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
The Israeli military said it had begun targeted strikes in southern Lebanon on Wednesday in response to a "Hezbollah violation", a day after the latest round of U.S.-facilitated talks between Israel and Lebanon took place in Rome.
A proposed deal between Iran and Oman would give Tehran control over ships entering the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, a senior Iranian source and two regional officials told Reuters on Wednesday, in one of the biggest concessions yet to Iran.
The U.S. Treasury said on Wednesday it had removed counter-terrorism sanctions from Iraq's Fly Baghdad Airlines and two aircraft that were imposed in 2024 over links to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, citing changes in the airline's behavior.
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