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Iraq welcomed the election of reformer Masoud Pezeshkian as Iranian president on Saturday.

Officials congratulated him on his victory and called for strengthening relations. Meanwhile, experts predicted little change in Iran’s policy toward Iraq, given the influence of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on the issue.

Pezeshkian won the runoff election on Saturday, defeating ultra-conservative Saeed Jalili.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani congratulated Pezeshkian on his victory, wished him success and stressed the depth of relations between their countries.

He called for maintaining coordination at the highest level in all areas to serve common interests.

Iraqi President Abdullatif Rashid congratulated Iran on its election success and Pezeshkian on his victory. He stressed that he wanted to strengthen relations with Tehran.

President of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region Nechervan Barzani conveyed his congratulations and said he looked forward to “further developing the old friendship and continuing joint cooperation with Iran based on common interests and the principle of good neighborliness.”

Kurdish Prime Minister Masrour Barzani described Iran as an important neighbor of the region and of Iraq. He also said that Erbil was interested in deepening relations with the country.

Sudanese international affairs adviser Farhad Alaaldin said Pezeshkian’s term would be a “natural extension of the presidency of the late President Ebrahim Raisi.”

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he said Iraq looks at the “constants” in relations with Iran, regardless of who is in power.

Raisi had planned a visit to Baghdad before his death. Iraq is now looking forward to Pezeshkian continuing the work of his predecessor, he added.

Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei has advised Pezeshkian to follow in Raisi’s footsteps.

Waey Movement leader Salah al-Arbawi said the victory of a reform-minded candidate is unlikely to lead to political changes in Iran. However, the election of a Republican US president who has a history with Iran will lead to several changes in the region, he added, referring to Donald Trump.

Iraq is heavily affected by regional and international developments, he told Asharq Al-Awsat. “The rise of reformists in Iran and Trump’s expected victory are a double-edged sword.”

He added that Iraq does not have full control over its “sovereign decision-making” and is generally vulnerable to developments between Iran and the United States, requiring the authorities to pursue a policy of distancing themselves.

Political scientist Yassine Bakri of Al-Nahrain University said Iranian foreign policy is shaped by several circles, but the final word ultimately lies with Khamenei, especially on strategic issues.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that the IRGC primarily deals with Iraqi affairs. The IRGC works much more closely with Khamenei than with the Foreign Ministry and the President.

Therefore, it does not really matter whether a reformer or a hardliner wins the presidency in Iran, he explained.