ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - The second deputy speaker of the Iraqi parliament warns that the new US administration is currently "in the process of preparing sanctions against Iraq" over allegations that it serves as a channel for smuggling dollars and oil to Iran, as well as Baghdad’s failure to control Iran-backed armed factions operating inside Iraq.
“The new American administration is determined to take decisions against the current Iraqi government,” Shakhawan Abdullah said on the sidelines of a conference in Erbil on Saturday.
Abdullah added that during meetings he held with officials in Washington last week, he received "explicit confirmation" that the American administration has repeatedly sent messages and warnings to the Iraqi government regarding the matters at hand, but Baghdad did not consider these warnings.
“I heard from the US Deputy Secretary of State and the official in charge of the Iraq file in the new administration that Washington is in the process of preparing sanctions against Iraq," noting that "the Iraqi government should expect a set of decisions from Washington; as a result of its failure to respond to US warnings."
Iraq has been caught up in the midst of the tensions between regional powerhouse Iran and the United States as a global superpower for years now, facing increasing pressure from the US over its ties with the Islamic Republic.
A recent White House memo emphasized stricter measures against Iran, which has fueled calls within the US political establishment to sever financial support for Iraqi entities suspected of transferring funds to Iran and impose sanctions on key institutions. Iraqi state-owned Rafidain Bank has been singled out due to allegations that it enables money transfers to Iran and Iran-backed armed groups.
There have been reports of international calls, mainly from the US, on Baghdad to disarm and dissolve armed groups not operating under the umbrella of Iraqi state forces, including the Iraqi government-linked and Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).
Earlier, international affairs researcher Nizar Haidar said Baghdad should “seriously” take into account threats from US Congressmen that they would push for sanctions on Iraq, should Baghdad fail to adhere to the US warnings.
“Signatures that were recently collected in Congress regarding the Iraqi factions came from Republican representatives who are considered Republican hawks in Congress and are close to President Trump, and all these statements and tweets must be taken seriously,” Haidar warned.
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