BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Parliament has concluded a prolonged period without leadership by electing a new speaker on Thursday. Lawmakers chose Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, a notable Sunni representative who is known for his close ties with Iran. Al-Mashhadani previously held the same position from 2006 to 2009 and received 182 votes from the 269 legislators present during the session, surprising many after months of political stalemate.

The previous speaker, Mohammed al-Halbousi, was removed from his position by the Federal Supreme Court last November following a lawsuit from former lawmaker Laith al-Dulaimi. Dulaimi accused Halbousi of forging his signature on a resignation letter, a claim that Halbousi firmly denied. The court’s decision resulted in the removal of both Halbousi and Dulaimi from their parliamentary roles, but it did not provide further details on the ruling.

In Iraq’s power-sharing framework, the role of speaker is traditionally held by a Sunni member, while the prime minister is a Shiite and the presidency is allocated to a Kurd. The speaker’s responsibilities are crucial for mediating between diverse political factions, which will be vital in promoting government efforts aimed at economic reform and easing internal conflicts.

The election comes at a precarious time for Iraq, which is grappling with significant issues such as the aftermath of regional conflicts and the delicate balancing act of maintaining relationships with both Iran and the United States—two nations backing rival groups in ongoing regional turmoil. Iranian-supported political factions and militias wield considerable influence within Iraq, frequently launching drone strikes against U.S. positions in Iraq and Syria as retaliation for American support of Israel in its confrontations with Hamas and Hezbollah. Recently, these militias have even targeted locations in Israel directly.

At the same time, the Iraqi government is working to maintain its relationship with the U.S., which has been a critical ally in terms of economic and military assistance, particularly in countering the Islamic State militant group. Moreover, Iraq faces widespread corruption and deep-seated internal tensions. In a noteworthy display of diplomacy, lawmakers from the pro-Iranian Shiite bloc and those aligned with former speaker Halbousi found common ground in supporting al-Mashhadani, suggesting hopes for effective consensus-building across political divides.

The new speaker’s agenda will undoubtedly include contentious legislation, particularly a proposed revision to Iraq’s personal status law concerning family matters. Critics of this amendment argue that it would effectively endorse child marriage, adding another layer of complexity to al-Mashhadani’s leadership during this challenging time.