ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - The Donald Trump administration is intensifying pressure to designate Iran-backed Iraqi armed groups, particularly the Badr Organization, as terrorist entities. Baghdad may face severe economic and financial sanctions if it does not comply with Washington’s demands to dissolve the factions.

Badr Organization, led by Hadi al-Amiri, dismissed the calls as “individual and personal efforts.”

The factions argue that the demands made by members of Congress do not represent the American government. Even if they did, they claim not to fear sanctions, citing their “good diplomatic relations with the United States.”

Repeated US targeting of factions

The controversy began in early February when several US congressmembers submitted a request to classify Iraqi factions, especially the Badr Corps as terrorist organizations.

The request stated that Iran-backed militias, armed and trained by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), remain a legal part of the Iraqi state and security forces. It pointed out that in 2005, many former Badr Corps officers were integrated into the Iraqi Ministry of Interior and some into the Ministry of Defense, where they retained their ranks and often received rapid promotions due to their political connections.

The lawmakers also singled out Iraq’s National Security Advisor Qassim al-Araji, describing him as a senior leader of the Badr Corps. They accused the group of having American blood on its hands, including involvement in the 2019 attack on the US embassy in Baghdad. Araji, they claimed, had been arrested twice by US forces during the Iraq War for smuggling Iranian-made bombs used against American troops.

The argument put forward by the congressmembers is that replacing the Islamic State (ISIS) with Iran-backed militias only fuels the “terrorism” that Iran seeks to export.

Republican Congressman Joe Wilson reinforced this stance in a post on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “The Badr Organization is a sectarian extremist terrorist organization like ISIS. It has killed Americans, participated in attacking the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad in 2019, and was armed & trained by terrorist Qassem Soleimani.”

“Sadly not yet designated an FTO [Foreign Terrorist Organizations]. Trump will fix it!”

Badr organization unbothered

Mohammed al-Bayati, a senior member in the Badr Organization, dismissed these congressional calls, saying that Badr Organization does not care about personal opinions expressed by anyone, at any time.

He described these demands as “worthless” and insisted that the organization has been a key player in Iraq’s political process since the fall of Saddam Hussein.

Bayati maintained that Badr Organization abandoned its weapons long ago and became a formal political entity, arguing that the US demands are merely “individual efforts” that lack factual backing. He also asserted that the Badr Organization does not fear any unilateral sanctions from the Washington as it maintains diplomatic relations with the US government.

He suggested that these demands are attempts to bolster Israeli influence in the Middle East and to target groups that supported resistance movements against Israel in Gaza.

Factions are a concern for Washington

Mohammed al-Shabaki, a former MP from the Fatah Alliance, which is also led by Hadi al-Amiri, believes that Iraqi “resistance” factions have become a major concern for the US. He downplayed the influence of the congressmembers pushing for sanctions, calling them marginal lawmakers with no real impact on US policy.

According to Shabaki, neither the US administration nor the State Department have addressed this issue, which he claimed means that the demands lack real influence. He argued that Wilson’s push aims to create public pressure that could eventually lead to official action against Iraqi factions.

He also claimed that the resistance factions and the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) challenge US policy in the Middle East. Even if sanctions were imposed, he said, they would be seen as a badge of honor for Iraqi factions.

Shabaki also noted that the Iraqi government has remained silent on the issue, likely due to its weakening position as its term nears its end.

200 Individuals and factions on the terror list

Aqeel Abbas, a media expert specializing in US affairs, warned that Iraq is facing tough economic sanctions. He claimed that around 200 individuals and factions have been designated as terrorists entities, with Washington expected to announce them soon.

He explained that, so far, the US government has not officially requested to classify Iraqi factions as terrorist organizations, except for the push led by Wilson, who is close to Trump. While Wilson’s voice is heard in Trump’s circle, it does not necessarily carry weight, according to Abbas.

However, Abbas said, the US is determined to eliminate Iranian influence in Iraq, starting with dismantling armed factions, which Washington sees as a threat to Iraq’s economy and a military threat to American forces in the country.

Abbas also claimed that the US seeks to restructure the PMF to prevent it from becoming a tool for expanding Iranian influence.

He warned that if Iraq refuses US insistence, the country could face financial and economic sanctions that the ruling Coordination Framework cannot withstand, potentially leading to financial and economic collapse.

Congress in contact with the Israeli lobby

Haider al-Lami, a senior member in the Coordination Framework, claimed that some US congressmembers have been coordinating with the Israeli lobby.

He argued that there is a significant difference between a request from one or two US lawmakers and an official US government decision. According to Lami, the US has no real intention of classifying the Badr Organization as a terrorist group.

He also claimed that certain congressmembers have ties to the Israeli lobby, which sees Badr as aligned with Iran. He suggested that these demands stem from enmity, seeking to place Iran-affiliated groups on terror lists.

Lami emphasized that Badr played a major role in Iraq’s political process, with many of its members instrumental in drafting Iraq’s constitution and standing with the Iraqi people during both the former and current regimes. He also insisted that Badr maintains good relations with all major political actors in Iraq.

What about the PMF?

Hussein al-Maliki, another Coordination Framework senior member, dismissed the possibility of US sanctions affecting the PMF, noting that even during Trump’s first term, no sanctions were imposed on Iraqi factions. Therefore, he argued, these demands are just empty words.

However, he stressed the need to ensure that weapons held by factions operating outside the PMF framework are brought under state control.

He stated that the US attempt to designate Iraqi factions as terrorists is “invalid” and a blatant interference in another country’s affairs, according to administrative law professor Ghazi Faisal, who criticized Washington for acting as if it were the world’s guardian, deciding who is a terrorist and who is not.

He argued that this move violates the sovereignty and independence of nations, claiming that the US relies on the law of force, while international law remains mere ink on paper.

Iraq’s official stance

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani recently affirmed that his government is working to integrate factions into legal and institutional frameworks.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein also stated that the government is trying to persuade armed factions to disarm or join the official security forces. He noted that while such discussions were impossible a few years ago, but now, armed groups operating outside state control are unacceptable.