Home Republicans urge sanctions on Iraq over Iran affect regardless of US assist

[ad_1] FIRST ON FOX: A pair of Home Republicans are urging Secretary Marco Rubio to punish Iraq with sanctions for its "full subjugation" by Iran as a part of the U.S.’s "most strain" coverage towards Tehran.

"Greater than 4,400 American service members sacrificed their lives for the reason that begin of the Iraq Struggle, but at the moment, Iraq stands as nothing greater than a puppet of Tehran," Reps. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., and Greg Steube, R-Fla., wrote in a letter to the secretary of state and interim nationwide safety advisor.

The letter laid blame on the Obama administration, arguing former President Barack Obama and his Iraq envoy Brett McGurk "propped up" Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, whose management was marred by brutal political crackdowns and led to the rise of ISIS.

"The Obama administration doubled down on its errors, counting on Iranian-backed militias to struggle ISIS," the letter learn. "The implications of these failed selections are actually plain: Iran-backed forces wield unchecked energy over Iraq’s authorities and safety providers."

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<img src="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/1200/675/gettyimages-2215957606-scaled.jpg?ve=1&tl=1" alt="WASHINGTON DC, UNITED STATES - MAY 23: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets with Prime Minister of northern Iraq's Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), Masrour Barzani at the Department of State in Washington, DC, United States, on May 23, 2025." width="1200" height="675"/> A pair of Home Republicans are urging Sec. Marco Rubio, proper, to punish Iraq with sanctions for its "full subjugation" by Iran as a part of the U.S.’ "most strain" strategy. ( Celal Gunes/Anadolu through Getty Pictures)

Since 2015, the U.S. has provided Iraq’s forces $1.25 billion in international army financing, along with billions extra for the inside ministry and protection ministry.

Iran’s affect over Iraq was on full show when, in 2021, Iraq issued an arrest warrant for President Donald Trump for the killing of Iranian Basic Qassem Soleimani, even because the U.S. nonetheless has 2,500 forces on the bottom in Iraq to companion with native forces and struggle ISIS.

READ THE LETTER BELOW. APP USERS: CLICK HERE Steube and Wilson known as on the U.S. to chop all international assist to Iraq till it comes out from beneath Iran’s affect.

The letter requires the U.S. to sanction Iraq’s importation of Iranian gas. Presently, solely cost for the fuel is beneath sanction, which means Iran offers gasoline to Iraq with out cost however expects reimbursement in different methods. The Trump administration ended a waiver that allowed Iraq to purchase Iranian electrical energy in March.

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Iran, whose Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps particular forces are pictured above, has infiltrated the Iraqi forces. ( Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto through Getty Pictures)

The lawmakers known as for designating the Standard Mobilization Forces, an Iranian-backed paramilitary group working in Iraq, and its monetary backers as international terrorist teams and sanctioning Iraq’s state banks that financially assist Iran. It additionally known as for sanctions on Iraq’s political figures that enable Iranian affect to flourish.

"We urge you to take rapid motion to implement these obligatory insurance policies and be sure that American assets are not used to prop up Iran’s management over Iraq."

The U.S. initially invaded Iraq in 2003, toppling Saddam Hussein's regime and drawing down its troop presence from wartime ranges in 2007 and leaving altogether in 2011, earlier than returning in 2014 on the head of the coalition to struggle the Islamic State.

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Different nations, together with Germany, France, Spain and Italy, additionally contribute lots of of troops to the coalition.

In September, experiences emerged that the Biden administration was engaged on a plan to attract down the U.S. troop presence in Iraq throughout the 12 months, however no set-in-stone choice was made.