Iraqi Court Rejects Appeal By Iran-Backed Parties Against Election

Iraq's Supreme Court Monday rejected appeals by Iran-backed Shi'ite factions against the results of the October parliamentary election, the chief judge said.

The decision derails attempts by Iran-backed militia groups and their political candidates to overturn the election result in which they performed poorly.

The Iran-backed factions, including powerful armed groups, had alleged irregularities in the October 10 vote. Judge Jassim Mohammed read out the ruling rejecting their appeal at the court headquarters in Baghdad.

Iran seemed to be endorsing the election results last week when Iraq’s foreign minister visited Tehran and held talks. For the first time, President Ebrahim Raisi described the elections in Iraq as "peaceful and secure."

The biggest winner in the vote was the movement led by Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, an opponent of both Iranian and US influence in Iraq, which won 73 seats, more than any other group in the fractious 329-seat house.

Once the result is confirmed by the Supreme Court, negotiations are expected among Shi'ite, Sunni and Kurdish groups over the formation of a new government to replace the outgoing cabinet led by Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.

Reporting by Reuters