Al-Monitor’s correspondent in Iraq interviewed former Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi at his family residence within the Green Zone in the capital Baghdad. There, he holds meetings of the Victory Alliance and hosts guests. Abadi discussed many topics including his relationship with the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), the government of his successor Adil Abdul Mahdi, the possibility of Iraq mediating between Washington and Tehran and Israel's targeting of the PMU. Abadi warned against damaging carefully balanced ties between the Iraqi federal government and Iraq’s Kurdistan region because of power conflicts. He also commented on the PMU accusing him of serving the intersts of the United States.

Al-Monitor: Do you have any plans to return to the prime minister's office now that there is growing opposition against Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi?

Abadi: I am not meeting with political leaders and religious references to be prime minister again, although I have every right to. These are regular meetings I am conducting since I am in a leadership position, heading a political alliance. Not every meeting or visit is intended to bring me back to power, and our opposition to Abdul Mahdi’s government aims to reform its work, not bring it down.

When you occupy a certain position in your country during a certain period of time, you become responsible. If a person is keen on working, he will do it within the government or outside it. My activities fall within a political movement that has to continue in support of the political process and the improvement of governance. Serving people is not restricted to one position. Yes, I will keep doing my political work because building a government is a cumulative process.