Despite arrest warrant for Donald Trump, Iraqi leaders congratulate him on winning in US elections

Iraqi leaders have extended official congratulations to US President-elect Donald Trump, signalling a commitment to bolster ties with Washington despite an Iraqi court-issued arrest warrant for Trump linked to a 2020 US drone strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani congratulated Trump, Vice President-elect James David Vance, and the American people on the US election results. In a post on X, al-Sudani reaffirmed Iraq's intent to build a "strong partnership with the United States based on mutual respect and shared interests," expressing hopes for enhanced US-Iraq cooperation across various fields to support development goals for both nations.

Iraqi President Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid joined in the congratulations, expressing optimism that the new US administration will support regional stability and constructive dialogue. Rashid underscored Iraq's interest in collaborating with the US to foster peace in the Middle East, a region where Washington's influence remains significant.

Kurdish leaders, including Nechirvan Barzani, President of Iraq's Kurdistan region, Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), and Bafel Jalal Talabani, President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), also extended their congratulations. They expressed a desire to strengthen cooperation between the US and the Kurdistan region, with a focus on stability and economic growth.

Backlash from Iran-aligned factions

Iran-aligned Iraqi factions swiftly condemned the Iraqi government's congratulatory messages. These factions, which include armed groups and affiliated political parties, view Trump as culpable in the deaths of Soleimani and al-Muhandis. Soleimani, the former head of the Quds Force—a branch of Iran's Revolutionary Guard responsible for overseas operations—was a key architect of Iran's regional influence. Muhandis was the former deputy leader of Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), which is a coalition of militias, many of which are aligned with Iran.

A judge in Baghdad's investigative court who is tasked with probing the Washington-directed drone strike that killed Gen. Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis outside Baghdad’s airport has issued an arrest warrant against Mr Trump in 2021.

Members of the State of Law Coalition, led by Nouri al-Maliki, voiced particular opposition to congratulations by Iraqi leaders, with lawmaker Ibrahim al-Sikaini labelling Trump a "wanted criminal" and calling for a clear stance from Iraq's ruling coalition on relations with the incoming administration.

Mixed public sentiments

Reactions across Iraq have been mixed as Trump prepares to re-enter office.

While some Iraqis hope his leadership may stabilise Iraq and curb Iranian influence, others fear his administration could strain Iraq's fragile economy. Concerns were raised over potential US-imposed economic sanctions that might affect Iraq's oil revenue and devalue the dinar, worsening inflation and recession.

Political analysts note Iraq is at a pivotal juncture, balancing complex ties with both Washington and Tehran. With Trump's upcoming term, Iraqi leaders face tough choices in navigating these regional alliances and the broader geopolitical landscape.