Foreign Ministry clarifies Hussein remarks, says US gave ‘explicit hint’ of sanctions

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Foreign Ministry issued a clarification after remarks by Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein were interpreted as denying any U.S. intention to impose sanctions should Nouri al-Maliki return as prime minister.

The ministry said the verbal message delivered by U.S. officials in Washington consisted of two main paragraphs, including what it described as an “explicit and clear hint” of possible sanctions.

The first paragraph “included a clear and explicit hint of the possibility of imposing sanctions on certain individuals and institutions” if the Coordination Framework insists on Maliki, the ministry said.

The second paragraph outlined “a set of criteria related to the nature of cooperation and joint work with the United States, particularly regarding the formation of any upcoming government and its mechanisms of operation.”

The ministry said Hussein’s televised comments had focused on the second paragraph — the cooperation framework — without addressing the portion referencing sanctions.

“The minister’s remarks during the interview centered on the standards contained in the second paragraph and did not address the content of the first paragraph related to the hint of sanctions,” the statement read.

The clarification came after Hussein’s appearance on Al-Sharqiya TV, in which his comments were reported as ruling out the possibility of sanctions.

The Coordination Framework nominated Maliki following the 2025 elections. President Donald Trump has warned that Washington may halt support for Iraq if Maliki returns to power.