Baghdad: Iraq’s presidency announced its firm rejection of any “foreign interference” in the nation’s internal affairs following US President Donald Trump’s expressed opposition to former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s potential return to power. In a statement disseminated by the state news agency INA, the presidency underscored that Iraq’s internal matters are “an exclusively sovereign matter,” to be determined by the Iraqi people’s will through constitutional and democratic processes based on elections.

According to Anadolu Agency, the presidency emphasized that national sovereignty is essential for state-building and political stability, particularly during the government formation phase. It highlighted that any new government should be formed based on the results of the parliamentary elections held in November and the agreements reached by the victorious political forces.

The statement reiterated Iraq’s dedication to a balanced foreign policy that fosters openness and constructive cooperation with all nations. This policy aims to enhance relationships founded on mutual respect, noninterference in internal matters, and shared interests. The declaration came in the wake of President Trump’s threat to terminate support for Iraq if Maliki is re-elected as prime minister.

This development followed the Coordination Framework’s announcement on Saturday, a coalition of Shiite parties, of Maliki’s nomination for the prime ministerial post, which received majority approval within the alliance. Maliki previously served as prime minister from 2006 to 2014, a time characterized by significant security challenges, including the rise of the ISIS (Daesh) terror group, which Iraq eventually overcame in 2017.

In a related political maneuver, Iraq’s parliament postponed a session intended to elect a president after Kurdish parties requested a delay. Iraq’s power-sharing arrangement designates the presidency to a Kurd, the prime minister’s position to a Shiite, and the speaker of parliament to a Sunni. It is anticipated that parliament will reconvene shortly to elect a president, who will subsequently have 15 days to appoint the nominee of the largest parliamentary bloc to form a government.