TEHRAN, Feb 14: Iran on Monday hailed the Shia bloc's electoral victory in Iraq that has incited fear in the Arab world and could set the stage for increased tension between Tehran and Washington.

"The tables have now been turned and it would not be wrong to say that it is the dawning of the era of Shia governance in Iraq," wrote a conservative newspaper, Kayhan. The daily called on political factions to "respect the people's verdict" and looked forward to a future without US-led occupation troops in Iraq.

Savouring the prospect of the first Shia-dominated government on its western border and a working relationship with Baghdad after years of enmity, Iranian leaders were yet reluctant to blow their trumpet too loudly.

With many politicians close to Iran listed on the United Iraqi Alliance, Tehran was quick to stress the moderation of Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani, the Iranian-born Shia spiritual leader who sponsored the winning list.

"Those newly elected can only succeed if they agree to share power with all the ethnic and religious communities in Iraq," former Iranian vice president Mohammad Abtahi said. But an Iranian acknowledgement of the victory was enough to fuel fears that Iraqi Shias might push for Islamic rule or govern under undue influence from Tehran.

During the campaign for the Jan 30 national elections, Iranian state television broadcast advertisements not only encouraging Iraqi expatriates in Iran to vote, but also to back the alliance.

For years, Iran sheltered the alliance's two most important members, Abdel Aziz Hakim, head of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, and Ibrahim al Jaafari, head of Dawa, during the Saddam Hussein era. -AFP