US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he gets on very well with Iraqi leaders.
In Baghdad, US envoy Tom Barrack held a series of meetings with senior officials to resolve the political deadlock in the country. Trump said, “I get along very well with the Iraqi leadership,” indicating that there is good understanding and coordination between the two sides.
A source within the coordination framework revealed an American warning related to Iraqi political entitlements. The source stated that the American envoy, Tom Barrack, informed the Iraqi Prime Minister that Washington might impose sanctions if Nouri al-Maliki were nominated for a high political position.
The source indicated that the potential US sanctions on Iraq may be announced in the middle of next week, and will initially target figures loyal to Iran, before later including leaders in the coordination framework.
Al-Ahd TV, the mouthpiece of Asaib Ahl al-Haq, which opposes Maliki’s nomination for prime minister, quoted a source as saying: “Barak informed Maliki that America does not object to him assuming any position other than the prime minister.”
🚨 Mnt Goat RV Update: Maliki Forced Out as Iraqi Judiciary Ruling Could Change Government Formation
A major political development in Iraq may signal progress toward ending the long-standing government formation crisis. According to the latest update from commentator Mnt Goat, events surrounding the March 3, 2026 meeting of Iraq’s political leadership could represent a critical turning point.
Reports indicate that Nouri al-Maliki was effectively forced to withdraw his candidacy for the next Iraqi government after intense pressure from political allies, international actors, and the judiciary.
At the same time, a new ruling from Iraq’s judicial leadership could potentially reshape the process of selecting the next prime minister.
Why the Newsletter Was Delayed
The update explains that the report was intentionally delayed to wait for the outcome of an important political meeting held on March 3, 2026.
The meeting was reportedly held at the residence of Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani and focused on resolving key political disputes.
The agenda included:
The unresolved presidency of Iraq
The selection of the next prime minister
Addressing the country’s ongoing constitutional deadline violations
Assessing the impact of regional conflict involving the United States, Iran, and Israel
These issues have created a prolonged political deadlock affecting Iraq’s stability.
“Stormy Meeting” Ends With Maliki’s Candidacy Withdrawn
According to Arab media reports, the meeting ended with a preliminary agreement inside the Shiite Coordination Framework to remove Nouri al-Maliki from the race for prime minister.
The decision did not come voluntarily.
Sources suggest that Maliki was forced to step aside due to pressure from multiple directions, including:
International pressure, including from the United States
The Iraqi judicial system
This development represents a significant shift in Iraq’s political negotiations.
The Iraqi Judiciary Steps In
Another major factor influencing the situation was a statement from the Supreme Judicial Council of Iraq led by Faiq Zaidan.
The judiciary reopened debate over the interpretation of Article 76 of the Iraqi Constitution, which determines how the prime minister is selected.
The discussion centers on the definition of the “largest parliamentary bloc.”
Previously, the Federal Supreme Court of Iraq ruled in 2010 that the largest bloc could be formed after elections through alliances, rather than automatically belonging to the party that won the most seats.
This interpretation has caused repeated political disputes in Iraqi elections.
A New Interpretation Could Change Everything
Recent judicial comments suggest the possibility that the largest vote-winning coalition may have the right to form the government.
If this interpretation is applied to the 2025 election results, it could mean that the coalition led by Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani would automatically receive the mandate to form the government.
That possibility is why the latest developments are drawing so much attention among political observers.
Meeting Between Iraqi Judiciary and U.S. Envoy
Another important development referenced in the report involves a meeting between the Iraqi judiciary and Tom Barrack, a special envoy representing the United States.
The meeting reportedly focused on:
Completing constitutional requirements
Supporting political stability
Ensuring the transition to the next phase of government formation
Discussions between international diplomats and Iraqi legal institutions are often aimed at preventing political stalemates that could destabilize the country.
The Larger Political Question: Who Chooses the Prime Minister?
The current situation raises a major constitutional issue in Iraq.
For years, Iraqi governments have been formed through post-election alliances, allowing political blocs to negotiate power after the vote.
Critics argue that this process:
Delays government formation
Allows foreign influence
Undermines the will of voters
If the judiciary enforces the principle that the election winner forms the government, future elections could become far more straightforward.
What This Could Mean for Iraq’s Stability
Ending the political stalemate would have several major implications for Iraq:
Faster formation of a functioning government
Reduced political gridlock
Greater stability in national decision-making
Improved confidence among international investors
Political stability is widely considered essential for Iraq’s economic development and reform programs.
Featured Snippet: Why Was Maliki Removed From the Prime Minister Race?
Nouri al-Maliki’s candidacy was reportedly withdrawn after a stormy political meeting within the Shiite Coordination Framework. Pressure from political allies, judicial developments, and international actors contributed to the decision to remove him from consideration for the next Iraqi government.
Q&A: Iraq Government Formation and Political Changes
Why was Nouri al-Maliki removed from the race?
Reports suggest he was forced to withdraw due to pressure from political allies and new legal interpretations regarding government formation.
What role does the Iraqi judiciary play?
The judiciary can interpret constitutional provisions that determine which political bloc has the right to form the government.
Who could become the next prime minister?
If the new legal interpretation is applied, Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani could potentially be given the mandate to form the government.
Why does the “largest bloc” rule matter?
It determines whether the government is formed by the largest election winner or by alliances formed after the election
.
Key Takeaways
The March 3 political developments may represent a major turning point in Iraq’s political process.
Important points include:
Nouri al-Maliki’s candidacy withdrawn after a tense meeting
The Supreme Judicial Council reopening debate over constitutional rules
Potential changes to how Iraq selects its prime minister
Possibility that Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani could lead the next government
If these developments continue to move forward, Iraq could soon emerge from its current political stalemate.
I especially would like to shout out to Rodney H. for his appreciation of the Newsletter as well as the many others who demand HONEST and TRUTHFUL news from Iraq. It is followers like many of you that keep the Newsletter alive. Thanks for the support!
I want to clarify why this Newsletter was late and published today instead of on the normal Tuesday. News was published from Iraq that a meeting was to be held on 3/3 to discuss the Shiite candidate of Maliki for prime minister. I wanted to wait for it.
We can read about this meeting in the recent article titled ““THE FRAMEWORK FOR THE SUDANESE PRESIDENCY TODAY IS TO DECIDE ON THE PRESIDENCIES AND DISCUSS THE REPERCUSSIONS OF THE WAR” I wanted to get the outcome of this meeting and report it to you today. I did not want to wait until Tuesday. This is what the article said that may give us some hope this could be resolved this week. An informed source stated that the Coordination Framework will meet today, Tuesday (March 3, 2026), to discuss the repercussions of a war between America, Israel and Iran on Iraq and the region. The meeting, which will be held at the home of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, will discuss resolving the issues of the presidency and the prime minister, especially after exceeding the constitutional deadlines and the country entering a phase of political deadlock.
So, the meeting was held according to the article above. Here is the outcome:
Today there is WOW! WOW! WOW! news to tell regarding the RV as we may be getting the new Iraqi government in place very shortly. Maliki still persisted in not dropping out, however there the meeting today 3/3 and the Coordination Framework was forced to withdraw Maliki’s nomination. Please see article titled “THE SHIITE FRAMEWORK DECIDES TO WITHDRAW AL-MALIKI’S CANDIDACY – ARAB MEDIA”. A stormy meeting in Baghdad ends with a preliminary agreement within the Shiite framework to exclude Maliki from the race. I quote from the article – “A leader in the Arab Television Coordination Framework reported on Tuesday (March 3, 2026) that the members of the framework reached a preliminary agreement in their meeting today to withdraw the nomination of Nouri al-Maliki for the presidency of the next Iraqi government and to choose an alternative to be determined later.”
Now here is the real juicy part of what happened on 3/3, as if this news was not good enough for us. First let me say that the power-hungry Nori al-Maliki DID NOT volunteer on his own accord to give up the nomination. He was forced into it. However, the leaders of the Coordination Framework did not do this dumping of Maliki on their own, such as a nice gesture to maintain Iraqi stability. Instead, it was the pressure from the other members who insisted on it. We must also consider the pressure from the U.S. and we must also consider the pressure from the judiciary too. Remember I said I was waiting to hear what the Supreme Judiciary also had to say about the deadlock in the election and if they would rule on it. They did rule on and this also had a huge impact of what just happened. Well…the ruling came out also today.
I will quote again from the article about the ruling– “The meeting comes hours after the head of the Supreme Judicial Council published an article that sparked significant reactions, in which he spoke about the Federal Court amending its interpretation of the largest blocand granting the right to form the government to the first winner in the elections, which could mean a return of the opportunity for the current Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, whose coalition won the largest number of seats.”
Now this ruling sparked reactions and caused the Coordination Framework to act quickly to dump Maliki, but what we still don’t know for sure if the Supreme Judicial Council’s ruling will be effective regardless. Will it? We will soon find out.
Can the Coordination Framework still be able to pick their candidate or is this now not allowed since they already pasted all the constitutional deadlines? Parliament turned this over to the Judiicary to decide what to do next. If it is to be enforced, we can be assured that al-Sudani will be the candidate, since his party has the largest winner in the elections, as the ruling states.
I may be a bit premature in saying this, but will the new government be brave enough and strong enough to go after Nori al-Maliki and those like him and prosecute them for their crimes in trying to destroy Iraq? I firmly believe this is coming to Iraq once the deal with Iran is over. Remember we are witnessing this now on America, just as the prophets are now telling us and have told us years ago. Can you see it? You have to see it! God’s hand is at work.
Future Of Iraq Elections:
The next issue I want to bring up is this. Will this ruling also affect the future elections of Iraq and stop this nonsense of the largest block picking the candidate for prime minister rather than the one getting the majority of votes. We see in this election and past elections how this screwy process delays and leaves the government vulnerable to Iranian influences or influences from any outside country for that matter. We also know that president Trump wanting this process changed to allow for the candidate with the largest ‘popular’ votes to get the nomination and not decided outside of the elections results.
The next question is this, what was said in the conversation in the recent meeting just over the weekend between the Iraqi judiciary and the US envoy Barak? In this next article titled “JUDGE ZAIDAN DISCUSSES WITH THE US ENVOY THE COMPLETION OF “CONSTITUTIONAL ENTITLEMENTS” IN IRAQ”. In it we learn “the head of the Supreme Judicial Council, Judge Faiq Zaidan, discussed with US Special Envoy Tom Barrack on Friday the role of the judiciary in supporting efforts to complete the remaining constitutional requirements during the next phase.”
In the article I firmly believe that this matter of the definition of ‘the largest block’ is finally settled and will no longer hold up elections in the future. In the article titled “THE FRAMEWORK IS MEETING WITHOUT MALIKI: ACCELERATING GOVERNMENT FORMATION AND SECURING EMBASSIES – URGENT” we learn more on this subject matter. I will quote from this article on this topic. “The stormy meeting of the Coordination Framework comes at a highly sensitive political moment, following an article by the head of the Supreme Judicial Council, Judge Faiq Zaidan, which reopened one of the most controversial files since 2005, namely the interpretation of the concept of the “largest parliamentary bloc” contained in Article (76) of the Constitution.”
“In 2010, the Federal Court interpreted that the largest bloc could be formed after the election results were announced through alliances within the House of Representatives, not necessarily the list that won the largest number of seats. This interpretation later became a point of frequent political conflict, as it is directly linked to the process of assigning a candidate to form the government.”
I find these articles little gems that tell us so much about the TRUTH behind these issues and their resolutions. Did you read what I highlighted above? Do you realize what this means if the judiciary applies this to this election of 2025? And YES, I do believe they will apply it regardless of what the Coordination Framework thinks they are going to do next, such as they said they will pick the next candidate since they ditched Maliki. I have news for them in that according to this ruling, al-Sudani is already now the candidate. If this ruling holds true the Coordination Framework no longer gets to choose the nominee. Am I missing something here. Read it for yourself. WOW! WOW! WOW! again……
THE SHIITE FRAMEWORK DECIDES TO WITHDRAW AL-MALIKI’S CANDIDACY – ARAB MEDIA
A stormy meeting in Baghdad ends with a preliminary agreement within the Shiite framework to exclude Maliki from the race.
A leader in the Arab Television Coordination Framework reported on Tuesday (March 3, 2026) that the members of the framework reached a preliminary agreement in their meeting today to withdraw the nomination of Nouri al-Maliki for the presidency of the next Iraqi government and to choose an alternative to be determined later.
A senior official source told Network 964 that a stormy meeting of the Shiite framework ended this afternoon at the palace of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, and
the prime ministerial candidate Nouri al-Maliki decided to boycott it, citing that he was fasting and a little exhausted, but he stressed his refusal to issue any statement withdrawing his candidacy after the objections that accompanied the putting forward of his name and the international and regional circumstances. According to the report, al-Maliki repeated his suggestion that the members of the framework issue a statement announcing the withdrawal of al-Maliki’s candidacy, and he said that he would not object to that “because the decision is the decision of the largest bloc and he will not oppose it.”
The meeting comes hours after the head of the Supreme Judicial Council published an article that sparked significant reactions, in which he spoke about the Federal Court amending its interpretation of the largest bloc and granting the right to form the government to the first winner in the elections, which could mean a return of the opportunity for the current Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, whose coalition won the largest number of seats.
A significant political development may be unfolding in Iraq as reports indicate that the Shiite Coordination Framework has reached a preliminary agreement to withdraw the candidacy of Nouri al-Maliki for the leadership of the next Iraqi government.
According to sources cited by regional media, the decision could represent a crucial step toward ending the ongoing political deadlock that has delayed the formation of Iraq’s new government.
This development has drawn considerable attention from political observers and members of the global dinar community who are closely monitoring the situation.
The Meeting That Could End Iraq’s Political Deadlock
According to reports from Network 964 and other regional outlets, a key meeting took place at the residence of Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani in Baghdad.
The purpose of the meeting was to address several urgent issues, including:
The formation of a new prime ministerial government
Constitutional deadlines that have already passed
The growing political stalemate affecting the country
Sources described the meeting as “stormy,” reflecting the intense debate among members of the Shiite political bloc.
Preliminary Agreement to Remove Maliki from the Race
Following the meeting, a leader within the Shiite Coordination Framework reportedly confirmed that a preliminary agreement had been reached.
The agreement includes:
Withdrawing the nomination of Nouri al-Maliki
Selecting an alternative candidate for the next government
Attempting to break the ongoing political deadlock
If finalized, the decision could significantly reshape Iraq’s political landscape.
Why Maliki’s Withdrawal Matters
The candidacy of Nouri al-Maliki has been one of the most controversial elements in Iraq’s political negotiations.
Maliki previously served as Prime Minister of Iraq from 2006 to 2014, a period marked by major political and security challenges.
His potential return to power has generated strong reactions among different political factions within Iraq.
Removing him from the race could:
Reduce tensions between competing political blocs
Open the door for a compromise candidate
Accelerate the formation of a new government
Political analysts believe this step may help unlock stalled negotiations.
The Role of the Shiite Coordination Framework
The Shiite Coordination Framework is one of the most influential political alliances in Iraq.
The coalition represents several major Shiite political parties and plays a critical role in determining the leadership of Iraq’s government.
Its decisions often influence:
Prime minister nominations
Parliamentary alliances
National policy direction
Because of its influence, any shift in the framework’s position can quickly alter the political balance in Baghdad.
Iraq’s Political Deadlock Explained
Iraq has been facing a prolonged government formation crisis due to competing political interests.
Key issues include:
Disagreements among political blocs
Delays in appointing top leadership positions
Missed constitutional deadlines for forming a government
These delays have created uncertainty both politically and economically.
Observers note that resolving this deadlock is essential for Iraq to move forward with broader reforms.
What This Could Mean for Iraq’s Stability
If the agreement to withdraw Maliki’s candidacy becomes official, it could lead to several developments:
A new prime ministerial candidate may emerge.
Political negotiations could accelerate.
Parliament could move forward with stalled decisions.
Many observers believe that political stability is a key requirement for economic progress in Iraq.
Featured Snippet: Why Is Iraq’s Government Formation Delayed?
Iraq’s government formation has been delayed due to disagreements among major political blocs, particularly over the nomination of the prime minister. The withdrawal of controversial candidates like Nouri al-Maliki could help resolve the political deadlock and allow a new government to form.
Q&A: Iraq Political Developments
Who is Nouri al-Maliki?
Nouri al-Maliki is a former Prime Minister of Iraq who served from 2006 to 2014 and remains a major political figure within the Shiite political coalition.
What is the Shiite Coordination Framework?
The Shiite Coordination Framework is a coalition of political parties that represents a powerful bloc within Iraq’s parliament and plays a key role in government formation.
Why is Iraq experiencing political deadlock?
Political factions have been unable to agree on leadership positions, including the presidency and prime ministership, leading to delays in forming a new government.
Could this decision change Iraq’s political future?
Yes. Removing a divisive candidate may allow competing political factions to reach compromise and finalize the next government.
Key Takeaways
The reported decision within the Shiite Coordination Framework could mark an important turning point in Iraq’s political process.
Major points include:
A key meeting held in Baghdad to address leadership disputes
A preliminary agreement to withdraw Nouri al-Maliki’s candidacy
Efforts to end Iraq’s political deadlock
Plans to select a new candidate for the next government
If confirmed, this development could help move Iraq closer to political stability.
THE DEADLOCK ENDS "THE SHIITE FRAMEWORK DECIDES TO WITHDRAW AL-MALIKI'S CANDIDACY - ARAB MEDIA."
A source confirmed to Network 964 that a meeting, which was to be held at the home of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, discussed resolving the issues of the presidency and the prime minister, especially after exceeding the constitutional deadlines and the country entering a
phase of political deadlock. "A stormy meeting in Baghdad ends with a preliminary agreement within the Shiite framework to exclude Maliki from the race. A leader in the Arab Television Coordination Framework reported on Tuesday (March 3, 2026) that the members of the framework reached a preliminary agreement in their meeting today to withdraw the nomination of Nouri al-Maliki for the presidency of the next Iraqi government and to choose an alternative to be determined later.
THE FRAMEWORK IS MEETING WITHOUT MALIKI: ACCELERATING GOVERNMENT FORMATION AND SECURING EMBASSIES – URGENT
The Coordination Framework held its periodic meeting No. (264) at the Government Palace in Baghdad, on Tuesday afternoon, March 3, 2026, to discuss national, regional and international developments, in a meeting that witnessed the absence of the leader of the State of Law Coalition, Nouri al-Maliki.
In a statement received by Al-Sa’a Network, the participants stressed “the need to expedite the completion of constitutional requirements, particularly the formation of a government that serves the national interest and strengthens political consensus,” emphasizing “the importance of reaching a national consensus that preserves the unity and stability of the country.”
The framework praised what it described as “popular condemnation of the crime of targeting Imam Khamenei,” calling for “expressing grief and solidarity with the Iranian people within the legal frameworks and freedom of expression.”
He also renewed his support for the government and security forces in all their formations, stressing “the need to preserve sovereignty,
enforce the law, and protect public and private property, in addition to providing protection for diplomatic missions and embassies, in light of the current security tensions.”
The framework called for “an immediate halt to what it described as aggression against the Islamic Republic, and called on international bodies to assume their responsibilities in supporting stability and security in the region.”
The stormy meeting of the Coordination Framework comes at a highly sensitive political moment, following an article by the head of the Supreme Judicial Council, Judge Faiq Zaidan, which reopened one of the most controversial files since 2005, namely the interpretation of the concept of the “largest parliamentary bloc” contained in Article (76) of the Constitution.
In 2010, the Federal Court interpreted that the largest bloc could be formed after the election results were announced through alliances within the House of Representatives, not necessarily the list that won the largest number of seats. This interpretation later became a point of frequent political conflict, as it is directly linked to the process of assigning a candidate to form the government.
In his article, Zaidan criticized what he described as the flaws of the previous interpretation, considering that it contradicted the apparent meaning of the text and weakened political stability. He proposed three paths for addressing the issue: an explicit constitutional amendment linking the largest bloc to the electorally winning list, amending the House of Representatives law to establish the definition of the bloc in the first session only, or the Federal Court reconsidering its previous interpretation
.
This proposal coincided with escalating controversy within the framework regarding the nomination of Nouri al-Maliki for the premiership, amidst political objections and pressing regional and international circumstances.
According to reports, any amendment or reinterpretation of the concept of the largest bloc could completely rearrange the landscape, especially if the right to form the government is granted to the electorally winning list, which could reopen the door for the current Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, whose coalition won the largest number of seats.
Thus, the debate is no longer purely legal, but has become intertwined with the balance of power within the Shiite political establishment, and with the calculations of the next stage, in light of a clear conflict between those who adhere to the 2010 interpretation and those who push for readjusting the constitutional equation in a way that redefines the “largest bloc” and changes the course of government formation.
I want to clarify why this Newsletter was late and published today instead of on the normal Tuesday. News was published from Iraq that a meeting was to be held on 3/3 to discuss the Shiite candidate of Maliki for prime minister. I wanted to wait for it.