Iraq is in a political deadlock, with no government formed despite general elections held in November.

At the heart of the crisis is former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, selected by the parliamentary majority coalition as its candidate to return to power.

This choice has faced strong opposition from U.S. President Donald Trump.

His warning has further polarized the political landscape in the country.

So, what underlies Washington's firm stance against al-Maliki? And what role does the U.S. still play in Iraq?

Presenter: James Bays

Guests:

• Muhanad Seloom – Assistant professor of international politics at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies
• Ahmed Rushdi – President of the House of Iraqi Expertise Foundation, former foreign policy adviser in the Iraqi parliament
• Kenneth Katzman – Senior Fellow at The Soufan Center

Source: www.aljazeera.com