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The Turkish Foreign Ministry congratulated Ali al-Zaidi on being tasked with forming Iraq's new government on Friday.
The ministry expressed hope the process would be completed swiftly and announced Ankara's intention to advance its strategic and institutional cooperation with Baghdad "to include regional dimensions."
Al-Zaidi recently said he was "determined to form a government that responds to citizens' demands for security, stability and comprehensive development."
The Turkish Foreign Ministry released a written statement and said, "We congratulate Mr. Ali al-Zaidi on his nomination as Iraq’s Prime Minister-designate following the elections of the Speaker of the Council of Representatives and the President, in line with the constitutional process, and wish that this development will be auspicious for the Iraqi people."
"We hope that the process of forming the new government in Iraq will be completed without further delay," the statement noted.
"Türkiye aims to further advance the strategic and institutional cooperation with Iraq, including its regional dimensions, in the upcoming period, drawing strength from the deep historical, societal, cultural and economic ties between the two countries," the ministry concluded.
Ali al-Zaidi is a businessman with degrees in law, finance and banking, and a postgraduate degree in finance and banking.
He chairs the board of directors of a private university in Baghdad and previously chaired a bank's board of directors. He has not previously been active in formal politics and is a member of the Iraqi Bar Association.
Zaidi's first statement was: "We are determined, working with all political forces, to form a government that responds to our citizens' demands for security, stability and comprehensive development."
He said his government program would "include priorities that consider risk assessment, seize opportunities and make Iraq a balanced country at the regional and international level."
Iraqi President Nizar Amedi tasked al-Zaidi on April 27 after he was nominated by the Coordination Framework, the largest bloc in parliament.
The Coordination Framework had initially announced former PM Nouri al-Maliki as its candidate, but Trump warned that the U.S. would stop assisting Iraq if Maliki returned to the premiership, effectively blocking his candidacy.
Under Iraq's constitution, Zaidi has 30 days from his mandate to form a cabinet and secure a vote of confidence in parliament.
Several Shiite, Sunni, Kurdish and Turkmen political parties congratulated Zaidi and expressed support.
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