Iraqi politics is in a crisis. Months after an election, there is still no new premier or president. Political parties cannot agree on whom to appoint. Notably, US opposition to Nouri al-Maliki, a frontrunner for prime minister, has led to a lot of hand-wringing in Baghdad.
On Sunday, US Special Envoy Tom Barrack met with outgoing Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. They discussed Iraq’s objectives “to build a sovereign, stable, and prosperous future that aligns with [US President Donald Trump]’s desire and plan for peace and prosperity in the region.”
“The necessity of effective leadership that aligns itself with the policies and practices of further stabilization for Iraq and the Iraqi people is key to our mutual goals,” the Barrack said.
Iraq’s outgoing prime minister wrote, “Discussions were held on the bilateral relations between Iraq and the United States, the general situation in the region, and what Iraq is undertaking to support regional stability and the stability of Syria in particular.”
Meanwhile, Maliki is also speaking out. Trump is opposed to him becoming the next prime minister of Iraq, as he is known to be close to Iran, and he failed as Iraq’s leader in 2014, during the rise of ISIS.
Maliki posted on X/Twitter about Sunday, “Our national responsibility toward our people and our homeland #Iraq compels us to strive and dedicate our expertise to correcting and strengthening the course of the political process.”
He added, “We believe in a democratic, civil Iraq that is open to solid international partnerships such as [with] the United States and Europe, where economic relations with them will bring about a revolution in expanding and deepening infrastructure, education, service development, and energy.”
Lastly, Maliki said, “We affirm that our identity is purely Iraqi, based on the will of our Iraqi people, and that our decision stems first and foremost from the interest of our people. And our hand is extended for regional and international cooperation and integration for the benefit of the peoples of the countries of the region and the world.”
Shi'ite parties debating dropping Maliki as candidate
While Maliki may be softening his tone, the Shi’ite parties in Iraq, which work together under an umbrella group known as the Shi’ite Coordination Framework, are debating whether to drop him as their candidate. Maliki recently reached out to the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party to discuss what’s next. The PUK is one of the two large Kurdish parties in Iraq, seen as the one closer to Iran.
According to reports, Maliki spoke to PUK leader Bafel Talabani.
As Iraq navigates its election mess and discusses the next moves with the United States, it also finds itself dealing with the Iranians.
Iranian-backed militias in Iraq have sought to threaten the US. The Iran-backed Ashab Al-Kahf has threatened to enter the fray if a US-Iran war breaks out. This group is not among the better-known militias, and its statement appears to be a ploy to shield the larger militias from US retaliation. Those include Kataib Hezbollah, Badr, Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, and Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq. Badr is the only one not sanctioned by the US.
Meanwhile, Iranian and Iraqi officials have held talks.
Shafaq News in Iraq reported, “Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, discussed the latest developments in the negotiation process between Washington and Tehran in a telephone call on Sunday.”
A statement issued by the Iraqi Foreign Ministry and received by Shafaq News Agency “confirmed the continuation of the negotiation process, with the next session of negotiations between the United States and Iran, mediated by the Sultanate of Oman, scheduled for next Thursday in Geneva.”
Meanwhile, Iraq is involved in another dispute. “Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has rejected Iraq’s recent submission to the UN on new maritime borders, which Riyadh says infringes on Kuwait’s territory,” Arab News noted.
That means that Iraq-Saudi tensions could be growing, just as US-Iran tensions also put Iraq in the crosshairs.
It should be remembered that Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, leading to the Gulf War. Saudi-Iraqi ties have taken decades to heal.
“Iraq had reportedly submitted new geographic coordinates in January and February to the UN, delineating the nation’s maritime boundaries,” Arab News noted.
Saudi Arabia is concerned about the Iraqi move, the media source continued. “This is an area where the kingdom shares natural resource ownership with Kuwait under binding bilateral agreements. Amendments have also impacted Kuwait’s maritime areas and fixed water elevations.”
Riyadh said, “The kingdom categorically rejects any claims suggesting the existence of rights for any party in the submerged area beyond the boundaries agreed upon between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.”
Furthermore, Arab News reported, Riyadh “stressed that existing arrangements are grounded in bilateral accords and consistent with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.”