President Donald Trump warned on Tuesday that the United States would stop supporting Iraq if former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki—backed by parties close to Tehran—returned to power.

Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that Washington had heard Iraq might make a “very bad choice” by reinstating al-Maliki as prime minister, stressing that if Iraq elected him again, America would no longer provide assistance.

He described al-Maliki’s return to office as a bad option, noting that Iraq “slipped into poverty and chaos” during his previous tenure. Trump added, “The previous experience of al-Maliki’s rule in Iraq must not be repeated.”

On Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Iraq against forming a government loyal to Iran, after reports that al-Maliki’s expected comeback as prime minister had raised concerns in Washington.

Al-Maliki left office in 2014 under U.S. pressure, but he has now been nominated by the largest Shiite parliamentary bloc to return as prime minister.

Rubio, in a phone call with current Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani, expressed hope that the next government would make Iraq “a force for stability, prosperity, and security in the Middle East.”

State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said, “The Secretary emphasized that a government controlled by Iran cannot succeed in putting Iraq’s interests first, keeping Iraq out of regional conflicts, or strengthening the mutually beneficial partnership between the United States and Iraq.”