Iraq Reports US Threat of Sanctions if Maliki is Reappointed Prime Minister
Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that it received an oral message from the United States warning that if Nouri al-Maliki is re-nominated to form the government, sanctions will be imposed against certain Iraqi individuals and entities.
According to regional media outlets, the ministry referred to what it described as “Washington’s blatant interference in Baghdad’s internal affairs,” stating that this message was delivered by American officials in Washington. Baghdad added that the warning will be implemented if the largest parliamentary bloc in Iraq insists on its current nominee, Nouri al-Maliki.
The statement from Iraq’s Foreign Ministry indicated that the message received had two main components. The first implicitly yet clearly referred to the imposition of sanctions on some Iraqi persons and organizations.
The second component of the message outlined a set of criteria and conditions related to the nature of bilateral cooperation between Baghdad and Washington. These criteria particularly pertain to how any future Iraqi government would be formed and operate.
Nouri al-Maliki has previously served as Iraq’s Prime Minister, and discussions about his potential return to power have consistently sparked reactions both domestically and internationally.
