US warns Iraq against Iran-controlled government, urges Western cooperation

ANKARA

Iraq’s formation of a government that continues cooperation with its neighbors and the West and is not controlled by Iran is critical to regional stability and prosperity, senior US officials said.

The comments come amid rising concern in Washington over the Coordination Framework’s nomination of former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki as its candidate for the premiership. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Special Envoy Tom Barrack have both called for an independent and inclusive administration in Iraq.

In a recent call with outgoing Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Rubio stressed that a stable government must prioritize national interests, avoid regional conflicts, and sustain the mutually beneficial partnership between the US and Iraq.

A government controlled by Iran cannot successfully put Iraq’s own interests first, keep the country out of regional conflicts, or advance the US-Iraq partnership, Rubio warned.

Barrack echoed the position in a recent post on US social media company X, emphasizing the importance of Iraq maintaining cooperative ties with Western and regional partners to ensure long-term stability and prosperity.

The Coordination Framework, the leading Shiite coalition following the Nov. 11, 2025 elections, nominated al-Maliki, who served as prime minister from 2006 to 2014, as its candidate for the post. Al-Maliki remains a controversial figure due to past accusations of sectarian policies and governance failures.

Iraq’s parliament is scheduled to elect a new president on Jan. 27. The president will then task the prime ministerial nominee from the largest bloc with forming a government within 15 days.

While al-Maliki’s nomination has drawn support from some Shiite and Kurdish figures seeking faster government formation, it has raised concerns among Sunni groups over sectarian tensions and possible policy reversals.

In Washington, the move has intensified worries over Iranian influence, with US officials pointing to al-Maliki’s historical ties to Tehran as a potential threat to bilateral relations and regional security.

Reports have also surfaced of informal US warnings conveyed at the charge d’affaires level, reportedly linking continued access to oil-dollar transfers to the exclusion of Iran-linked figures from the new cabinet.

ANKARA

Iraq’s formation of a government that continues cooperation with its neighbors and the West and is not controlled by Iran is critical to regional stability and prosperity, senior US officials said.

A government controlled by Iran cannot successfully put Iraq’s own interests first, keep the country out of regional conflicts, or advance the US-Iraq partnership, Rubio warned.

Iraq’s parliament is scheduled to elect a new president on Jan. 27. The president will then task the prime ministerial nominee from the largest bloc with forming a government within 15 days.