ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – US Congressman Joe Wilson, a staunch Iran critic, on Wednesday urged Iraq to completely free itself from Iran and end association with its proxies, calling Baghdad “deeply infiltrated” by Tehran. 

“Iraq can be a shining example of that with strong economic and diplomatic relationships with the United States, the Gulf, Syria, Turkey, and others. This cannot happen if it continues to act as a puppet of Iran,” Wilson said. “The time has come to FREE IRAQ FROM IRAN.”

The US has ramped up efforts to curb Iranian influence in Iraq and limit the expanding role of Iran-backed Shiite armed groups in the country, who enjoy a similar level of governance and authority as the state forces. 

Washington’s concerns, however, are often dismissed by Iraqi authorities who claim that Baghdad’s cooperation with Tehran is based on Iraq’s national interests and is an extension of the country making decisions as an independent sovereign state.

Wilson stressed that the US, for the first time, is ready to condition aid for Iraq’s security on Baghdad taking “real steps” to stop backing pro-Iran proxies. 

“Congress is ready to back up President [Donald] Trump with new provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act [NDAA] that condition aid to Iraq’s security forces - for the first time ever - on Iraq taking real steps to stop supporting Iran-backed militias,” Wilson said.

He also dismissed Iraq’s parliamentary elections, held last month, as irrelevant, stressing that “the entire country is deeply infiltrated by Iran.” 

“Congress will not continue to issue blank checks forever. Iraq should seize the opportunity with the leadership of President Trump and Special Envoy [Mark] Savaya and change its behavior before it’s too late,” Wilson stressed. 

Savaya, a Chaldean of Iraqi descent, is an entrepreneur and businessman from Detroit who was appointed as US special envoy to Iraq by US President Donald Trump on October 19.

Earlier this month, Akram al-Kaabi, head of the Iran-backed Harakat al-Nujaba, threatened Savaya, saying that “if you do not silence him, the Islamic resistance will stuff a stone in his mouth,” after repeated remarks by the US envoy calling for the disarmament of pro-Iran militias.

The US State Department responded, cautioning against threats directed at American personnel and telling The New Region that Washington “constantly monitors and evaluates threat information and adjusts our security and operating postures accordingly.”

Wilson further accused Iraq’s judiciary chief Faiq Zaidan, saying “corrupt judges” like him “always rule with Iran.” 

He also called on Iraq to “respect the security of the Kurdistan Regional Government [KRG] and stop allowing or encouraging Iran-backed puppets from attacking the KRG.” 

The Kurdistan Region’s energy infrastructure has repeatedly been targeted by drones this year, with Erbil blaming Iran-backed groups for the attacks.