Maliki meets US envoy as his coalition signals possible shift in Washington stance

BAGHDAD — State of Law Coalition leader Nouri al-Maliki received U.S. Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack on Friday, his media office confirmed, as a senior coalition figure claimed there are indications Washington may be softening its opposition to Maliki’s prime ministerial nomination.

Maliki’s office said the two sides discussed Iraq’s political landscape and upcoming national entitlements, with Maliki stressing “the necessity of respecting Iraq’s sovereignty and the choices of its people.” Barrack pointed to Iraq’s role in “reducing the intensity of conflict, supporting dialogue, and combating terrorism,” according to the same statement by Maliki’s office.

State of Law spokesperson Aqeel al-Fatlawi said in an interview with Al Mayadeen earlier that “the signs have appeared since Wednesday” of a possible U.S. reconsideration, without elaborating. “Today, the situation is different. All the messages we have received from the United States have said: we respect Iraq’s sovereignty,” he said, adding that the official U.S. position delivered to Iraq’s ambassador in Washington “did not include rejecting Mr. al-Maliki or imposing a specific package of sanctions.”

He also argued that sanctioning Iraq would be economically self-defeating. “Who today can sanction a country like Iraq, which exports 4 million barrels of oil per day? The policy of the American president, in particular, is based on the economic aspect, and he does not aspire to increase the price of oil by even one cent.”

Al-Fatlawi said Kurdish, Shiite, Sunni and Gulf Arab channels have all intervened to clarify the situation to Washington, pointing to Maliki’s record as a factor in his favor. “He is the only prime minister who signed the Strategic Framework Agreement with the United States,” he said.

Following November’s elections, the Coordination Framework nominated Maliki as its prime ministerial candidate, triggering warnings from President Donald Trump, who said Washington would “no longer help” Iraq if Maliki returned to office. Iraq’s Foreign Ministry said a subsequent U.S. message included “a clear and explicit hint of the possibility of imposing sanctions on certain individuals and institutions” if the nomination proceeded.

The presidency remains unresolved, with the KDP and PUK yet to agree on a candidate. Under the constitution, parliament must elect a president before tasking the largest bloc with forming a government.

Maliki has said he will not withdraw voluntarily.