Nouri al-Maliki vows not to withdraw bid for Iraq’s premiership despite US threats
Nouri al-Maliki, the former Iraqi prime minister nominated by the largest parliamentary bloc to return to office, says he will not withdraw his candidacy for the premiership despite US threats.
He made the remarks in an interview with AFP on Monday in response to a threat by US President Donald Trump to end all Washington’s support for Iraq if Maliki took the post of prime minister.
"I have absolutely no intention of withdrawing out of respect for my country, its sovereignty, and its will. No one has the right to say whom we can or cannot vote for," he said.
"I will not withdraw until the end.”
He said countries have the right to set conditions in their dealings with Iraq.
In January, Iraq’s Coordination Framework, a coalition of Shia parties that holds a parliamentary majority, nominated Maliki to the prime minister post, citing his political and administrative experience.
Trump said Iraq would make a "very bad choice" with Maliki, threatening diplomatic and economic consequences for the country.
Maliki, who heads the Islamic Dawa Party, categorically rejected “blatant US interference in Iraq’s internal affairs.”
Additionally, in his interview, Maliki defended Iraq's relations with Iran.
Those relations, he said, "rest on the principle that Iraq's sovereignty is respected" and "shared interests define this relationship."
He further vowed to prevent attacks on diplomatic missions in Iraq if he becomes the prime minister.
Meanwhile, Maliki said an understanding is “quite possible” with resistance factions.
"There is a good basis for understanding with the factions," but this cannot happen "through force, war, or confrontations," he added.
He also said the US demands from Iraq “are our demands. We want weapons in the hands of the state. We want a centralized military force.”
In an X post on February 22, he said Iraq is open to “sound international partnerships,” including with the United States and Europe.
“Our hand is extended for regional and international cooperation and integration for the benefit of the people of the region and the world,” he said.
Maliki served as Iraq’s prime minister from 2006 to 2014 and as vice president between 2014 and 2015 and again from 2016 to 2018.
He maintains close relations with various factions, including those linked to the anti-terror Popular Mobilization Units (PMU).
Iraqis renew pledge of support for Iran against potential US attack
US threatens Iraq with potential sanctions if Maliki returns as PM: Report
Nouri al-Maliki defends Hashd al-Shaabi as inseparable part of Iraqi security system
Hezbollah says won’t hesitate to take proper action against aggression
Iran to US: Sanctions and war failed; try diplomacy and respect
VIDEO | Afghanistan-Pakistan tensions rise after cross-border strikes
Israeli settlers set mosque ablaze in West Bank during Ramadan
Nouri al-Maliki vows not to withdraw bid for Iraq’s premiership
OIC calls emergency summit as Israel accelerates West Bank expansion
Israel, not America, first: Carlson’s Huckabee interview lays bare US foreign policy priorities
VIDEO | Call for unity, more support for Palestine, humanitarian action during Ramadan
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
