US reiterates readiness to counter Iran’s influence in Iraq

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Washington has reiterated its readiness to confront "Iran’s destabilizing activities" in Iraq, asserting that future Iraqi governments must remain independent and focused on national interests, the US Embassy in Baghdad said on Thursday.

In a statement issued on X, the embassy said that during a meeting between US Charge d’Affaires to Iraq Joshua Harris and the head of the National Alnahj Alliance, Abdul Hussein al-Moussawi, Harris affirmed that the US is "prepared to use the full range of tools to counter Iran’s destabilizing activities in Iraq.”

Harris emphasized that “any Iraqi government should remain fully independent and focused on advancing the national interests of all Iraqis,” the statement said.

“In his meeting with Dr. Al-Musawi, #CDA Harris discussed the importance of a strong US-Iraq partnership that delivers tangible benefits for Americans and Iraqis as we work to advance our shared interests - safeguarding Iraqi sovereignty, bolstering regional stability, and strengthening economic ties,” the embassy said.

The National Alnahj Alliance is a key party in the Shiite-led Coordination Framework, the largest parliamentary bloc which holds 179 of 329 seats. Political factions have since maneuvered to elect a new president who will appoint a prime minister-designate from the largest bloc.

This process follows Iraq’s post-2003 informal power-sharing system, under which the parliament speaker post is delegated to Sunni Arabs, the premiership to Shiite parties, and the presidency to Kurds.

In January, the framework announced former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki as its candidate for the premiership.

The US has since ramped up pressure on Iraqi lawmakers, with President Donald Trump warning against Maliki’s return to power.

In a post on his Truth Social platform days after Maliki's nomination, Trump said Iraq “might make a very bad choice by reinstalling Nouri al-Maliki as Prime Minister,” adding that during Maliki’s previous tenure the country “descended into poverty and total chaos.”

“That should not be allowed to happen again,” Trump said, warning that if Maliki returns to office, “the United States of America will no longer help Iraq,” adding that without US support Iraq would have “ZERO chance of Success, Prosperity, or Freedom. MAKE IRAQ GREAT AGAIN!”

Maliki previously served as Iraq’s prime minister from 2006 to 2014. He stepped down during his second term amid corruption allegations and security crises linked to the rise of the Islamic State (ISIS.)

Despite Washington’s hardening stance against Iranian influence in Iraq, the National Alnahj Alliance issued a statement pressing for “the importance of the success of negotiations between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran,” describing them as “a positive step that contributes to de-escalation and the adoption of paths of dialogue and calm.”

US and Iranian officials conducted indirect talks on Friday in Oman focused on Iran’s nuclear program. Washington has threatened to launch military strikes against Iran if it continues developing its nuclear program and fails to curb its regional proxies, including armed groups in Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen.

Friday’s talks marked the first diplomatic engagement since Washington launched strikes last June on key Iranian nuclear sites during the 12-day war initiated by Israel against Iran. Trump announced negotiations are expected to resume next week.