Aoun wishes new Iraqi PM ‘full success,’ stresses Beirut-Baghdad cooperation

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun wished new Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi "full success" in his duties during a phone call Friday, emphasizing "the importance of pursuing cooperation between the two brotherly countries in various fields."

The Iraqi leader, who secured a vote of confidence from Parliament on Thursday, in turn assured that "Iraq will always stand by Lebanon and its people," especially "in the difficult circumstances" the country is facing.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri also sent a congratulatory message to Ali al-Zaidi, wishing him "success and achievement" in his new role to meet "the aspirations of the brotherly Iraqi people for progress, prosperity, stability and development."

He also praised Iraq's "constant support" for Lebanon "in various fields," in a context where "Lebanon and the Lebanese are facing ongoing Israeli aggression targeting people, infrastructure and all aspects of life in the country."

Since 2021, Lebanon and Iraq have been linked by a barter agreement allowing Beirut to obtain fuel to power the Electricité du Liban (EDL) power plants. The agreement, which has been renewed several times, provides for flexible payment terms to support the public electricity supplier, which has faced financial difficulties and technical limitations since the onset of the economic and financial crisis that erupted in 2019.