• Trump threatens to end US support for Iraq if Nouri al-Maliki returns to the premiership.
• The former prime minister is backed by the largest Shiite bloc in Iraq's parliament.
• Trump cites Maliki's past tenure as a time of chaos and poverty for Iraq.
• US officials have expressed concerns about Iranian influence in Iraq under Maliki.
• The US holds significant leverage over Iraq's economy through its oil revenues.

US President Donald Trump has warned that the United States will terminate all support for Iraq if former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is reinstated. He stated that Iraq would be making a “very bad choice” with Maliki, who has been nominated by the largest Shiite political bloc, known as the Coordination Framework. Trump elaborated that during Maliki's previous administration, Iraq faced “poverty and total chaos,” which should not be allowed to repeat, according to Indiatimes and Al Jazeera.

Trump emphasized that if elected, Maliki's "insane policies and ideologies" would lead to the cessation of American assistance, leaving Iraq with “ZERO chance of Success, Prosperity, or Freedom.” His comments reflect a broader concern from the US regarding Maliki's ties to Iran and the potential for increased influence over Iraqi politics, as highlighted by both BBC and South China Morning Post.

The US wields significant leverage over Iraq's economy, as the vast majority of its oil revenue is managed through the Federal Reserve Bank in New York, an arrangement established after the 2003 US invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein. Oil sales constitute about 90 percent of Iraq's government income, thus highlighting the stakes involved in the political situation, according to Indiatimes and BBC.

In light of Maliki's nomination, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio communicated similar apprehensions to current Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, emphasizing that a government influenced by Iran cannot effectively prioritize Iraq's interests. Trump's threats and the US letters to Iraqi leaders convey Washington's serious concerns about the implications of Maliki's potential return, as also reported by Al Jazeera and South China Morning Post.