Iraqi prime minister-designate Adnan al-Zurfi \nrevealed on Saturday that he did not meet with new Iranian Revolutionary\n Guards Quds Force Commander Esmail Ghaani during his trip to Baghdad \nthis week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking at a press \nconference in Baghdad attended, Zurfi revealed that he will send the \ngovernment lineup to parliament and will await the legislature to set a \ndate to vote on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He rejected claims that his appointment was constitutionally flawed, vowing that he will fulfill his mission \u201cto the end\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThose opposed to the government can express their position at parliament alone,\u201d he added. \u201cIt is in our best interest to respect the sound rotation of power.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zurfi\u2019s appointment has been flatly rejected by the Fateh alliance, headed by Hadi al-Ameri, who is aligned with Iran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zurfi questioned the rejection, adding, \nhowever, that anyone has the right to do so but within democratic \nboundaries. \u201cI am banking on lawmakers from blocs that expressed their \nreadiness to support me,\u201d he added on whether his designation will be \napproved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On whether those rejecting him are being \ninfluenced by foreign powers, namely Iran and significantly after \nGhaani\u2019s visit, Zurfi stressed that he did not meet with the Quds Force \nleader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI did not receive word from him that he really opposes my designation,\u201d he said, Asharq Al-Awsat reported. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI received information from the Iranians that they do not want to interfere in the government formation process.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On how he plans to balance the tensions played out between the United States and Iran in Iraq, he said, \u201cMy policy is based on keeping Iraq away from parties seeking to settle scores on its territory.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He stressed that he wants to establish \u201cbalanced\u201d ties with all sides and that he wants to achieve Iraq\u2019s interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On his government program, Zurfi told \nreporters that it prioritizes resolving the economic crisis, meeting the\n demands of protesters and holding early elections, and establishing \nbalanced relations with all foreign powers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The United States is fiercely opposed the \nclose relationship between Iran and Iraq. The religious and cultural \naffinity between Iran and Iraq are so strong that more than 2 million \nIranians visit Karbala, where the shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is \nlocated, to observe Arbaeen rituals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Iran was also on the side of Iraq in defeating Daesh, also called ISIL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daesh celebrated the U.S. assassination of General Qassem Soleimani, Iran\u2019s legendary commander in the war against terrorism.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Iraqi prime minister-designate Adnan al-Zurfi revealed on Saturday that he did not meet with new Iranian Revolutionary Guards Quds Force Commander Esmail Ghaani during his trip to Baghdad this week. Speaking at a press conference in Baghdad attended, Zurfi revealed that he will send the government lineup to parliament and will await the legislature to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3098,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8,1,6],"tags":[1083,1082,31,562],"yoast_head":"\n