ISTANBUL

Former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Wednesday that restricting weapons to state control and maintaining a single national army are essential to building a stable Iraq.

“The Iraqi people have endured years of war and violence and deserve to live in security and dignity,” Maliki, head of Iraq’s State of Law Coalition, said in comments carried by the state news agency INA.

“Calm, unity, enforcing the rule of law, limiting weapons to the hands of the state, and having one army that includes all components of the Iraqi people under the command of the commander-in-chief of the armed forces represent the foundation for building a stable state,” he added.

Maliki said stability would create a “safe environment” to encourage investment, generate jobs for young people and advance reconstruction efforts across the country.

Maliki was nominated by the Coordination Framework, Iraq’s largest Shiite political alliance, to become the country’s new prime minister following last year’s parliamentary elections.

The nomination, however, was opposed by US President Donald Trump, who threatened to end support to Iraq if Maliki is reinstated.

The Coordination Framework has maintained its support for Maliki, who described Trump’s warning as “blatant interference” in Iraq’s internal affairs.

Maliki previously served two consecutive terms as prime minister from 2006 to 2014 before Haider al-Abadi succeeded him.

His tenure saw major security challenges, particularly the rise of the ISIS (Daesh) terror group, which seized nearly a third of Iraq’s territory before Baghdad declared victory over it in 2017.

Iraq held parliamentary elections on Nov. 11, 2025, with voter turnout reaching 56.11%. Lawmakers elected in the vote are responsible for choosing the president and granting confidence to the government.

*Writing by Lina Altawell