ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iraq’s ruling Shiite Coordination Framework is set to make a final decision about its nominee for prime minister next week, a lawmaker affiliated with incumbent premier Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani said Tuesday, amid vocal US opposition of Nouri al-Maliki’s candidacy.

US President Donald Trump’s rejection of Maliki’s nomination for Iraq’s premiership has sparked concerns at home, with growing calls on the State of Law Coalition to withdraw his bid to avoid damage to Baghdad-Washington relations.

Speaking to the Asaib Ahl al-Haq-affiliated al-Ahad TV on Tuesday, the head of the Sudani-led Reconstruction and Development Alliance’s parliamentary bloc Bahaa al-Araji said that “the Coordination Framework will settle the file of the Prime Minister next week.”

On Saturday, Araji said that regional and international opposition to Maliki’s premiership bid requires Iraqi forces to “reassess” his nomination, noting that Sudani’s initial endorsement of Maliki’s nomination aimed to end “the political deadlock [in Iraq] and move towards resolving outstanding issues, fulfilling his promise to his constituents.”

Alia Nassif, another MP from the Reconstruction and Development Alliance, said that the initial understanding was that Sudani would be offered a second term as prime minister if Maliki were to withdraw his bid, but claimed that was no longer the case.

“The agreement stipulated that Sudani would be re-nominated for prime minister if Maliki did not move forward,” said the lawmaker, but noted that Maliki has reportedly been searching for a “compromise candidate” to serve the role instead of Sudani “and there are names being put forward.”

After the Coordination Framework nominated Maliki for prime minister in January, Trump took to Truth Social to staunchly reject his nomination, saying Washington would “no longer help Iraq” if the State of Law Coalition leader were to be re-elected, criticizing his “insane policies and ideologies.”

Despite Trump’s threats, Maliki told AFP in an interview which aired on Monday that he has “absolutely no intention to withdraw” his candidacy for the position, claiming no foreign actor can decide who becomes the country’s next premier.

A senior member of the pro-Iran Sadiqoun bloc told The New Region days prior that half of the Coordination Framework’s leaders have withdrawn their support for Maliki’s premiership, with another leader set to follow suit.

Sudani had publicly expressed his desire for a second term before Maliki’s nomination, and Trump’s opposition to the latter may have granted the current premier a lifeline to secure another term.

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 for allowing Tehran to increase its influence in the country.

His State of Law Coalition came in third place in Iraq’s recent parliamentary elections, securing 29 seats out of the 329-seat legislature.