US accuses Iran of plundering Iraq’s resources

Iraqi oil tanker trucks stationed in Iran. Photo: Sky New screen grab Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The US Department of State has accused Tehran of employing Iraqi militias—including Kata’ib Hezbollah—to steal Iraq’s resources. The declaration was made in response to allegations of petroleum product smuggling in the Jurf al-Sakhr area, according to Sky News Arabia. A spokesperson for the US State Department told the news outlet that Iran has a long history of using Iraqi militias to plunder the country’s resources. The spokesperson accused these groups of undermining Iraq’s sovereignty and weakening its economy, noting that they use the funds of corruption to serve their interests and those of the regime in Tehran. Washington has placed sanctions on Kata’ib Hezbollah and designated it as a foreign terrorist organization. The United States will continue to target entities that generate illicit revenue, as well as those who facilitate their financial transactions, as part of a pressure campaign led by President Donald Trump against Iran. A document issued by the office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces revealed that Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has ordered the formation of a committee to investigate the smuggling of petroleum products in Jurf al-Sakhr—referred to in the document as Jurf al-Nasr.