Shafaq News- Baghdad

State of Law Coalition leader Nouri Al-Maliki has not reached any agreement to give up the Interior Ministry, the director of his media office said on Thursday.

Media reports claiming Al-Maliki had agreed to relinquish the ministry “were not based on accurate information,” Hisham Al-Rikabi stated.

تنويه …لا صحة لما تداولته بعض وسائل الإعلام بشأن وجود تفاهمات أو اتفاقات تتعلق بتنازل السيد نوري #المالكي عن وزارة #الداخلية.ونؤكد أن هذا الموضوع غير مطروح أساساً، وما يُتداول بهذا الشأن لا يستند إلى أي معلومات صحيحة.

— هشام الركابي (@HushamHamad) August 22, 2026

A source told Shafaq News that Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi still intends to oversee the Defense and Interior ministries in an acting capacity because he is satisfied with their current leadership.

Earlier today, Iraqi President Nizar Amedi said “only two or three ministerial posts had yet to be filled.” Speaking at the eighth Baghdad International Dialogue Conference, Amedi said he expected the remaining positions to be filled soon, saying political forces were seeking to complete the cabinet amid difficult regional conditions.

Parliament approved Al-Zaidi’s government and program on May 14, endorsing 14 ministers while leaving nine posts unfilled amid disputes over their allocation. Political blocs have since held talks over the outstanding nominations, with a source telling Shafaq News earlier this month that the cabinet could be completed in September.

Read more: Al-Zaidi named Iraq's prime minister: Easy nomination, harder road ahead