Iraq's leading candidate for PM condemns Trump's 'blatant interference'

 The US president said he would 'no longer help' Iraq if it made the 'very bad choice' of electing Nouri al-Maliki as premier  

News Desk - The Cradle 

Former Iraqi prime minister and contender for the premiership, Nouri al-Maliki, has rejected recent comments made by US President Donald Trump, calling them a “blatant interference” in the country’s affairs. 

Trump had said Washington would “no longer help” Iraq if Maliki is elected. 

“The blatant American interference is an infringement on the decision of the Coordination Framework to choose its candidate for the position of the prime minister,” Maliki said. 

He also called Trump’s comments “a violation of Iraqi sovereignty.”

“Out of respect for the national will and the decision of the Coordination Framework, I will continue to work until we reach the end in a way that achieves the interests of our people,” the former premier went on to say. 

He added that “The language of dialogue between countries is the only political option in dealing with each other, not resorting to the language of dictates and threats.”

Trump had warned Iraq against picking Maliki on Tuesday, calling it a “very bad choice.”

“Last time Maliki was in power, the Country descended into poverty and total chaos. That should not be allowed to happen again. Because of his insane policies and ideologies, if elected, the United States of America will no longer help Iraq,” Trump said. 

He went on to say that Iraq will have “zero” chance at being successful.

Maliki’s nomination comes after Iraqi Premier Mohammad Shia al-Sudani, now operating as a caretaker prime minister, decided to step down and not seek a second term. 

Sudani said he would support Maliki’s bid for the premiership.

Iraq’s Shia-led Coordination Framework (CF) – which is made up of many Iran-backed resistance factions – nominated Maliki on 24 January, saying it reached the decision “by a majority vote.”

The CF said the nomination was “based on his political and administrative experience and his role in managing the state.”

Maliki previously served two terms as prime minister in the wake of the 2003 US invasion. He leads the Islamic Dawa Party, whose leaders returned to Iraq from exile in Iran after US forces toppled Saddam Hussein. 

Maliki has historically enjoyed close ties with the Iran. 

Last week, US officials threatened to cut off Iraq's access to revenue from its own oil sales, which are held in the New York Federal Reserve Bank, if parties affiliated with the Iraqi resistance and Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) joined the new government.