ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq –  Iraq’s Shiite Coordination Framework has not made a decision to change its candidate for prime minister, an official told The New Region on Thursday, saying such a move would be considered a retreat from Iraq’s national decision, following Washington’s threat to withdraw support for Baghdad should Nouri al-Maliki assume the position.

“Until now, we have not decided to change our candidate, who is Nouri al-Maliki, but if we retreat from the decision to nominate Maliki, we would be retreating from our national decision,” Ali al-Dafa’i, a spokesperson for the Islamic Supreme Council and a member of the framework, told The New Region on Thursday.

On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump stressed that Washington will no longer help Baghdad if former premier and head of the State of Law Coalition Maliki becomes the next prime minister, criticizing his "insane policies and ideologies."

He added that the ruling framework has not yet reached a final decision to change its candidate due to what he described as “external interests,” while stressing the need “to ease Washington’s concerns” by prioritizing dialogue and negotiations with the Trump administration.

The US president's comments were roundly met with criticism from Maliki and his allied factions, with a demonstration taking place in Baghdad on Wednesday night protesting against the perceived violation of Iraqi sovereignty inherent in the remarks.

In a statement on Wednesday, Maliki responded to Trump's remarks, saying, "‎We categorically reject the blatant American interference in Iraq’s internal affairs, and we consider it a violation of its sovereignty, contrary to the democratic system in Iraq after 2003, and an infringement on the decision of the Coordination Framework for selecting its candidate for the position of Prime Minister."

Maliki previously served two terms as prime minister from 2006 to 2014, stepping down during his second term after major security setbacks linked to the rise of the Islamic State (ISIS), amid long-standing allegations of corruption.

His tenure also saw him draw the ire of Washington over his perceived closeness to Iran and allowing Tehran to increase its influence in the country.

Imcumbent Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani’s Reconstruction and Development Alliance emerged as the main party in the country in the November elections after securing 46 seats, while Maliki’s State of Law Coalition won 29 seats in the recent elections, placing third.

Earlier in January, reports emerged that Sudani had stepped down and thrown his weight behind Maliki, supporting him to reassume the position.

However, Trump's comments have provided an opening for the premier to maintain power, with an advisor to Sudani saying on Wednesday that "after Donald Trump's message, Maliki's opportunity to become Prime Minister has burned out, and Sudani's chances for a second term have become much stronger."

Sudani's alliance later in the day issued a statement stressing "the necessity of establishing positive and balanced relations with friendly and allied countries, especially the United States of America, based on mutual respect for national sovereignty, constitutional processes, and the outcomes of the democratic process."