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Iraq's newly sworn-in president pledged support for efforts to end the wars gripping the Middle East and condemned ongoing attacks against his country, as he took office following a parliamentary vote that made him the nation's sixth head of state since 2003.
Nizar Amedi, whose full name is Nizar Mohammed Said, was elected in parliament's second round of voting, securing 227 of 249 ballots cast. He was sworn in before the legislature before delivering his inaugural remarks.
Amedi opened by acknowledging both the gravity of his new role and the scale of challenges facing Iraq. He emphasized his commitment to working "in full cooperation" with the executive, legislative and judicial branches, stressing the need for strong coordination across state institutions.
The new president said he would remain committed to an "Iraq first" principle, signaling a nationalist governing philosophy as his administration's guiding framework.
Turning to regional affairs, Amedi was direct: "We support efforts to end the war in the region. We also condemn attacks against Iraq." The remarks reflect the delicate position Baghdad occupies as a country that shares borders and deep political ties with several parties to ongoing regional conflicts.
Iraq has long navigated competing pressures from neighboring Iran and from the United States, both of which maintain significant influence over Iraqi political and security affairs.
Born in 1968 in the Amedi district of Duhok province in Iraq's north, Amedi graduated from the Faculty of Engineering at Mosul University in 1993. He went on to serve in the secretariat office of Jalal Talabani, the late statesman.
He subsequently served as chief of the presidential office under both Talabani and his successor Fuad Masum, giving him an unusually long and direct exposure to the functions of the Iraqi presidency before assuming the role himself. Between 2022 and 2024 he served as Iraq's Minister of Environment. He also holds the position of head of the Baghdad office of the Iraq's northern Political Bureau.
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