US Lawmakers Urge Sanctions to Sever Iranian Control Over Iraq
“Iraq today stands as nothing more than a puppet of Tehran,” the letter states.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – In a joint letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Representatives Joe Wilson and W. Gregory Steube have called for an aggressive escalation of sanctions against Iraq's institutions and individuals allegedly under the influence of Iran. The letter, released on Wednesday, accuses Tehran of exercising near-total control over Iraq’s political, military, and economic apparatus, and urges swift U.S. action to curb what the lawmakers describe as Iran’s “malign influence.”
The lawmakers referenced National Security Policy Memorandum-2 (NSPM-2), signed earlier this year, which mandates the reimposition of maximum pressure sanctions on Iran and its proxies. They emphasized that the campaign must extend beyond Iran and target Iraqi institutions that serve as its clients.
“Iraq today stands as nothing more than a puppet of Tehran,” the letter states, blaming previous U.S. administrations for enabling Iranian dominance over Iraq’s government, judiciary, and economy. Citing the sacrifices of more than 4,400 American service members since the start of the Iraq War, the lawmakers stressed that U.S. taxpayer dollars should not subsidize a government controlled by Tehran.
The letter names dozens of Iraqi officials, including ministers, oil executives, and bank directors, alleged to be complicit in fueling Iran’s influence and financing proxy militias through illicit means.
“The Iraqi people do not want to be ruled by Iran’s terrorist proxies,” the lawmakers wrote. “Expanding the Maximum Pressure campaign to Iraq will further weaken Tehran’s grip and help Iraqis reclaim their sovereignty.”
The letter concludes with a forceful appeal to the State Department: “Take immediate action to implement these necessary policies and ensure that American resources are no longer used to prop up Iran’s control over Iraq.”
My letter today with @RepGregSteube to Secretary Rubio asking for sanctioning Iraq to be included as part of maximum pressure. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/uhS4POxehb
— Joe Wilson (@RepJoeWilson) May 28, 2025
