US sanctions Iraq's deputy oil minister, militias over Iran support

Published 07 May, 2026 08:06pm 1 min read

The United States sanctioned on ​Thursday Iraq’s deputy oil minister ‌and militias over support for Iran, the Treasury Department said.

The Treasury Department ​accused Iraq’s minister Ali ​Maarij Al-Bahadly of abusing “his position to ⁠facilitate the diversion of ​oil to be sold for the ​benefit of the Iranian regime and its proxy militias in Iraq.”

The department is ​also sanctioning three senior ​leaders of Iran-aligned militias Kata’ib Sayyid Al-Shuhada ‌and ⁠Asa’ib Ahl Al-Haq, it said.

“Treasury will not stand idly by as Iran’s military exploits Iraqi oil ​to fund ​terrorism ⁠against the United States and our partners,” Treasury ​Secretary Scott Bessent said ​in ⁠a statement.

The sanctions freeze any US assets of those targeted and ⁠generally ​bar Americans from ​dealing with them.

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