IRNA – Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman on Monday welcomed the results of recent parliamentary elections in the neighboring Iraq which determined the winners of 329 seats of the Council of Representatives.

Iran and Iraq enjoy good relations and the Islamic Republic is optimistic about the future of relations with the new government in Baghdad, Bahram Qasemi said in a press briefing on Monday.

Iraq is a sovereign state and Tehran respects the Iraqi people's right to determine their destination, he added.

Of 24 million Iraqis qualified for voting, 11 million participated in the major political event held on May 12. Various coalitions are negotiating to form the new government of Iraq.