Al-Samarrai: Extending the current government’s term is “very difficult”… and Iraq cannot move forward with the international community without Washington.
Al-Samarrai: Extending the current government’s term is “very difficult”… and Iraq cannot move forward with the international community without Washington.
2026-02-21
The head of the Al-Azm Alliance, Engineer Muthanna Al-Samarrai, said on Friday (February 20, 2026) that the option of extending the current government is “very difficult,” while stressing that Iraq cannot move forward with the international community without the United States of America, and emphasizing the need for any future government to adhere to the interests of the Iraqi people and not to side with one party against another in regional and global conflicts.
Al-Samarrai stressed in a televised interview that the Al-Azm Alliance “is not an enemy of Iraq’s neighbors,” and that “it is not in the country’s interest to enter into hostility with neighboring countries,” noting that Iraq’s regional position requires it to be a balancing factor, not an arena for settling scores.
Al-Samarrai added: “We are not enemies of our neighbors and it is not in our interest to be hostile to them. Iraq cannot move forward with the international community without the United States, and the government must act in the interest of the Iraqi people, not side with one party against another.” He indicated that the Al-Azm Alliance supported the government’s position on transferring prisoners from Syria to Iraq in order to preserve Iraqi national security.
The head of the Al-Azm Alliance stressed that what matters to the Sunni forces “is not the individuals as much as it is the form of the next government, and how it deals with the fundamental issues,” emphasizing:
“We will get our entitlements according to our points, and the presidency of the House of Representatives (with points), and what matters to us is the shape of the next government and how we will deal with the basic issues.”
Al-Samarrai explained that the Azm Alliance “supports the candidate of the Coordination Framework, not a specific person,” adding: “We received important American messages that cannot be ignored, but the issue is with the Coordination Framework,” indicating that he suggested that “Sunni leaders go to the Coordination Framework to discuss the issue of the prime minister candidate directly.”
Al-Samarrai revealed that “the American chargé d’affaires spoke to me about Washington’s concerns, and said that the United States will deal with the Iraqi government according to standards, and if these standards are not met, we will take a package of measures, and the leaders of the coordination framework must sit down to resolve this issue.”
He criticized the recourse of some Sunni forces to media escalation, saying: “The move by some Sunni parties to media escalation is not right. They should have gone to the framework and discussed the issue of the Prime Minister with them directly.”
Regarding calls to dissolve the House of Representatives, Al-Samarrai said: “There is no benefit in dissolving Parliament, because it will open the door to chaos,” noting that resolving the political deadlock “is not difficult, it only requires a decision from the coordinating framework.”
The head of the Azm Alliance revealed his rejection of moves to dismiss the Speaker of Parliament, saying: “We rejected proposals to proceed with the dismissal of the Speaker of Parliament, and we will not accept that at all,” considering that “deep partnerships between political forces are almost absent, and the map of alliances can change at any time.”
He added: “No one can cancel the other, and the secret of our strength is honesty and keeping promises,” while emphasizing: “We will not allow the postponement of the provincial council elections or any delay in passing the commission law.”
Regarding his relationship with the leaders of the Kurdistan Region, Al-Samarrai said: “I am proud of my relationship with Mr. Masoud Barzani, and we have no problem with the Union, and we will adhere to the political forces that have adhered to us… and every position is met with a position.”
He explained that he withdrew from the race for Speaker of Parliament “for the sake of Iraq,” adding:
“I withdrew from the nomination for the presidency of parliament to prevent a political deadlock in the country. I am not seeking positions, but rather I want to serve my people and obtain their rights.”
Al-Samarrai pointed out that the Sunni component “did not receive its entitlements from the bodies,” explaining that the objection of the Al-Azm Alliance “is not to the names, but rather to the lack of participation of the component in the management of state institutions.”
He continued: “The Al-Azm Alliance wants to achieve balance in state institutions, and we are not concerned with who gives up the entitlements of our people, and the caretaker government has no right to send names to be appointed to senior positions.”
Regarding the political council of Sunni forces, Al-Samarrai explained that the council’s decisions “are taken unanimously,” adding: “If the Azm Alliance withdraws from the political council, it will become the ‘Progress Council,’ as the political council is a title for the Sunni component, not for a specific person.”
The head of the Al-Azm Alliance concluded his remarks by emphasizing that the current phase is “sensitive and requires responsible decisions,” warning that any ill-considered choice regarding the government and the premiership “could directly impact Iraq’s political stability, its foreign relations, and its economic and security situation.” He added, “Salah al-Din will remain for its people,” and asked, “Would the framework accept us treating it the same way and interfering in the prime ministership?”
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