Baghdad Weighs Possibility of Forming Interim Govt Headed by Kadhimi

Followers of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr hold posters with his image during an open-air Friday prayers at Grand Festivities Square within the Green Zone, in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. (AP)
Followers of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr hold posters with his image during an open-air Friday prayers at Grand Festivities Square within the Green Zone, in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. (AP)
TT

Baghdad Weighs Possibility of Forming Interim Govt Headed by Kadhimi

Followers of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr hold posters with his image during an open-air Friday prayers at Grand Festivities Square within the Green Zone, in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. (AP)
Followers of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr hold posters with his image during an open-air Friday prayers at Grand Festivities Square within the Green Zone, in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. (AP)

The Iran-backed Coordination Framework in Iraq is mulling a proposal by Sadrist movement leader, cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, to form an interim government as a solution to the country’s months-long political deadlock.

One figure from the group, however, stood out to oppose the proposal, Sadr’s longtime rival, former Prime Minister and head of the State of Law coalition, Nouri al-Maliki.

He declared his rejection of Sadr’s proposal to dissolve parliament.

“There can be no dissolution of parliament, change in the system, or early elections,” he announced.

The solution lies in allowing the elected parliament to convene, he urged.

Maliki appears to be rejecting Sadr’s proposal just for the sake of rejecting it, without even weighing the probability that it may actually ease the tensions in Iraq.

The former PM is bent on confronting the cleric without any clear political strategy or proposing viable solutions.

Some of his close associates have even claimed that he is obsessed with defeating Sadr.

Such stringent thinking is a threat to his fellow allies in the Framework and Iran’s agenda in Iraq.

Shiite figures, therefore, sought to include representatives from Tehran in discussions over tackling the intra-Shiite disputes.

Iran is aware that the prolongation of the dispute will undermine its interests in Iraq.

At the moment, Maliki appears unwilling to be part of the efforts to restore calm, posing a problem for Tehran.

Sadr is also another problem. He is raising his demands and tightening his grip on power in what the Iranians may interpret as a move to bypass them and seek a direct understanding with Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

Sadr has been presented with proposals to resolve the crisis, including dropping the membership of lawmakers who were sworn in to replace his own, who resigned in June.

Another proposal has been the formation of an interim government headed by caretaker Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.

The government would not include Sadr or Maliki loyalists.

Shiite, Kurdish and Sunni leaders are working hard to persuade Sadr to agree to the suggestion.

A senior political source revealed that two Iranian representatives were part of these efforts.

There are no signs that Sadr would agree to the proposal because his demands go beyond the government and aim to mend the system in Iraq.

The Framework’s possible acceptance of the interim government may soften his position.



Katz Warns Hezbollah Against Joining Conflict with Iran

A police officer inspects fragments of missile parts on the ground at an impact site following Iran's missile strike on Israel, in Be'er Sheva, Israel, June 20, 2025. REUTERS/Amir Cohen
A police officer inspects fragments of missile parts on the ground at an impact site following Iran's missile strike on Israel, in Be'er Sheva, Israel, June 20, 2025. REUTERS/Amir Cohen
TT

Katz Warns Hezbollah Against Joining Conflict with Iran

A police officer inspects fragments of missile parts on the ground at an impact site following Iran's missile strike on Israel, in Be'er Sheva, Israel, June 20, 2025. REUTERS/Amir Cohen
A police officer inspects fragments of missile parts on the ground at an impact site following Iran's missile strike on Israel, in Be'er Sheva, Israel, June 20, 2025. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Lebanon's Hezbollah to exercise caution on Friday, saying Israel's patience with "terrorists" who threaten it had worn thin.

Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said on Thursday that the Lebanese group would act as it saw fit in the face of what he called "brutal Israeli-American aggression" against Iran.

In other statements, the group has made no explicit pledge to join the fighting. But it has condemned Israel’s surprise strikes on Iran that sparked the conflict and endorsed Iran’s missile barrages over Israel.

"I suggest the Lebanese proxy be cautious and understand that Israel has lost patience with terrorists who threaten it,” Katz said in a statement on Friday, adding that "if there is terrorism -- there will be no Hezbollah."

Qassem “is not learning a lesson from his predecessors and is threatening to act against Israel in accordance with the Iranian dictator's orders,” Katz stated.

He said on Thursday that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, “cannot continue to exist.”