Khaberni - Donald Trump, the American president, has renewed his warnings to Iraq if former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki returns to power, indicating the possibility of stopping American support to Baghdad if he is re-elected.
Maliki was nominated by the largest political bloc in the Iraqi parliament to assume the premiership.
Following this, Trump wrote on social media last month that electing Maliki would lead to a cessation of American support, considering that his last term led Iraq to "poverty and complete chaos".
In response to journalists' questions on Friday, Trump said: "We'll see what happens. We have some ideas about that, but in the end, everyone needs the United States."
"Internal affair"
In turn, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein confirmed that the re-appointment of Maliki is an internal matter, noting in statements on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference that the decision is up to the Iraqis, according to what was reported by "Reuters".
However, he added that Baghdad "takes American signals seriously." American sources had earlier warned of involving representatives from factions loyal to Iran in the anticipated Iraqi government, while Washington officially opposed Maliki’s candidacy and Trump hinted at stopping American aid to Baghdad.
In contrast, "the Coordinating Framework," a coalition that includes Shiite parties close to Tehran and forms the largest bloc in the parliament, announced Maliki’s nomination for the next government's premiership, amid reports of divisions within the coalition regarding this nomination.
Maliki is 75 years old and served as prime minister between 2006 and 2014 during two terms that saw the withdrawal of American forces, escalation of sectarian violence, and the dominance of the "ISIS" organization over vast areas of the country.
His second term also witnessed tensions in relations with Washington against a backdrop of closer ties with Tehran, which prompted Trump to previously describe him as a "bad choice".
