Iraq's Shiite Coordination Framework, or SCF, an umbrella organization of Shiite parties aligned with Iran, named Ali al-Zaidi, a businessman and head of a U.S.-sanctioned bank, as the "consensus candidate" to become Iraq's next prime minister, Reuters reported on April 27. According to the Iraqi Constitution, al-Zaidi will have 30 days to form a Cabinet and secure a vote of confidence.

On April 11, the Iraqi parliament elected Nizar Amedi as the next Iraqi president, kicking off a 15-day period for Iraq's largest political bloc to select its nominee for prime minister; the SCF nominated al-Zaidi just after that time frame ended. The United States has been increasing pressure on Baghdad to reduce Iranian influence in the government and disarm Iranian-backed militias, including by sanctioning some senior militia leaders and suspending a cash shipment of U.S. dollars to the Central Bank of Iraq alongside some security cooperation. The SCF initially supported controversial former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, but the United States rejected the prospect of his returning to power.