Iraq's Shia bloc picks newcomer as PM amid US pressure to 'compromise'

The nomination comes weeks after US President Donald Trump threatened to ‘cut off’ Iraq if Nouri al-Maliki was chosen as premier

News Desk - The Cradle 

Iraq’s Shia-led Coordination Framework (CF) has nominated businessman Ali al-Zaidi for the premiership, after withdrawing support for Nouri al-Maliki following opposition from Washington. 

Zaidi has received full support from caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, following a meeting between the two on 28 April. The UK, France, and Germany also welcomed his nomination on Tuesday. Iraq’s President Nizar Amedi tasked him with forming a government.

The CF announced the nomination after a meeting at the Iraqi government palace on 27 April. 

It thanked both Maliki and Sudani for their “historic and responsible positions” in withdrawing their candidacies to break the recent political stalemate. 

The CF decided to shift candidates in recent days as a compromise – weeks after US President Donald Trump threatened to “cut off” Iraq entirely if Maliki – known to be close to Iran – was selected as premier. The Shia-led political coalition, which includes several Iran-backed resistance groups, initially rejected the US pressure.

In a statement after being nominated, Zaidi promised to make Iraq “a balanced country, regionally and internationally,” adding that the appointment “comes at a sensitive time that requires concerted efforts from all political and social forces.”

Washington has yet to issue an official statement responding to the nomination of Zaidi. Yet reports say his selection was a direct result of US pressure. 

According to an Iraqi political source cited by AFP, the CF endorsed Zaidi “after checking” with US representatives. 

The Sadrist Movement, led by Moqtada al-Sadr, said its relationship with Zaidi was good but that it would not support him. 

The Sadrists pulled out of the government in 2022, after winning a plurality in elections the year before. The movement withdrew after the CF blocked a Sadrist attempt to form a “national majority government.”

“The movement and its leadership are still committed to the decision to boycott political work, and there are no secret political dialogues with any political party regarding the next stage or arrangements for forming the new government,” the Sadrist movement said in a statement after Zaidi was chosen.

The nomination comes days after the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that Trump’s administration has frozen security cooperation programs with Baghdad and blocked dollar shipments from reaching Iraq in a bid to pressure the government to dismantle Iran-backed resistance organizations.