BAGHDAD, 26 Feb. - (ANA) - Iraq's ruling Shia Coordination Framework will decide next week who it will nominate for prime minister, according to a lawmaker close to current premier Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani. Meanwhile, Washington has again opposed former premier Nouri Al-Maliki's candidacy and reportedly set Friday as a deadline for replacing Maliki, or else impose sweeping sanctions on Baghdad.  

 

This decision follows growing concerns among Iraqis that US President Donald Trump's rejection of al-Maliki may strain relations between Baghdad and Washington. Some are urging Maliki's State of Law Coalition and Coordination Framework to reconsider the latter’s nomination. 

 

Bahaa al-Araji, leader of the Reconstruction and Development Alliance’s parliamentary bloc, Sudani's bloc that won most seats in the November parliamentary elections, told al-Ahad TV that the Coordination Framework will select the prime minister next week. 

 

Well-informed sources have told local and international news channels that the alliance has until 27 February to withdraw Maliki's nomination.  

 

The deadline was reportedly set by the US Special Envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, in Baghdad and Erbil this week, during meetings with senior Iraqi officials, including PM Sudani and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, as well as senior Kurdish officials.  

 

Barrack has reiterated that Washington opposes Maliki's candidacy and outlined possible responses if it proceeds, according to senior sources. 

 

At a meeting on Monday, Maliki stated he would not step down and that only the nominating bloc could reverse the decision. 

 

The Framework, the largest group in parliament, plans to meet again before Friday to secure the necessary support to revoke the nomination.

 

Maliki, regarded as the leading candidate for prime minister, told AFP on Monday he would not withdraw his nomination due to US pressure, though he sought to address Washington’s concerns. 

 

"I have absolutely no intention of withdrawing out of respect for my country, its sovereignty, and its will," Maliki said in the interview. "No one has the right to say whom we can or cannot vote for." 

 

"I will not withdraw until the end," he added. 

 

Since the US-led invasion that removed Saddam Hussein in 2003, Iraqi leaders have sought to balance relationships with both neighbouring Iran and the United States. 

 

Last month, Trump warned that if Maliki, a former prime minister with close ties to Iran, returned to office, Washington would end its support for Iraq. A US State Department spokesperson confirmed Trump's position remains unchanged and that selecting Maliki would prompt the United States to "reassess its relationship with Iraq".  

 

Trump's warning has raised concerns among Iraqi political leaders about potential consequences, particularly within the Coordination Framework, which nominated Maliki and maintains varied ties to Iran. 

 

On Saturday, Araji stated that opposition from regional and international actors requires Iraqi political groups to " reassess " Maliki's nomination. He noted that Sudani initially supported Maliki to help resolve Iraq's prolonged political deadlock and fulfil commitments to voters. 

 

In a statement after its regular meeting on Monday, the Coordination Framework said Iraq remains committed to international resolutions, especially UN Security Council Resolution 833. The group also said Iraq has the right to protect its national interests, including submitting maritime boundary maps to the United Nations. 

 

The alliance also urged Iraq's two main Kurdish parties to resolve their disputes over candidates for the Iraqi presidency to safeguard constitutional rights. It called for dialogue to ease tensions between Iran and the United States, warning that any conflict would worsen existing challenges. - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/26 February 2026 - - -