U.S. Demands Iraq Expel Pro-Iran Militias to Restore Aid

The United States Department of State is demanding that Iraqi leadership take concrete steps to distance the state from pro-Iran armed groups following more than 600 attacks on American facilities in Iraq. Washington is requiring the expulsion of terrorist militias from state institutions, the termination of their access to the national budget, and the cessation of salary payments to militia fighters.

To enforce these demands, the U.S. government has suspended security assistance and cash payments for oil revenue, which are managed via the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. U.S. officials allege that elements of the Iraqi state continue to provide political, financial, and operational cover for these groups, creating a blurry line between the state and the militias.

These conditions coincide with the nomination of Ali al-Zaidi as Iraq's next prime minister. President Donald Trump congratulated Zaidi on the nomination, contrasting the move with his previous threats to terminate all support if Nouri al-Maliki had taken office. The U.S. now seeks an unambiguous policy statement from Baghdad declaring that these militias are not part of the state to restore confidence and resume financial shipments.