Al Arabiya TV, 15 August 2015:

Initial reports on [former Iraqi prime minister and dismissed vice president] Nouri Maliki’s visit to Tehran shows he fled to Khamenei due to his fear of being held accountable following reforms presented by [Iraqi Prime Minister Dr.] Haider al-Abadi and the fact his post has been abolished.
During his 8 year on the throne Nouri Maliki had brought all government institutions under his control and grasped all aspects of the government. He now faces much criticism and face-offs. His rule ended with Iraq losing $800 billion of its wealth.
Nouri Maliki became extremely worried when Muqtada Sadr, one of his enemies, approved Haider al-Abadi’s reform measures and demanded these actions be implemented on former deputy prime minister Baha al-Araji, one of his highest ranking figures in the government.
Maliki feels he is the first target of the recent legal decisions. These have been widely approved by the people on a widespread scale and unexpectedly confirmed by the Parliament.