Nouri al-Maliki said Monday he has no intention of withdrawing his bid for Iraq’s premiership, despite reported US warnings that support for Baghdad could be suspended if he returns to office.
Nouri al-Maliki © Mena Today
Nouri al-Maliki said Monday he has no intention of withdrawing his bid for Iraq’s premiership, despite reported US warnings that support for Baghdad could be suspended if he returns to office.
“I have absolutely no intention of stepping aside, out of respect for my country, its sovereignty and its will,” he said, stressing that no external party has the right to dictate Iraq’s political choices.
At the same time, Maliki underscored the importance of maintaining strong ties with the United States. He described relations with Washington as “essential” for Iraq’s development and pledged that, if appointed, his government would ensure the protection of diplomatic missions in the country.
His remarks come amid heightened regional tensions, including threats by Iran to target US interests in the region in the event of American strikes.
By Nasser Houlgath
Negotiating teams from the U.S. and Iran could return to Islamabad later this week, five sources said on Tuesday, days after the highest-level talks between the two countries in decades ended without a breakthrough.
The deadline passed on Monday for the start of a U.S. military blockade of ships leaving Iran's ports, and Tehran threatened to retaliate against ports of its Gulf neighbours after weekend talks on ending the war broke down.
Israeli troops launched an attack on Monday to seize a key town in south Lebanon from Hezbollah fighters holed up there, pressing the war on the Iran-backed group on the eve of rare talks between Israeli and Lebanese government envoys.
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