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The United States Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has imposed significant sanctions on several high-ranking Iraqi officials and companies linked to Iranian-backed militias and oil smugglers. The move is the latest instance of Washington’s growing efforts to curb the influence of Tehran’s proxy forces in Iraq.
According to a statement issued by OFAC, the sanctions target Iraqi Deputy Oil Minister Ali Maarij Al-Bahadly, who is accused of playing a key role in diverting Iraqi oil to Iran-backed militias, particularly the Kata’ib Sayyid Al-Shuhada group. Additionally, the sanctions list includes Iraq’s oil smuggler Salim Ahmed Said, who allegedly has ties to Iranian interests.
Furthermore, senior members of the Iran-aligned Kata’ib Sayyid Al-Shuhada and Asa’ib Ahl Al-Haq groups were also included in the list. These militia groups have been linked to violence and human rights abuses in Iraq, particularly during the 2020 US-Iraqi military operation aimed at combating the Islamic State (ISIS).
The US Treasury Department’s action also targets four Iraqi companies linked to Mustafa Hashim Lazim Al-Behadili, a senior economic official of the Iran-aligned groups in Iraq. The sanctions aim to restrict these companies’ access to US markets and prevent American entities from facilitating transactions with them.
In a statement, Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen emphasized that the United States continues to take decisive action to counter the malign activities of Iran and its proxy forces in the region. “We will not tolerate the diversion of Iraqi oil revenues to support Iran’s terrorist proxies or other illicit activities,” she said.
The move is expected to send a clear message to the Iraqi government and other regional actors about the US stance on Iranian-backed militias and the diversion of oil revenues. Iraq has long struggled to address the influence of these militias, which have played a significant role in shaping the country’s political landscape.
While US sanctions have the potential to exacerbate Iraqi economic instability, the US Treasury Department emphasized that the targeted individuals and entities have been involved in corrupt and malicious activities that undermine regional stability and threaten global energy security.
In a broader context, the sanctions reflect the escalating tensions between the United States and Iran over issues such as nuclear proliferation, proxy wars, and ballistic missile development. The recent development in Iraq comes as part of an ongoing US effort to contain Iranian influence across the region.