Republicans Demand Sanctions on Iraq for Iran’s ‘Complete Subjugation’

House Republicans are pressing Secretary of State Marco Rubio to slap Iraq with tough sanctions, accusing it of becoming Iran’s puppet in a betrayal of American sacrifices. Reps. Joe Wilson and Greg Steube argue that Iraq’s government and security forces are now under Tehran’s thumb, a direct result of flawed U.S. policies. They point to the Obama administration’s support for former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, whose brutal tactics fueled ISIS’s rise, and its reliance on Iranian-backed militias to combat the terror group.

The lawmakers didn’t mince words, claiming Iran’s grip was clear when Iraq issued an arrest warrant for former President Donald Trump in 2021 over the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, despite 2,500 U.S. troops still stationed there to fight ISIS. They’re calling for a complete halt to U.S. aid—over $1.25 billion since 2015—and sanctions on Iraq’s import of Iranian gas, its state banks, and political figures cozy with Tehran. The Popular Mobilization Forces, an Iranian-backed paramilitary group, should be labeled a terrorist organization, they argue.

This push aligns with the Trump administration’s ‘maximum pressure’ campaign against Iran, which recently ended a waiver allowing Iraq to buy Iranian electricity. With the U.S. having lost over 4,400 service members since the 2003 invasion, Wilson and Steube demand action to ensure American resources don’t prop up Iran’s influence. The Biden administration’s rumored plan to reduce U.S. troops in Iraq adds urgency to their call.