Deputy: Trump administration lifts veto on nominee for Iraqi deputy prime minister
Deputy: Trump administration lifts veto on nominee for Iraqi deputy prime minister
2026-09-27
Shafaq News – Baghdad
On Sunday, MP Abu Turab al-Tamimi revealed that Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi had received American “blessings” to appoint one of the figures as his deputy, while he criticized the Iraqi government’s response to the flight ban with Iran, stressing that it was a decision contrary to international laws.
Al-Tamimi told Shafaq News Agency, “During his meetings with the US administration during his recent visit to the United States, the Prime Minister obtained approval to name one of the candidates for the position of Deputy Prime Minister, even though this candidate had an American objection or veto preventing his appointment to this position. However, according to the information received, the veto was lifted from him based on guarantees made by Al-Zaidi . ”
Regarding the completion of the cabinet, Al-Tamimi explained that this issue will be resolved after the withdrawal of US forces from the country.
He pointed out that the State of Law coalition, led by Nouri al-Maliki, “is still holding on to its candidate, Qasim Atta, for the position of Minister of the Interior, and we support Atta’s nomination for the position . ”
Regarding the ban on Iranian flights, the MP criticized the decision and considered it “contrary to international regulations and agreements related to flight bans, since a ban or prohibition can only be imposed by a United Nations resolution to ban civil and military flights or by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), otherwise it is a clear violation . ”
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is a United Nations agency that helps 193 countries cooperate with each other and share their airspace for mutual benefit .
The Iraqi government issued a decision last week banning flights from Iraqi airports to Iran or receiving Iranian flights, in response to sanctions announced by the US Treasury Department on September 8 against 36 entities linked to the Iranian aviation sector, including 27 airlines.
The positions of travel, tourism and land transport companies in Iraq varied regarding the US sanctions imposed on Iranian airlines, which came into effect last Wednesday.
The Iraqi government announced on Saturday that it would hold direct talks with the US administration to exempt some Iraqi airports from the ban on Iranian flights.
Earlier today, a well-informed political source revealed that the leaders of the Coordination Framework will hold a meeting this evening, Sunday, in the presence of Prime Minister Ali al-Zubaidi, to discuss the decision to ban Iranian aircraft from landing at all Iraqi airports, as well as to discuss the internal political and popular repercussions of the decision.
Today, the Iraqi government also received a serious and direct American warning against continuing to receive any Iranian airline at Iraqi airports, stressing that continuing to receive the planes exposes the airport and the entities and companies that provide services for these flights to American sanctions.
An informed source told Shafaq News Agency that “the American side clarified to the Iraqi government that the punitive measures will not be limited to the Iranian airlines covered by the sanctions, but may extend to any entity or airport that provides services or facilitates the operation of those companies’ flights, including landing services, ground handling, refueling and other services related to the flights.”
shafaq.com
