Iraq Criticises US Sanctions on Company and Militias Over Ties to Iran

Iraq on Saturday condemned US sanctions imposed on a company, individuals, and armed groups alleged to have ties with Iran-backed militias, describing the action as “deeply regrettable.”

The sanctions were announced by Washington on Thursday, targeting the Al-Muhandis company, a firm linked to the Hashed al-Shaabi or Popular Mobilisation Force (PMF)—armed groups trained by Iran during the war against the Islamic State (IS).

In addition, the United States targeted individuals and other Iraqi militias that the US Treasury said had assisted Tehran in:

• Evading US sanctions
• Smuggling weapons
• Engaging in widespread corruption in Iraq

Iraqi government spokesman Basim Alawadi issued a statement criticising the move: “The Government of Iraq views this unilateral action as deeply regrettable, as it contradicts the spirit of friendship and mutual respect that has long characterised the bilateral relationship between the two countries.”

He added:”Taking such a decision without prior consultation or dialogue represents a negative precedent in the approach to relations between allied nations.”

Key Sanctioned Entities

Kataeb Hezbollah is a powerful Iraqi armed faction designated as a terrorist organisation by the United States. Though integrated into Iraq’s regular security forces alongside other PMF groups, the faction has a reputation for acting autonomously at times, which has drawn scrutiny from Washington.

Aqeel Muftin, the head of Iraq’s National Olympic Committee, was also sanctioned. He was accused of managing an Iraqi commercial bank with connections to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force, raising concerns over financial networks facilitating Iran-backed operations in Iraq.

Key Points at a Glance