US Warns Iraq of Economic Repercussions if Ex-PM Returns to Power
Last month, Iraq’s Shiite parliamentary bloc nominated the 75-year-old al-Maliki for a third term, a move likely to secure his leadership once a new president is chosen. Washington has expressed concern over al-Maliki’s perceived closeness to Iran. He previously served two consecutive terms as prime minister from 2006 to 2014, the first to do so since the 2003 US-led invasion, and has held other cabinet positions.
Sources say the White House has intensified pressure on Baghdad, warning that al-Maliki’s return could trigger financial measures, including restrictions on oil-export revenues. The US has historically exercised leverage over Iraq’s finances, with oil proceeds managed under oversight that funds salaries, pensions, and government spending.
President Donald Trump told reporters that the US would “no longer help Iraq” if al-Maliki assumed office, accusing him of pursuing “insane policies and ideologies.” Meanwhile, Iran has reportedly encouraged its Iraqi allies to resist US pressure.
Al-Maliki has condemned what he describes as Washington’s “blatant interference,” asserting that the selection of Iraq’s prime minister is a sovereign decision. Iraq’s power-sharing system allocates the premiership to a Shiite, the presidency to a Kurd, and the parliamentary speaker position to a Sunni.
Al-Maliki spent 25 years in exile before returning after the US ousted Saddam Hussein’s Sunni-led government. He participated in the US-backed “de-Baathification” program, which critics argue fueled sectarian conflict and Sunni radicalization. The 2003 invasion and its aftermath caused widespread violence, with surveys suggesting hundreds of thousands of deaths and lasting social and economic repercussions.
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