BAGHDAD — Iran is throwing its weight behind Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s bid for a second term, political insiders say, an endorsement that could seal his hold on power.
Iran wields considerable influence over Iraq’s two largest Shiite blocs, which formed an alliance this month after coming in second and third in the March 7 parliamentary election. That alliance has virtually ensured they will form another Shiite-dominated government — even though a Sunni-backed party won the most seats.
The U.S. is concerned about Iranian attempts to influence Iraq’s political process, a State Department spokesman said Friday. He reiterated the U.S.’s call not to exclude minority Sunnis from the government, something many in Iraq fear could inflame sectarian tensions anew.
Shiite coalitions have ruled Iraq since the end of Saddam Hussein’s regime but were pressured by the U.S. into accommodating the Sunnis. Sunni anger over being largely excluded fueled sectarian violence that brought Iraq to the brink of civil war several years ago.
Although al-Maliki had close ties with former President George W. Bush and is thought to dislike the Iranians, he might become beholden to Iran if he wants to hold on to power in a second term.
It is widely thought that Iran, a Shiite country, played a role in pushing through the deal linking al-Maliki’s State of Law with the more conservative and religious Iraqi National Alliance, dominated by supporters of powerful cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who lives in Iran.
The Sadrists dislike al-Maliki because he crushed their Mahdi Army militia in 2008 and jailed thousands of them. They initially rejected him as head of the new government.
Politicians involved in negotiations say that Iran is urging the Sadrists to back al-Maliki and that the Sadrists are softening.
They said Iran’s primary goal is to prevent former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, whose Iraqiya coalition won the most seats, from becoming prime minister. Iran sees Allawi as the “American” candidate.
