Al-Maliki confirms he will continue to run for prime minister, disregarding American messages.
Al-Maliki confirms he will continue to run for prime minister, disregarding American messages.
2-23-2026
Information/Baghdad…
Nouri al-Maliki, head of the State of Law Coalition, confirmed on Monday that he would not withdraw from the race for the position of Prime Minister of Iraq, noting that the American messages concerned the Iraqi state and not al-Maliki.
Al-Maliki said in an interview with Agence France-Presse (AFP), which was followed by Al-Maalomah, that “the American messages concern the Iraqi state and do not concern al-Maliki,” noting that “I will not withdraw from running for the position of Prime Minister of Iraq.”
He added, “We want an army under one command, that obeys the state’s orders, and we reject the smuggling of oil and dollars from Iraq, while believing in the necessity for Iraq to open up to the world’s major powers.”
Al-Maliki affirmed his “commitment to respecting the state to which I belong, its sovereignty and its will,” explaining that “the framework is a very important institution for the national situation in general.”
He added, “The American forces left Iraq in a calm and respectful manner,” explaining that “the relationship with the American side is necessary for Iraq’s recovery,” clarifying that “the relationship with Iran and the countries of the world is based on common interests,” noting that “we do not disdain the relationship with Iran because it is a country with which we share a 1300-kilometer border and we have common interests.”
He stated, “I will not accept any country in the world interfering in Iraq’s sovereignty,” noting, “I will not allow Iraq to become a subordinate entity and be run from abroad.”
He explained that “Washington wants the next Iraqi government to be without representatives of armed factions,” noting that “the new government will be civilian, not military.”
He continued, “Whoever wants to participate in the next government must lay down their weapons,” explaining that “some factions have announced their readiness to hand over their weapons because they do not want to expose Iraq to dangers.”
Azad: “Our policy is to reject the use of sectarianism among the components of the Iraqi people,” noting that “we are looking for agreements with countries in the region and in the world.”
He stressed that “Iraq is not a threat to the security of the region and is part of protecting the security and interests of the region,” noting that “we have not and will not allow any party to transgress against the embassies of countries or their official interests in Iraq.”
He added that “the economic situation in Iraq is difficult and requires radical solutions, and Iraq needs an economic revival,” emphasizing “the need for intensive national attention to developing the Iraqi economy and providing the full and necessary services to the Iraqi people.”
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