Hawzah News Agency- According to exclusive sources, while political blocs continue their push to complete the cabinet formation under Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zeidi, Washington is working to block certain factions and figures from securing posts in the new government while simultaneously attempting to impose its own preferred candidates for key security positions.
Al-Zeidi presented his proposed cabinet to the Iraqi parliament, which secured a vote of confidence on May 15. However, no candidate has been introduced for five ministries, including the Ministry of Defense. Additionally, nominees for four other ministries, among them the Ministry of Interior, failed to secure a parliamentary majority. To date, 14 ministries have been confirmed, while nine remain vacant, with resolutions expected following the Eid al-Adha holiday in the coming week.
Various political blocs—including the Shia Coordination Framework, the Sunni Political Council, and key Kurdish parties such as the Kurdistan Democratic Party led by Massoud Barzani and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan led by Bafel Talebani—are engaged in marathon, round-the-clock negotiations to bridge differences and close the government formation dossier as swiftly as possible.
Meanwhile, Washington is maneuvering on multiple fronts in a relentless campaign to prevent factions affiliated with the Axis of Resistance from participating in the new government. These factions secured more than 80 of the 329 parliamentary seats—a reality senior American officials have publicly acknowledged.
Accumulated indicators confirm that the recent visit to Iraq by General David Petraeus, former CIA director, along with an unannounced trip by special envoy Tom Barak, were aimed at intensifying pressure to impose figures aligned with US policy in security posts within the new cabinet. This comes apart from ongoing efforts to dissolve the Popular Mobilization Forces (Hashd al-Sha'abi) and integrate them in some form into state security and military institutions.
Sources familiar with the negotiations inside the Coordination Framework stated that the forces comprising the bloc have reached a consensus on rejecting any foreign interference or dictates in the selection and appointment of any figure, whether in the new cabinet or in other high-ranking positions.
Simultaneously, calls and demands have intensified for the complete termination of the US military presence on Iraqi soil, as well as the liberation of Iraq's assets and funds from American control.
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