BLOOMBERG: WASHINGTON THREATENS BAGHDAD WITH REDUCED OIL REVENUES IF MALIKI RETURNS TO THE PREMIERSHIP
Bloomberg reported on Tuesday that Washington had informed Iraqi officials in recent days that it might reduce Iraq’s access to oil export revenues if Nouri al-Maliki were appointed prime minister, given the United States’ view of him as being close to Iran.
The agency, in a report citing sources who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the talks, indicated that the United States issued a new warning during a meeting held last week in Turkey between the governor of the Central Bank of Iraq, Ali Al-Alaq, and senior American officials.
Türkiye’s meeting came almost simultaneously with a social media post by US President Donald Trump, in which he stressed that Iraqi politicians could not choose Maliki.
The sources pointed out that American frustration increased due to al-Maliki’s insistence, who served as prime minister between 2006 and 2014, on not backing down.
In contrast, sources familiar with Tehran’s strategy reported that Iran informed Iraqi political leaders close to it of the need to resist Trump and his threats.
Sources told the agency that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei sent Ismail Qaani, commander of the Revolutionary Guard, to Baghdad last month carrying a congratulatory message to Iraqi leaders on the nomination of Maliki, a move that angered American officials.
Iraqi oil export revenues are currently deposited in an account in the name of the Iraqi Ministry of Finance at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and are managed by the Central Bank of Iraq.
The Iraqi government uses these funds to cover its expenses, including public sector salaries and pensions, amounting to approximately $7 billion per month. It also receives roughly $500 million in cash monthly, flown from New York to Baghdad.
Iraq is one of the world’s most oil-dependent countries, with oil revenues accounting for about 90% of its budget.
According to MNT GOAT, some long-awaited good news is finally here.
The choo-choo train is moving again.
After months of delays, political theatrics, and what many consider a completely unnecessary detour involving Nouri al-Maliki, Iraq’s political process appears to be getting back on track. For observers of Iraq’s reforms and the long-anticipated RV (revaluation), this shift brings a collective sigh of relief.
Why the Delay? The Maliki Factor Revisited
MNT GOAT does not mince words when addressing the root cause of the delay.
The involvement of Nouri al-Maliki once again resulted in:
Wasted time
Circular political maneuvering
No tangible progress
As history reminds us, Maliki’s eight years as prime minister were marked by stagnation rather than advancement. Once again, Iraq found itself moving in circles—only to arrive back at the same conclusion it reached months ago.
Now that this chapter is effectively closed, forward movement has resumed.
Al-Sudani Remains the Choice for Prime Minister
Despite the noise, MNT GOAT reiterates a key point:
Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani remains the will of the people and the likely Prime Minister for another four-year term.
So why all the drama?
The Core Problem
Too many parties
Too many coalitions
Fragmented political power
This structure dilutes the popular vote and obscures the clear preference of the electorate. While often labeled a “democratic process”, many question how democratic it truly is when outcomes are known far in advance yet endlessly delayed.
The current process simply reconfirmed what was already known
The system itself creates unnecessary repetition
Now, as February begins, the long election cycle is rapidly approaching its conclusion.
February Momentum: The End Is Near
We are now in the first week of February, and the election process is moving fast toward resolution.
MNT GOAT notes:
Without corruption inside the Coordination Framework, this cycle would have been one of the fastest in Iraqi history
A final push for power by Iran-aligned factions attempted to derail the process
Had they succeeded, Iraq—and the RV—would have faced serious consequences
The good news? That push appears to have failed.
Iran’s Influence Declines — A Major Shift
One of the most striking statements from MNT GOAT is the belief that:
Iran is not going to have its way with Iraq this time.
This shift is viewed as monumental. MNT GOAT credits President Donald Trump for standing firm against Iranian influence, marking a turning point in Iraq’s sovereignty and political independence.
Constitutional Deadlines and Parliamentary Pressure
Iraq’s parliament has been operating under intense pressure:
The constitutional deadline to elect a president expired on January 29
Today marks February 5
Momentum is now forcing decisive action
Earlier this week, a critical development occurred.
Kurdistan Announces Its Presidential Nominee: Fuad Hussein
Kurdistan officially named Fuad Hussein as its nominee for President of Iraq, a move widely seen as clearing the final obstacle.
Who Is Fuad Hussein?
Fuad Hussein is:
Iraq’s current Minister of Foreign Affairs
Born July 1, 1949, in Khanaqin, Diyala Province
A senior member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP)
Career Highlights
Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations
Former Minister of Finance
Chief of Staff of the Kurdistan Region Presidency
Active in Kurdish politics since the 1970s
Presidential nominee previously in 2018
Education and International Experience
One detail MNT GOAT emphasizes approvingly:
Fuad Hussein studied International Relations at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
This background contributes to:
Diplomatic credibility
International trust
A modern political outlook
As MNT GOAT put it simply: “I like that!!!”
Featured Snippets / Google Discover Highlights
Is the RV process moving forward again?
According to MNT GOAT, yes. With political obstacles fading, momentum has returned and the process is advancing.
Who will be Iraq’s prime minister?
Al-Sudani remains the expected choice for another four-year term.
Who is Fuad Hussein?
Fuad Hussein is Iraq’s Foreign Minister and Kurdistan’s nominee for President, known for his experience and international education.
Q&A Section
Why was this election cycle so slow?
Corruption, coalition politics, and power struggles—especially involving Maliki and Iranian-aligned factions—caused repeated delays.
Does this political shift help the RV?
MNT GOAT believes political stability is essential and that these developments remove major obstacles.
Is Iran losing influence in Iraq?
According to this update, Iran’s attempt to regain control has failed, marking a significant change.
Key Takeaways
The RV process is moving forward again
Maliki’s involvement caused unnecessary delays
Al-Sudani remains the clear choice for Prime Minister
Iranian influence appears to be declining
Fuad Hussein has emerged as a strong presidential nominee
I want to share some very good news today. The choo- choo train is finally moving ahead again. WOW! We all should take a sigh of relief. Why did we even have to go through this exercise with Nori al-Malki? Yes, as usual more time is wasted. Seems whenever this idiot is involved nothing happens. Just like his eight year in office as the prime minister nothing positive happened. Everything just ran in circles. So here we are again going around and around only to come to the starting point again.
But now we move ahead since this foolish exercise is over. Again, I am telling everyone that Al-Sudani will also be the choice for yet another four years as the prime minister. Why do we also have to go round and round with this candidacy too? But this is Iraq. We knew the outcome of this months ago too. I guess they call this the “democratic process”? How democratic is it…really? The problem: too many parties, too many coalitions to build which splits the will of the people from their actual popular vote and choice, which we all know was al-Sudani.
Remember these headlines from December 2025?
What have they chosen? We will find out today. Let’s explore this together.
We are the first week of February already and this election process is about to come to a conclusion real fast. I have to tell you something. If it has not been for the corruption in the Coordination Framework, this election cycle should have progressed quicker than any of the past. However there was one more push for power by the Iranian puppets. If they has won, it would have meant the doom for Iraq and our RV. But this appears that it is not going to be the case. Iran is not going to have its way with Iraq after all. I can honestly say we owe it all to president Donald Trump as someone finally stood up to Iran.
The Iraqi parliament faced a tight timetable, as the constitutional deadline for electing a president expired on January 29 it is now February 5. Earlier this week Kurdistan finally announced its nominee for president Fuad Hussein, a very learned, distinguished and hansom man.
Fuad Hussein is an Iraqi politician and the current Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq. He was born on July 1, 1949, in Khanaqin, Diyala Province, and is a member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). He has held various positions, including Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Minister of Finance, and has been involved in Kurdish politics since the 1970s. After the fall of Saddam Hussein, he was appointed as the Chief of Staff of the Kurdistan Region Presidency and was nominated for the presidency by the KDP in 2018.
Fuad Hussein is known for his advocacy for Kurdish rights and has a background in international relations, having studied at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. I like that!!!
US RACHETS UP PRESSURE ON IRAQ OVER POST OF PRIME MINISTER
(Mnt Goat: Will the US do it and will Iraq risk seeing it happen? The gamble is on the table. This will show Iraqis and the entire world just how bad Maliki really it as he would rather risk everything and sacrifice his own country of Iraq and everything it has accomplished so far since 2003 for What? His own power and greed! Oh… but he takes his orders from Iran not the US….)
A standoff between the White House and Iraqi politicians over who should be the Middle Eastern country’s next prime minister is worsening, according to several people, with the rift threatening to destabilize the OPEC member.
In recent days, Washington told Iraqi officials it would reduce the country’s access to oil-export revenues if it appointed Nouri Al-Maliki, seen by the US as too close to Iran, as premier, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private talks.
The US gave a new warning during a meeting between Ali Al-Alaq, the central bank governor of Iraq, and senior American officials in Turkey last week, said the people.
The Turkey meeting came around the same time that US President Donald Trump, posting on social media, insisted that Iraqi politicians cannot choose Al-Maliki. US frustration has grown because Al-Maliki, who was prime minister between 2006 and 2014, has refused to back down, said the people.
The tensions highlight Trump’s attempts to sever Iran’s influence over its neighbor. In the wake of mass protests in Iran last month, the US has threatened to strike the Islamic Republic if it refuses a deal to curb its nuclear ambitions and missile program as well as end its support for proxy militias across the region including in Iraq.
Iraq held parliamentary elections in November. Under its power-sharing arrangements, the most important post of prime minister should be given to a Shiite, with Sunnis and Kurds getting other positions. It’s unclear how much longer it will take for Iraq’s politicians to make a final choice and form a governing coalition.
A White House official confirmed the meeting had taken place between the Iraqi central bank governor Al-Alaq and US Treasury and Federal Reserve officials but called it a routine technical one that was unconnected to the president’s announcement. The official gave no further details.
In a message to Bloomberg, Al-Alaq denied US officials told him Al-Maliki’s return to power would impact Iraq’s access to its accounts. He said talks dealt with “purely technical issues” and “did not get into matters with another dimension.”
Al-Maliki is “still the candidate,” Hisham Al-Rikabi, a spokesman for the politician, said to Bloomberg on Tuesday. There’s “no change on that.”
Following its invasion and occupation of Iraq in 2003, the US set up the Development Fund for Iraq at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. It was designed to collect proceeds from oil sales and use them to rebuild the war-ravaged country. While the fund itself was wound down in 2011, shortly before former President Barack Obama announced the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, the arrangements have persisted in a different form. The US says it shields Iraq’s oil income from lawsuits related to the ousted regime of Saddam Hussein.
Money from Iraqi oil exports currently goes to an account in the name of Iraq’s ministry of finance at the New York Fed, which is managed by Iraq’s central bank. The government uses this to pay for its expenditures, including public sector salaries and pensions, amounting to around $7 billion a month. It also receives around $500 million in cash each month from the account that’s sent by plane from New York to Baghdad.
Iraq is one of the world’s most oil-dependent nations, with such revenue accounting for roughly 90% of its budget. In his post, Trump said America would “no longer help Iraq” if it went ahead with the nomination of Al-Maliki. Trump lambasted the 75-year-old, who at one point was supported by both the Obama and George W. Bush administrations, for “insane policies and ideologies.”
“If we are not there to help, Iraq has ZERO chance of Success, Prosperity, or Freedom,” Trump said. “MAKE IRAQ GREAT AGAIN!”
Iran Says Resist (so Maliki resist. Iran says jump and so Maliki jumps)
Iran has told Iraqi political leaders close to it to resist what it has described as Trump’s bullying and threats, according to people familiar with Tehran’s strategy. Last month, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei dispatched Esmail Qaani, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, to Baghdad bearing a letter from him in which he congratulated Iraqi leaders for nominating Al-Maliki. This has angered US officials, said these people.
Iran shares an almost 1000-mile border with Iraq and sees it as an extension of its own national security. The two fought a war in the 1980s — while Saddam, a Sunni, still ruled Iraq — in which hundreds of thousands of people were killed.
Iran, a predominantly Shiite country, has built significant sway over Iraq since Saddam’s downfall. That event gave Iraq’s Shiites — also the majority in their country — more power, helped by ideological and political support from Tehran, and a network of Iranian-backed militias.
The outgoing prime minister, Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, has been in power since 2022 and has balanced ties between Iran and the US. He has good relations with the latter and has recently pushed for US oil companies, including Exxon Mobil Corp. and Chevron Corp., to invest more in Iraq. Al-Sudani believes he can still get a second term because Al-Maliki will be forced to step aside or fail to win enough support, Bloomberg has previously reported.
Introduction: A Turning Point in Iraq’s Political Deadlock
According to MNT GOAT, Iraq may be standing at the threshold of a historic political breakthrough. After years of gridlock, tension, and what many have called a “long struggle”, signals are emerging that Nouri al-Maliki is close to announcing his withdrawal from contention—clearing the path for a new presidential vote and potentially reshaping Iraq’s political future.
This development is being closely watched not only inside Iraq but also by international observers tracking governance reform, stability, and broader economic implications.
Maliki’s Shift: From Defiance to Conditional Concession
On Tuesday evening, Nouri al-Maliki—head of the State of Law Coalition and former frontrunner within the Coordination Framework—revealed new details regarding:
American opposition to his candidacy
The impact of a public tweet from former U.S. President Donald Trump rejecting his bid
Growing internal and external pressure to step aside
Maliki confirmed that he is now prepared to concede
Iraqi Parliament has now scheduled a session early next week
to:
Vote on Fuad Hussein as President of Iraq
Potentially end months (and years) of political paralysis
If successful, this session could mark:
The formal conclusion of the current crisis
A restored constitutional process
Renewed confidence among citizens and international partners
Political Stability and Broader Implications
While MNT GOAT’s update focuses on politics, the implications extend much further:
Governance: A functioning executive branch enables real policy-making
Security: Reduced factional tension lowers the risk of unrest
Economy: Political clarity is a prerequisite for financial reform
International Relations: Signals cooperation rather than confrontation
Many analysts believe this step is foundational for future economic and monetary developments.
Featured Snippets / Google Discover Highlights
Is Nouri al-Maliki withdrawing from politics?
MNT GOAT reports that Maliki is close to announcing his withdrawal, contingent on specific political conditions, following U.S. opposition and internal pressure.
When will Iraq elect a new president?
Expectations are that Parliament will hold a session early next week to vote on Fuad Hussein as President of Iraq.
Who is Fuad Hussein?
Fuad Hussein is Kurdistan’s official nominee for President of Iraq, known for his experience, education, and international credibility.
Q&A Section
Why is Maliki’s withdrawal so significant?
Because his candidacy has long blocked consensus, his exit could unlock the entire political process.
Does this mean Iraq’s crisis is over?
It signals a major step forward, though full stability depends on successful government formation afterward.
What happens after the president is elected?
The president appoints a prime minister-designate, leading to cabinet formation and governance restoration.
Key Takeaways
MNT GOAT signals the possible end of Iraq’s prolonged political deadlock
Nouri al-Maliki is reportedly close to stepping aside
U.S. opposition played a role in shifting momentum
Fuad Hussein has emerged as a strong, consensus presidential nominee
A parliamentary vote is expected early next week
This could reset Iraq’s political and institutional trajectory
"THE END OF THE "LONG STRUGGLE"... MALIKI IS CLOSE TO ANNOUNCING HIS WITHDRAWAL. EXPECTATIONS ARE THAT A NEW SESSION TO ELECT THE "PRESIDENT"
WILL BE HELD EARLY NEXT WEEK." On Tuesday evening, Nouri al-Maliki, head of the State of Law Coalition and the Coordination Framework's candidate for the position of next Prime Minister, revealed new details regarding the American rejection and what followed President Donald Trump's tweet about his candidacy for the position, confirming his readiness to concede on certain conditions. Then what happens next....
Earlier this week Kurdistan finally announced its nominee for president Fuad Hussein, a very learned, distinguished and hansom man. Early next week Parliament has scheduled a session for the vote of confidence for Hussein as the new president of Iraq.
TEHRAN TIMES: IRAQ’S REAL BATTLE WITH AMERICA HAS NOW BEGUN
The Tehran Times, an agency close to the Iranian government, stated on Tuesday (February 3, 2026) that the “real battle” between Iraq and the United States has now begun, warning that Iraq is entering what it described as the “most dangerous” phase in its political and sovereign struggle.
(Mnt Goat: I find this hard to believe that Iran would even say such a thing. What the hell do you think it was doing in Iraq? …. Now lookk at the struggle to get Iran out of Iraq.
Irancertainly wasn’t there to help Iraq. It certainly wasn’t there to preserve Iraqi sovereignty. Where do you think all this stolen funds went from all these years of corrupted currency auctions and other thief? Hypocritical thinking….. They don’t want the US to get the spoils so they can have it. But look at what they have done to Iraq. Iran has taken and took some more and has not given back. At least the US wants to earn it wealth from Iraq and make both the US and Iraq very wealthy. Which one would you want dealing with you country’s matters? )
The agency said, according to what was translated by “Baghdad Today”, that the greatest danger to Iraq does not lie in the conflict on the borders or front lines, but rather in the transfer of the confrontation to within the political process itself, through American and Israeli attempts – as it put it – to manipulate the highest executive position and turn it into an open arena of conflict.
She added that the recent statements of US President Donald Trump cannot be considered mere passing comments, but rather represent “direct signals” of a return to US interference in Iraqi affairs, especially after Nouri al-Maliki’s insistence on running for the position of Prime Minister despite US rejection.
The agency noted that Maliki “is not just a political figure,” but is seen as a symbol of sovereignty, considering that his previous government embodied a model of strong central authority that confronted foreign influence and interference, stressing that preventing his return to power has been a continuous goal of the United States and the “Zionist entity” for years.
The Tehran Times also stressed that Iraq is not a secondary arena in the American strategy to rearrange the region, but rather represents the heart of the project due to its human, economic and military weight, considering that weakening it and preventing the arrival of political leaders “capable of managing it” is a clear American goal.
The agency went on to say that the US-Israeli military buildup against Iran is not just a show of force, but paves the way for a multi-front war in which Iraq will be one of the main theaters, whether it accepts it or rejects it.
The agency concluded its report by emphasizing that targeting al-Maliki is not about him personally, but rather represents “a message that affects Iraqi sovereignty,” warning that the targeting may later extend to any other political figure.
The Tehran Times report comes in conjunction with American reports expressing their rejection of Maliki assuming the position of Prime Minister again, in an indication of the escalating American-Iranian conflict over the future of political leadership in Iraq.
Oh… but he takes his orders from Iran not the US….)