The Co-ordination Framework, Iraq’s largest Shiite-led parliamentary alliance, has reaffirmed its support for Nouri Al Maliki as the next prime minister in a move likely to heighten tension with Washington.
US President Donald Trump said if Mr Al Maliki were elected, Iraq would no longer receive American support and the new prime minister would have “zero chance” of success.
Mr Al Maliki, who served as prime minister for two terms from 2006 to 2014, has been accused of fuelling corruption, increasing tension with Iraq’s mainly Sunni neighbours and deepening the country's sectarian politics, a situation that led to the ISIS onslaught in 2014. He has forged alliances with Iran and its proxies in Iraq.
“Last time Maliki was in power the country descended into poverty and total chaos,” Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social. “That should not be allowed to happen again. If we are not there to help, Iraq has zero chance of success, prosperity or freedom."
Mr Al Maliki has condemned the criticism from the US, labelling it “blatant interference” in Iraq's internal affairs.
The Co-ordination Framework has emphasised the selection process is a “purely Iraqi constitutional matter based on the mechanism of the political process, taking into account the national interests and free from external dictate”.
It said Iraq is a “state of institutions capable of managing its political processes according to the constitution and the will of its people”.
The alliance reiterated its commitment to building balanced relationships with the international community, particularly with influential global powers, based on "mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs".
Iranian influence
Mr Al Maliki, 75, is secretary general of the Dawa Party, one of the main Shiite groups that fought against Saddam Hussein's Sunni-led Baathist regime. Dawa became one of Iraq's most influential parties after Saddam was overthrown in 2003, gaining significant political weight in the country’s political process.
The former prime minister has repeatedly denied enabling Iran-backed militant groups while in power, as billions of dollars of US reconstruction funds were flowing into Iraq.
Washington has increased pressure on Baghdad to rein in Tehran's influence and to bring weapons and non-state actors under state control. It has said politicians linked to armed groups must not take up senior posts in the next government.
The domestic political context has further complicated the issue. The country's elections in November strengthened pro-Iran blocs, giving them significant parliamentary influence.
In an effort to increase pressure on Baghdad, Mr Trump appointed Mark Savaya in October as a special envoy for Iraq, who spoke of Washington's plan to bring an end to militia groups, uncontrolled weapons and foreign interference in the country this year.
Conflicting reports have emerged about the termination of Mr Savaya's mission after his X account, active until recently, has been offline since Thursday.
He denied any change to his role and insisted he was still working on administrative procedures. However, on Saturday sources confirmed to Reuters the termination of his role due to his "mishandling" of key situations, including a failure to prevent the nomination of Mr Al Maliki.
US ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, is believed to be taking over the State Department's Iraq portfolio, the source added. Mr Barrack has recently made official visits to Baghdad and Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.
Mr Savaya, a Christian Iraqi-American entrepreneur, was among a handful of Arab Americans named to senior posts by Mr Trump, who campaigned heavily during the 2024 presidential election to win the Arab and Muslim vote, particularly in Detroit.
