House Republicans Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., and Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., have taken a firm stance against the alleged Iranian influence over Iraq, calling for sanctions on the country as part of the U.S.’s ‘maximum pressure’ policy toward Tehran.
The lawmakers argue that Iraq has become a puppet state under Iran’s control, citing past U.S. policy failures and security concerns. They have written a letter to Secretary Marco Rubio, urging the Department of State and the interim national security advisor to impose sanctions on Iraq’s importation of Iranian gas and oil, as well as the Popular Mobilization Forces and their financial backers. The letter also calls for designating the Iranian-backed paramilitary group as a foreign terrorist organization and sanctioning Iraq’s state banks, which they claim provide financial support to Iran.