Context:

Republican lawmakers Joe Wilson and Greg Steube have urged Secretary Marco Rubio to impose 'maximum pressure' sanctions on Iraq due to its close ties with Iran, asserting that Iraq has become a puppet of Tehran's influence. They criticized the Obama administration for its handling of Iraq, claiming it supported leaders like Nouri al-Maliki, whose decisions empowered Iranian-backed militias and contributed to the rise of ISIS. The letter suggests cutting all U.S. foreign aid to Iraq until it extricates itself from Iranian influence and imposing sanctions on Iraq's importation of Iranian gas and its political figures that allow Iranian interference. The Trump administration had previously ended a waiver allowing Iraq to purchase Iranian electricity, and the lawmakers now call for more stringent measures, including designating certain Iranian-backed groups in Iraq as terrorist organizations. This push for sanctions is part of a broader U.S. 'maximum pressure' policy aimed at curbing Iran's influence in the region, with ongoing discussions about reducing U.S. troop presence in Iraq within the year, though no definitive decision has been made yet.

Dive Deeper:

• Joe Wilson and Greg Steube, Republican Representatives, have called for strict sanctions on Iraq under Secretary Marco Rubio's guidance, citing Iraq's 'complete subjugation' by Iran as a key concern, which they believe undermines American sacrifices made during the Iraq War.

• Criticism is directed at the Obama administration for its Iraq policy, which they argue bolstered Iranian influence and facilitated the rise of ISIS through support for leaders like Nouri al-Maliki and reliance on Iranian-backed militias.

• The proposed measures include halting all U.S. foreign aid to Iraq until it distances itself from Iranian influence and imposing sanctions on Iraqi imports of Iranian gas, with the Trump administration having already ended a waiver for Iranian electricity purchases.

• Additional recommendations include designating the Popular Mobilization Forces, an Iranian-backed paramilitary group, and its financiers as terrorist organizations, as well as sanctioning Iraqi political figures who sustain Iranian control.

• The U.S. initially invaded Iraq in 2003, withdrawing by 2011, but returned in 2014 to combat ISIS. The Biden administration is reportedly considering a reduction of U.S. troops in Iraq, reflecting ongoing adjustments in American foreign policy in the region.