Trump's Iraq special envoy blames Iran-backed militias for dismissal rumours

US President Donald Trump’s special envoy to Iraq Mark Savaya has denied reports claiming he was dismissed from his post, describing the reports as part of an organised Iran-led disinformation campaign.

His remarks follow the circulation of an image of a post purportedly from Trump’s Truth Social account dated 29 January, which read: "the mission of Mark Savaya, our envoy to Iraq, ended before it began."

Speaking to  Al-Monitor reporter Amberin Zaman, Savaya said: "There is a circulation of false information. It appears to be driven by Iranian backed militia networks which have fabricated a fake Truth Social post", adding he is "still in the process of completing the required administrative procedures and this process is expected to be concluded shortly".

At the time of this report, Savaya’s account on X was disabled. This prompted further speculation, which was later addressed by journalist Steven Nabil, who said he had spoken to Savaya.

"He is currently undergoing administrative procedures related to his official status and completing the necessary formalities for the position. He has temporarily deactivated his account on platform X until the required administrative procedures are completed," Nabil wrote on X.

The New Arab could not independently verify these reports, but has reached out to Savaya for comment.

A Michigan-based entrepreneur of Iraqi Chaldean descent, Savaya was appointed by Trump in October last year. His family left Iraq for the US in the 1990s.

The reports of his dismissal come amid growing US pressure on Iraq to disarm and cut funding for Iran-backed militias, who continue to have large military and political sway in the country. The armed groups have refused to surrender their weapons.

Earlier this month, Savaya met with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and other officials in the White House to discuss regional security, the role of armed groups, and mechanisms to counter "terror financing" in Iraq.

Washington has warned Baghdad that it will impose sanctions on its oil-reliant economy and state officials if members of Tehran-backed factions are included in the new government.

Trump’s administration has also warned that political and financial support could be withdrawn if former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki returns to office, as part of efforts to curb Iranian influence in Baghdad. Al-Maliki, who served as prime minister from 2006 - 2014, is seen as having close ties to Tehran.

A presidential vote by the Iraqi legislature was postponed last week, thus postponing the prime minister nomination, which is expected to go to Maliki after Iraq’s Shia coalition endorsed him.

These Tehran-aligned parties rejected what they described as US interference in forming the next government, amid flaring tensions between Washington and Tehran and fears of wider regional conflict.

On Tuesday, US Congressman Joe Wilson commended what he described as Savaya’s efforts "to Make Iraq Great Again and Free Iraq from Iran".

"It is critical that Iraqi leaders do not repeat the mistakes of the past by misreading the position of the United States as ambiguous or negotiable. Under President Donald J Trump the position of the United States is clear and unequivocal," he wrote in a statement shared on X.

"Iranian influence in Iraq will no longer be tolerated. The era in which outside actors imposed prime ministers on Iraq is over."

Wilson, a Republican representative for South Carolina, stressed that the new Iraqi government must "dismantle all Iranian aligned militia groups within six to twelve months" and implement financial reforms to combat money laundering.

There are fears that Iraq could get dragged into a war between the US and Israel against Iran if Iraqi militias decide to intervene.

Since the 2003 US led-invasion and Iran’s growing foothold in the neighbouring country, Iraq has played a delicate balancing act between Washington and Tehran.

Iraq is governed by a power-sharing system among its main sects, with the ceremonial presidency going to a Kurd, the role of parliament speaker to a Sunni, and the prime minister's office to a Shia.