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Iraq’s Maliki says he would welcome decision to replace him as PM candidate

By Thomson Reuters Feb 3, 2026 | 11:55 AM

Feb 3 (Reuters) – Iraq’s former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, ‍nominated by a powerful alliance of Shi’ite political parties to return to ‌the premiership, ‌said on Tuesday that he would welcome a decision to replace his ​candidacy.

On January 27, U.S. ‍President Donald ​Trump said that ​if Maliki, who ‍served as prime minister for most of the U.S.-led war in Iraq, ‍were chosen to return to the post, ‍Washington ‍would no longer ​help Iraq, ​a ⁠major oil producer ‌and close U.S. ally.

(Reporting by Menna Alaa El-Din and Ahmed RasheedEditing by Peter ⁠Graff)