The decision by United States President Donald Trump to back Ali al-Zaidi as Iraq’s next prime minister may have surprised some quarters. But when one looks into whom Trump was trying to keep out, his motivation becomes clear.

Iraq’s dominant parliamentary bloc, the Coordination Framework, a coalition of Shia parties aligned with Iran, had initially thrown its weight behind former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. For Washington, the nomination of an openly pro-Iran premier was a red line, especially amid continuing attacks by pro-Iran Iraqi militias on US assets in the country and the region. Trump publicly announced his opposition to al-Maliki and threatened to cut off all aid to Iraq if he were appointed.

The pressure campaign was swift and severe. Washington suspended cash payments from Iraq’s oil revenues, which are held at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, representing a lifeline to the Iraqi economy dating back to the 2003 US-led invasion. It also halted security assistance and suspended cooperation with Iraqi security agencies while issuing a stark warning against any government influenced by Iran-linked figures and armed factions. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent added his voice, warning that those who enable militia violence “will be held accountable”.

Faced with that wall of pressure, the Coordination Framework blinked first. After trying and failing to approve Bassem al-Badry, a candidate backed by al-Maliki, it convened for a final decisive meeting. Within 25 minutes, Ali al-Zaidi, a 40-year-old banker with no previous experience in political office, was unanimously........

© Middle East Monitor