ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – A wide range of parties have congratulated Iraq’s new prime minister, Mustafa al-Kadhimi, following his confirmation to his new position by the Iraqi parliament in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Those welcoming Kadhimi include the Middle East’s two long-standing rivals: Saudi Arabia and Iran, as well as other countries in the region.

On Friday, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman spoke by phone to Iraq’s new prime minister to express “the kingdom's keenness to strengthen relations between the two countries,” particularly in the areas of “development and security,” according to the Saudi Press Agency.

Kadhimi, the former head of Iraq’s National Intelligence Service, and before that, a journalist, is reported to have a particularly “close relationship” with the Saudi Crown Prince, according to the French news agency, AFP.

Iran’s Foreign Minister, Mohammed Javad Zarif, tweeted his best wishes to Kadhimi “for success in forming a new Government,” while adding that Iran “always stands with the Iraqi people and their choice of administration.”

In addition, Jordan, Kuwait, and Turkey all issued their own congratulations to Iraq’s new prime minister.

Washington has also welcomed Kadhimi’s confirmation and, reportedly, used its influence to encourage the Iraqi parliament to approve him in his new position.

Kadhimi’s confirmation ends a five-month political deadlock, precipitated by the resignation of Iraq’s former prime minister, Adil Abdul Mahdi, following protracted popular protests against chronic poor governance in Baghdad.

The new Iraqi government faces a host of problems. They include disputes between Erbil and Baghdad, even as both sides have expressed their hopefulness in resolving those issues. The Kurdish leadership has welcomed Kadhimi to his new post, while Kadhimi has pledged to address problems with Erbil on the basis of the Iraqi constitution.

Kadhimi must also deal with the coronavirus pandemic that is crippling governments worldwide, as well as the economic repercussions of falling oil prices, which are one consequence of the global economic shutdown caused by the disease.

Moreover, attacks from the so-called Islamic State are increasing, despite Baghdad’s declaration of victory over the terrorist organization in December 2017 under the then-prime minister, Haider al-Abadi.