Badr lawmaker says framework won’t back down on Maliki

BAGHDAD — A Badr Organization member dismissed reports that Washington could impose sanctions on Iraq if Nouri al-Maliki returns as prime minister, saying dignity outweighs external pressure and stressing that the Shiite Coordination Framework remains committed to its nominee.

Abdullah Hamed, an Iraqi lawmaker, made the remarks in an interview with Al-Rasheed TV, responding to a social media post by President Donald Trump warning that American support for Iraq could end if al-Maliki assumes the premiership.

Hamed said Trump’s post strengthened the framework’s resolve. “Trump’s tweet increased the framework’s insistence on nominating Nouri al-Maliki for prime minister,” he said. “A government in a country like Iraq, with its civilizations and deep history, a country of the first letter, cannot be run by a tweet from a ‘madman.’ We will not accept this.”

He said the framework would not withdraw support for al-Maliki. “We will not back down from Mr. Maliki until he goes to the parliament. If he does not pass in the parliament, then there will be another opinion.”

On sanctions, Hamed referenced Iran, saying it had been under sanctions for 46 years. “Where is the Islamic Republic now?” he said. “Dignity is more important than anything.”

He called on other political blocs to respect the framework’s decision “just as the framework respected the decisions of other components.”