“The title of this project, which is still in its early stages, is very offensive. It seems that for the proud and courageous people of Iraq, using this term is considered an insult. How can a party with a history of occupying and killing millions of Iraqis claim to be claiming to liberate a Muslim neighbor from another country? This is truly shameful,” foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said in his weekly presser, as cited by the state IRNA news agency.
Republican Congressman Joe Wilson, the former chairman of the Middle East House subcommittee, and Democrat Jimmy Panetta introduced the “Free Iraq from Iran” bill on Thursday, which seeks to curb Iranian influence in Iraq.
“The Free Iraq from Iran Act will stand with Iraq and free its people and finally end Iran’s reign of terror in Iraq,” Wilson said on X.
“To Iran’s agents in Iraq - be scared - this will pass,” he affirmed.
The bill states that "all Iran-backed militias, including but not limited to the PMF [Popular Mobilization Forces], are dismantled, and Iraq ceases its support for terrorism, including its sponsorship and support of Iran-backed puppet militias," according to the text shared by Wilson.
It also seeks to ensure that "Iran-backed puppet militias, including the PMF, are no longer part of the Ministry of Interior of the Federal Government of Iraq nor any other organ of the Federal Government of Iraq," and emphasizes that "Iran-backed puppet militias and their political parties no longer maintain direct or indirect control of Iraqi government ministries."
The bill stipulates the withdrawal of American security assistance if its conditions are not met.
A contentious draft law is currently before the Iraqi parliament with the goal of cementing the PMF into Iraq’s state security forces.
The bill further directs the US Treasury Secretary to impose sanctions banning the Iraqi government and private entities in Iraq from importing liquefied natural gas from Iran.
In March, the US State Department announced that Washington has rescinded a waiver allowing Iraq to purchase electricity from Iran as part of President Donald Trump’s maximum pressure campaign against Tehran.
The United States has repeatedly criticized the PMF’s links to Iran-backed armed groups, warning of their growing influence over Iraq’s military and political institutions.
