04.02.2026 00:37
Former Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Kamil al-Maliki stated that he could only withdraw his candidacy at the request of the Coordination Framework. Despite the reaction from U.S. President Trump, al-Maliki expressed that he would stand against external pressures and described the allegations regarding economic sanctions as 'propaganda.'
The former Prime Minister of Iraq, Nuri Kamil al-Maliki, who was nominated for the premiership by the Coordination Framework, stated that he would only withdraw his candidacy at the request of the "Coordination Framework" that nominated him.
AL-MALIKI WILL NOT RUN FOR PREMIERSHIP UNDER ONE CONDITION
In a statement regarding his candidacy, Nuri Kamil al-Maliki, the former Prime Minister of Iraq nominated by the Coordination Framework, which has caused tension in the relations between the US and Iraq, responded to the strong reaction of US President Donald Trump. In an interview with a television channel, al-Maliki emphasized that he would only withdraw his candidacy at the majority request of the Coordination Framework that nominated him, underlining that he would not act according to external pressures.
"MISGUIDED
Evaluating President Trump's posts opposing his premiership, al-Maliki claimed that Trump was misguided. Al-Maliki, without mentioning President Trump's name, alleged that he was incited against by three different countries and some local groups, stating, "I heard that post was written in Baghdad, but I have not yet been able to confirm this."
Addressing the claims that the US would impose economic sanctions on Iraq if his candidacy continued, al-Maliki argued that these claims did not reflect the truth, expressing that such news was a deliberately spread "propaganda" aimed at forcing him to withdraw his candidacy.
TRUMP'S STATEMENT CAUSED A CRISIS
Recently, US President Donald Trump reacted to the decision after the Coordination Framework nominated al-Maliki for the premiership. Trump stated that Maliki should not be allowed to be elected, threatening that otherwise, aid to Iraq would be cut off. This statement caused a political crisis between Washington and the Baghdad administration.
However, al-Maliki announced that he would not withdraw his candidacy following Trump's threats, stating, "The right of our people to choose their political system and leaders through constitutional institutions is an unshakeable principle for us. We trust this will and will never back down from it."