BAGHDAD: Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani welcomed on Monday the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s new supreme leader after his predecessor and father was killed in US and Israeli strikes. “We express our confidence in the ability of the new leadership in the Islamic Republic of Iran to manage this critical stage,” and to further strengthen “the unity of the Iranian people” amid the current challenges, Sudani said in a statement.

Iran appoints Mojtaba Khamenei as new supreme leader, succeeding his father amid tensions with the U.S. and Israel.

Mojtaba Khamenei is expected to continue the hardline rule of his father, who was killed in US-Israeli strikes last week.