U.S. President Barack Obama described the appointment of a new Iraqi prime minister as a "step forward" for the country.

In an interview on Monday at Martha's Vineyard, where the president is vacationing with his family, Obama addressed the crisis that Iraq is currently facing, adding that he will support the country and its new government.

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Obama called the appointment a "critical effort" for the Middle Eastern country. He also conveyed his approval for Iraq's move to help set-back the Islamist insurgent group which is an offshoot of the terrorist group Al Qaeda.

Obama's remarks and an approbatory call he made to Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Haider al-Abadi show the optimism of the administration that Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki's 8-year time in power is over, though Maliki demonstrates no indication of stepping down.

Washington Institute Iraq scholar Michael Knights said the Iraqis regard Abadi like he is already the new prime minister. With a new administration in the embattled country, the U.S. can now offer an increased support for Iraq, Knights added.

In response to the designation of a new prime minister, Maliki allegedly set out troops on Monday for a political confrontation.

Washington blamed Maliki for the revolution of the Sunni Islamists which is fueling the revolt of ISIS. For this reason, Obama implored Abadi to create a new parliament which is represented by different ethnic communities.

Obama said the new Iraqi government will have a lot of work to do. It will have to regain the support and confidence of its citizens by showing its firmness and proper governance.

Meanwhile, the Obama administration authorized air strikes last week to help the Yazidi sect who were trapped by the insurgents. The strikes marked the first American aerial mission in Iraq since 2011, when the U.S. troops were extracted from the country.

TagsObama, Iraq, ISIS, martha's vineyard