Iraq’s Shia bloc reaffirms backing for al-Maliki despite Trump’s warnings

Iraq’s alliance of Shia political blocs, the Coordination Framework, reaffirmed on Saturday its support for former premier Nouri al-Maliki to lead the next government, despite a warning from US President Donald Trump that Washington would no longer help Iraq if al-Maliki returned to power.

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The bloc, which holds a majority in parliament, picked al-Maliki, Iraq’s first elected prime minister after a US-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003, as its nominee for the post following an election.

“The choice of the prime minister is a purely Iraqi constitutional matter and should proceed without foreign interference,” the Coordination Framework said in a statement, adding that it seeks balanced relations with international partners based on mutual respect.

Trump’s threats are the starkest example yet of the Republican president’s campaign to curb Iran-linked groups’ influence in Iraq, which has long walked a tightrope between its two closest allies, Washington and Tehran.

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