Iraq in February 2026: the most important developments in politics
In February 2026, Iraq's new government had still not been formed. On 1 February parliament again failed to elect a president because of a deadlock among Kurdish political factions. The same day the Shia Coordination Framework formally nominated former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki for the premiership, dismissing US opposition and President Donald Trump's threats of interference. Maliki later vowed not to withdraw his bid despite US threats, and Iraq's foreign minister told a US envoy that government formation was an internal matter. Reports also said US Special Envoy for Iraq Mark Savaya was no longer in his post.
In foreign affairs, Iraq submitted an expanded maritime border map to the United Nations. Saudi Arabia, leading other Gulf and Arab states, backed Kuwait and called on Iraq to respect Kuwait's sovereignty, while Egypt said it was monitoring developments. Iraq's foreign minister also voiced support for the talks between Iran and the United States and warned of the dangers of war, and he met his Iranian counterpart.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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