Iraq insists on rejecting foreign interference amid Trump's threats

JAKARTA - The Iraqi presidential administration has confirmed its rejection of all forms of foreign interference in the country's domestic politics, following US President Donald Trump's threat to stop aid to Iraq if Nouri al-Maliki is elected prime minister.

"The Presidency of the Republic of Iraq reaffirms its rejection of all forms of external intervention in Iraqi political affairs," said a statement from the presidential office on Thursday, January 29, reported by ANTARA from Sputnik.

Trump previously said the US would not provide assistance to Iraq if al-Maliki returned to office as prime minister. Trump assessed that during al-Maliki's last period in power, the country was plunged into poverty and total chaos.

In a statement issued Thursday, the Iraqi Presidential Office confirmed that the Presidency of the Republic of Iraq rejects all forms of external intervention in national political affairs.

The statement emphasized that all domestic issues are inherent sovereign rights and are fully determined by the Iraqi people, in accordance with their free will, constitution, and democratic system based on elections as a tangible expression of the people's choice.

"All domestic affairs are inherent sovereign rights and must be determined exclusively by the Iraqi people themselves, in accordance with their free will, the Constitution, and the country's democratic system based on elections as the true embodiment of the people's choice," the office said.

The statement also emphasized respect for national sovereignty as a fundamental matter in the process of state building and strengthening political stability, especially at the stage of forming a new government which will be based on the results of the election held last November.

Nouri al-Maliki served as Iraqi prime minister from 2006 to 2014. In the final days of his government, the terrorist group ISIS took control of large areas of Iraq.