Maliki lost Iran as his strongest backer: Bloomberg News

In an article published on the Bloomberg News website on Wednesday, the authors said that once Iran gave its backing to Iraqi premier-designate Haidar al-Abadi, current Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki lost his strongest international backer.
 
“Once Iran gave its backing to al-Abadi, it was over for Maliki,” Paul Salem, vice president for policy and research at the Middle East Institute in Washington, said in an interview. “Maliki has no leverage once his main backers, the Iranians, abandoned him,” the article said. 
 
The move puts Iran in league with the U.S. -- its frequent nemesis -- the European Union and the Arab League in pressing Maliki to step down to break a three-month political stalemate that has hampered efforts to combat the Sunni insurgents of the Islamic State, it added. 
 
Earlier on Monday, Iraq’s president snubbed Maliki and asked Abadi to form a new government.