TEHRAN, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry on Saturday congratulated Mohammed Rikan Hadeed al-Halbousi on his election as the new speaker of Iraq's parliament.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi expressed hope for the immediate formation of new government in Iraq.

Qasemi said that Iran "has been always a supporter of Iraq's democracy, territorial integrity and sovereignty, and supports the decisions made by the representatives of people."

On Friday, Iraq's parliament elected al-Halbousi as speaker, paving the way for the establishment of a new government four months after the national election.