BAGHDAD, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi presidency on Thursday voiced its rejection of any foreign interference in the country's political affairs, noting all domestic matters are an "inherent sovereign right."
In a statement, the Iraqi presidency underscored that respect for national sovereignty is fundamental to state-building and the consolidation of political stability, particularly during the process of forming a new government.
The presidency reaffirmed Iraq's commitment to a balanced foreign policy based on openness, constructive engagement, and strengthened relations through mutual respect, non-interference and shared interests.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened that the United States would "no longer help Iraq" if former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki returns to power, citing concerns over his previous policies and ideologies.
Al-Maliki, nominated for a third term by the Coordination Framework, Iraq's largest parliamentary bloc, on Wednesday rebuffed the "blatant U.S. interference" in Iraq's internal affairs, describing it as a violation of Iraqi sovereignty.
Al-Maliki, born in 1950, previously served two terms as Iraq's prime minister from 2006 to 2014. Under Iraq's ethno-sectarian power-sharing system, the prime minister's office is reserved for a Shiite Muslim, the presidency for a Kurd, and the speaker's post for a Sunni.
Iraq's parliament on Tuesday postponed a key session to elect the country's next president after two main Kurdish parties failed to reach an agreement. ■
