Mashhadani proposes giving Maliki senior framework role instead of premiership

BAGHDAD — Former Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani proposed granting Nouri al-Maliki a senior leadership position within the Shiite Coordination Framework as a way to manage political tensions linked to President Donald Trump’s opposition to his candidacy.

Speaking in an interview on Al-Nahrain TV, Mashhadani said, “Retreating in response to a tweet by Mr. Trump will cause a problem in the Iraqi street, and advancing will also be a problem.”

He said the solution “is to institutionalize the Coordination Framework, with Abu Israa (Nouri al-Maliki) as head of the Shiite Coordination Council.” Such a step would “preserve his value and position, grant him the freedom to choose his successor, and give him the strongest voice in selecting that successor.”

“Give Maliki a position greater than prime minister, but not prime minister, in defiance of Trump, and let the prime minister be a consensual figure,” Mashhadani said.

He warned that “U.S. sanctions are threefold — political, economic and security — and they will reach ordinary members of political groupings.”

Mashhadani said Sudani should be the preferred choice at this stage. “It is not advisable for a new person to come in and become entangled in files he knows nothing about, remain for four years like a deaf man at a wedding, and drag us into confusion,” he said. “The Framework should set its observations on Sudani as conditions for his renewed term.”

The Coordination Framework nominated Maliki following the 2025 elections. Trump has warned that Washington could halt support for Iraq if Maliki returns to office.

Iraq’s Foreign Ministry clarified that a verbal message from U.S. officials included an “explicit and clear hint” of possible sanctions if the framework insists on Maliki.

Excerpts from Mahmoud al-Mashhadani’s interview on Al-Nahrain TV:

In recent times, we have noticed a decline in the role of the founding fathers, who possess experience, relationships, sound vision and foresight. We are facing a very dangerous agenda; a global or regional war could erupt at any moment, and Iraq does not possess any of the elements of defense. The Iraqi street is dissatisfied with the current situation and could explode.

Retreating in response to a tweet by Mr. Trump will cause a problem in the Iraqi street, and advancing will also be a problem. The solution, in my independent and well-intentioned opinion, is to institutionalize the Coordination Framework, with Abu Israa (Nouri al-Maliki) as head of the Shiite Coordination Council. In this way, we preserve his value and position, grant him the freedom to choose his successor, and give him the strongest voice in selecting that successor. Give Maliki a position greater than prime minister, but not prime minister, in defiance of Trump, and let the prime minister be a consensual figure.

U.S. sanctions are threefold — political, economic and security — and they will reach ordinary members of political groupings.

At this stage, Sudani is supposed to be the preferred choice for the Framework. It is not advisable for a new person to come in and become entangled in files he knows nothing about, remain for four years like a deaf man at a wedding, and drag us into confusion. The Framework should set its observations on Sudani as conditions for his renewed term.

We wrote the constitution wrong, and we said it must be rewritten. It was supposed to be revised in the fourth month of its first year, but that did not happen. Through experience, we have understood that there are many shortcomings in the constitution and they must be addressed.

When we say we want the presidency of the republic, it is essentially ours. Mr. Tariq al-Hashemi agreed with the late Jalal Talabani — and we love and respect him. I remember he came to us during the days of government formation; it was Ramadan and we broke the fast together. He said to us, Abu Masrour has taken the presidency of the region, so where should I go? I want the presidency of the republic for two years, after which I will retire and it will return to you. This is what we agreed upon, but then the two years became a national and constitutional entitlement.