Iraq’s Iran-Aligned Blocs Reject New PM-Designate

Zurufi is seen as a pro-US candidate

Struggles to put together an interim Iraq government to prepare for early elections continue, with new PM-designate Adnan Zurufi seemingly the latest to fail, as several Shi’ite blocs aligned with Iran are publicly rejecting him.

The rejections are not a surprise even though some MPs from those blocs had endorsed him already, as Zurufi is seen as an extremely pro-US choice, having previously been a part of US appointed authorities after the 2003 invasion.

The previous PM-designate, Mohammed Allawi, was seen as a pro-Iran choice, and that was a big part of why the US rejected him. It only makes sense for Iran to make a tit-for-tat rejection with the latest choice.

Anti-government protesters are also a factor, and have been rejecting politicians for being too married to foreign powers and calling for more independence. This may be a struggle, however, as without either US or Iran-backed MPs, any candidate would  be far from a majority to form a cabinet.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.