Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze congratulated Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei on his election as Iran’s new Supreme Leader amid continued war in the Middle East.
“On behalf of the Government of Georgia, I congratulate you on your election as the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Georgia attaches great importance to the partnership between our two countries and peoples, founded on mutual respect,” Kobakhidze wrote in a message published by the government administration on March 10. “I wish the Iranian people peace and prosperity,” he added.
Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, was named successor to his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran. His election comes amid an ongoing regional war, as Iran has launched missiles and drones toward Gulf states and other targets in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli strikes.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he was “disappointed” and “not happy” with the selection of Mojtaba Khamenei. Israel’s Foreign Ministry called the new supreme leader “another tyrant,” saying on X that “Mojtaba Khamenei’s hands are already stained with the bloodshed that defined his father’s rule.”
Kobakhidze’s congratulatory message comes amid growing scrutiny of Tbilisi’s ties with Tehran and its stance on the ongoing war. The Georgian Dream government on March 2 extended condolences to both Iran and Israel, stating that “the ongoing hostilities have claimed the highest number of lives [in Iran], including the supreme leader, other political leaders, numerous innocent civilians, and dozens of children.”
On March 7, Georgia’s Foreign Ministry confirmed to local media outlets that a deputy foreign minister made an entry “analogous” to that government’s position in the book of condolences opened at the Iranian Embassy.
Meanwhile, Georgia’s State Security Service has opened a probe into public statements by experts, critics, and opposition figures about alleged recruitment practices by Iran in Georgia, saying it is examining the “contents” and “motives” of those allegations. The agency has summoned several pundits for questioning as part of the probe.
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