MP claims US veto has now extended to Sudani as Framework deadlock persists

BAGHDAD — A member of parliament allied with the Coordination Framework claimed Wednesday that a U.S. veto has extended beyond Nouri al-Maliki to incumbent Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, as the bloc’s deadlock over a nominee entered another day without resolution.

“This matter has gone far, reaching external rejection of a figure who was close to heading the Council of Ministers, Mr. Sudani,” Faleh al-Khazali, of the Muntasiroun bloc, said in a televised interview, describing the information as “very precise” and linked to direct U.S. communication with political leaders.

964media has not independently verified the claim.

Khazali said Washington’s rejection of Maliki had prompted factions to seek a candidate with “external acceptability,” and accused those factions of abandoning their commitments. “Let me be clear with the Iraqi people: the political forces abandoned their commitment to Mr. Maliki because of the tweet… They said explicitly: we want a prime minister with external acceptability, and this is completely unacceptable,” he said.

He said the dispute began with “concessions” over Maliki’s nomination following a social media post by U.S. President Donald Trump, alongside internal political disagreements. “There are those who wanted this to be a justification to change the nominee of the largest bloc after it secured two-thirds,” he said.

Maliki’s candidacy has become an increasingly awkward standoff within the framework. Nominated following the 2025 elections, he faced mounting pressure to stand down but refused to withdraw, repeatedly absenting himself from framework meetings rather than formally conceding. Trump warned Washington could reconsider support for Iraq if Maliki became prime minister, and the Foreign Ministry said the U.S. message included an “explicit hint” of sanctions.

The framework postponed a meeting scheduled for Wednesday evening until Friday, citing the need for more dialogue. The Dawa Party has maintained Maliki remains its official nominee and that his candidacy “has not been withdrawn,” while rival factions say eight blocs back Sudani against four for Maliki. Two other names remain under consideration: Basim al-Badri, head of the Accountability and Justice Commission, and Ihsan al-Awadi, director of Sudani’s office, proposed by the Reconstruction and Development bloc.

Under Article 76, President Nizar Amedi has 15 days from his April 12 inauguration to task the largest bloc’s nominee with forming a government.