sudani.
"President Pezeshkian congratulated Prime Minister Al Sudani and his political coalition, Reconstruction and Development, on securing first place in the national elections results," a statement by Mr Al Sudani's office said.
The Iranian president wished the Iraqi people "continued progress in their path to democratic nation-building and the achievement of comprehensive development."
The two leaders also discussed "bilateral relations and ways to further strengthen them in a manner that supports regional stability and serves the interests of both the Iraqi and Iranian people," according to the statement from Mr Al Sudani’s office.
Iraq has for years sought to balance the competing interests of its neighbour Iran and relations with the US.
Iran has enjoyed influence over Iraq's internal affairs since 2003 by installing Shiite allies in Baghdad's Parliament, as well as by supporting armed groups. But Tehran's regional clout has weakened after Israeli attacks inflicted heavy losses on regional proxies and on Iran itself in the two years since the Gaza war began.
The overall voter turnout in the elections reached 56.11 per cent, according to the commission.
“The voter turnout is clear evidence of another success, reflected in the restoration of confidence in the political system,” Mr Sudani said in a televised speech following the announcement of the initial results on Wednesday.
Top among the Tehran-aligned political parties and the armed factions was the former prime minister Nouri Al Maliki’s State of Law Coalition, the National State Forces Alliance led by Shiite cleric Ammar Al Hakim, the Badr List led by senior politician Hadi Al Amiri, and Al Sadiqoun List, which is linked to an armed faction led by Shiite cleric Qais Al Khazali.
