After Trump warning, State of Law figure says Maliki ‘challenged’ Iran via Syria

BAGHDAD — A senior figure in former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s State of Law Coalition claimed Maliki previously acted against Iranian interests during his time in office, comments that follow U.S. President Donald Trump’s warning that Washington would stop supporting Iraq if Maliki returns to power.

In an interview on UTV, Diaa al-Naseri said Maliki “struck the Iranian axis” when he insisted on filing a complaint against the Assad regime at the United Nations, despite opposition at the time. He said that “al-Maliki does not appease any ally or partner when it comes to Iraq’s supreme national interest.”

Al-Naseri said the move drew objections from the United States, even though Washington was also affected by Syrian military actions. “The Americans told the Iraqi government at the time, ‘Why are you going to The Hague to file a lawsuit against Syria when you are neighbors?’” he said. He argued that because Syria was an ally of Iran, Maliki’s position ran counter to Tehran’s interests, adding that when Iraq’s highest national interest is at stake, Maliki’s stance is, “I will not appease an ally or a partner.”

Trump warned last night that the United States would “no longer help” Iraq if Maliki is reinstated as prime minister, a message that contrasted with earlier claims by Maliki allies that U.S. silence amounted to acceptance of his nomination by the Shiite Coordination Framework.

In 2009, Nouri al-Maliki sparked a diplomatic row by blaming Syria for the “Black Wednesday” bombings in Baghdad.

Al-Naseri in an interview on UTV:

Nouri al-Maliki “struck the Iranian axis” when he insisted on filing a complaint against the Assad regime at the U.N. Security Council, despite U.S. reluctance at the time. Al-Naseri said that “al-Maliki does not appease any ally or partner when it comes to Iraq’s supreme national interest.”

He added that he wanted to place a historical record on al-Maliki’s stance toward Syria, noting that during that period the United States intervened to prevent Iraq from taking the case to international courts, even though Washington itself was harmed by Syrian military actions. “The Americans told the Iraqi government at the time, ‘Why are you going to The Hague to file a lawsuit against Syria when you are neighbors?’” al-Naseri said. He argued that al-Maliki’s move ran counter to the Iranian axis because Syria was an ally of Iran, adding that when Iraq’s highest national interest is at stake, al-Maliki’s position is, “I will not appease an ally or a partner.”