Iran said on Tuesday it backs the legal process to elect a new Iraqi premier, a day after the nomination of Haidar al-Abadi for the post.

Iran said on Tuesday it backs the legal process to elect a new Iraqi premier, a day after the nomination of Haidar al-Abadi for the post.

Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani made the remarks, noting that the new Iraqi prime minister should be named by the majority fraction at the parliament as envisaged in the constitution.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran supports the legal procedure paved for choosing the new Iraqi prime minister," Shamkhani said, addressing the annual forum of the Iranian ambassadors to different world states in Tehran on Tuesday.

"The legal frameworks envisaged in Iraq's Constitution, which is the country's national convention, present the basis for the election of the prime minister by the majority fraction at Iraq's national assembly," he added, according to Fars news agency.

The Iranian official also called on all Iraqi groups and coalitions to keep united and respect the frameworks of national unity to protect the country's national interests and the rule of the law, and demanded them to show much care and attention to the sensitive situation in Iraq which is faced with foreign threats.

Earlier on Monday, Iraq's President Fuad Masum has asked al-Abadi to form a new government.

Abadi has been nominated as prime minister, while Shiite parties, including the State of the Law which has the majority fraction at the parliament, have named incumbent Nouri Maliki as their choice for premiership.

According to Iraq's constitution, the majority fraction at the parliament should name the prime minister. Also according to the constitution, the country's president should be a Kurd, while the parliament speaker should be chosen from the Sunnis and the Prime Minister should be appointed from the Shiites.

Maliki has made it clear he wants to stand for a third term, and earlier said he intends to take the president to court.