The Trump administration is exerting increased pressure on Iraq to curtail its economic cooperation with Iran and diminish Iranian influence in the region. U.S. officials are demanding action to stop dollar transactions with Iran, resume oil exports from northern Iraq, and rein in Iran-aligned militias. Strategic sanctions and economic measures are emphasized, highlighting the Trump administration’s commitment to reduce Iranian access to resources and bolster Iraq’s financial independence.
The Trump administration is intensifying its economic and diplomatic pressure on Iraq to diminish its financial ties with Iran and curb Tehran’s influence in the region. U.S. officials have emphasized the need for Iraq to halt the flow of U.S. dollars to Iran and to address allegations of Iraqi cooperation in the illicit export of Iranian oil products. Following this pressure, leaders in Baghdad have resumed oil exports from the Kurdish region, which had previously been suspended.
Efforts by the Trump administration have included threats of sanctions aimed at preventing support for Iran-backed militia groups operating in Iraq. The President’s recent National Security memorandum has signaled a clear intention to enforce maximum pressure on Iran, demanding that Iraq cease transactions that financially benefit Tehran. Plans are in place to mitigate Iranian oil sales through enhanced Iraqi oil exports, particularly through the reinitiated pipeline from Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq to Turkey.
Trump’s aides are reportedly pressing Iraqi leaders to incorporate Iran-aligned militias into the national command structure or disband them. However, military action against these groups is contingent upon any actions they take against U.S. forces in Iraq. Importance is also placed on accountability for Iraqi financial institutions that fail to comply with U.S. sanctions, complicating Iraq’s financial interactions.
In response to U.S. pressure, Iraq’s Central Bank has banned several banks from engaging in dollar transactions to prevent money laundering that could benefit Iran. Furthermore, officials from Iraq’s Oil Ministry have denied allegations linking Iraqi traders with the export of Iranian oil products, asserting a commitment to transparency in international oil sales.
Alongside cuts to Iraq’s financial links with Iran, the Trump administration aims to finalize a long-delayed agreement regarding oil exports from northern Iraq, essential for the global oil market. Reports indicate that U.S. officials have proposed a plan to enhance Iraq’s independence from Iran amid rising sanctions talks among U.S. lawmakers. The focus remains on non-cooperation with armed factions aligned with the Iranian military, especially those implicated in regional attacks.
The Trump administration’s proactive stance toward Iraq centers around minimizing Iran’s influence by demanding economic reforms, halting dollar transactions with Iran, and enforcing sanctions on associated entities. The renewed oil export agreements signify a strategic control over Iraq’s energy flow, aimed at bolstering U.S. interests in the region while addressing the challenges posed by Iranian-aligned militias. Iraq’s cooperative measures appear driven by the necessity to navigate escalating U.S. sanctions and maintain economic stability.
Original Source: thesoufancenter.org
