During his term, Iraq, in collusion with Tehran, unleashed its military against the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) in Camp Ashraf in Diyala Province. For Tehran, Iraq has long been a strategic prize. The Sunni Arab states, still reeling from years of Iranian influence expanding in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, view Maliki’s ascendancy with apprehension. If Maliki returns as prime minister, Iraq risks slipping back into the sectarian governance that once fractured the nation. Marco Rubio’s warning is not merely a diplomatic flourish; it’s a stark reflection of how seriously Washington views Iraq’s political direction.