Iraq’s main candidate for the premiership, Nouri al-Maliki, yesterday denounced Washington’s “blatant interference”, after President Donald Trump threatened to end all support to the country if Maliki took the post.

“We categorically reject the blatant American interference in Iraq’s internal affairs,” Maliki said on X, adding that “we consider it a violation” of Iraq’s “democratic system”, in place since the 2003 US-led invasion.

Trump on Tuesday said that Iraq would make a “very bad choice” if Maliki were selected for the top post. He warned that because of Maliki’s “insane policies and ideologies, if elected, the United States of America will no longer help Iraq”.

Maliki was endorsed as Iraq’s next prime minister by the Coordination Framework.