The political fight in Iraq is heating up again.
There’s ongoing tension over both the presidency and the prime minister’s seat. While the presidency usually goes to a Kurdish leader and is being disputed between the two main Kurdish parties, the real battle right now is over who will become the next prime minister.
At the center of it all is Nouri al-Maliki.
Some factions within the Shiite bloc don’t want him back. Sunni groups have also stepped in, openly rejecting his candidacy. Because of this split, talk has grown about possible U.S. involvement — even claims that US President Donald Trump could try to block Maliki from returning to power.
Some believe certain Iraqi political groups are quietly welcoming foreign pressure to strengthen their own position.
“Just wishful thinking”
Zuhair al-Jalabi, a member of the State of Law Coalition, rejected rumors that Maliki might step aside.
He told dinaropinions.com that talk of withdrawing Maliki’s candidacy is “just wishful thinking.” According to him, many political figures want the prime minister’s job, so rumors are not surprising.
He also criticized how politics is being handled today.
“Everything is decided by tweets now,” he said. He argued that serious national matters shouldn’t be debated through social media posts, because that only creates confusion and mixed messages.
Pushback against foreign interference
On the other side, Hussein al-Karawi, who is part of the popular movement supporting the Faw Port and Silk Road project, strongly rejected any foreign role in deciding Iraq’s leadership.
He said President Trump has no authority to approve or block Maliki’s candidacy.
Al-Karawi also accused Iraq’s regional rivals — including Zionists, Turks, and some Gulf Arab states — of trying to influence the country’s political direction.
He warned that when Iraqi politicians openly call for outside support against their rivals, they make it easier for foreign powers to step in.
“In the past, interventions weren’t public,” he said. “Now politicians themselves are inviting it.”
He added that instead of pushing for full independence, some politicians are actually making foreign influence stronger through their actions.
Official denial from Maliki’s office
Meanwhile, Maliki’s office has denied reports that his nomination was withdrawn.
Hisham al-Rikabi, media director for the head of the State of Law Coalition, wrote on X that claims the Coordination Framework dropped Maliki’s candidacy are false.
He called the reports a “malicious media campaign” and said the Coordination Framework stands by its political decisions.
For now, the deadlock continues. The fight over Iraq’s next prime minister is far from over — and tensions, both inside and outside the country, are only adding fuel to the fire.
