US Congress Proposes Sanctions Against Iraqi Groups Linked to Iran

Reports indicate that Republican representatives in the US Senate have introduced a plan to counter Iran's "growing influence" in Iraq and to impose sanctions on Iran-backed groups in Iraq. Reuters reported on Wednesday, September 12, citing a Senate aide, that this plan would require the US Secretary of State to prepare and publish a list of Iraqi armed groups receiving assistance from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). According to Reuters, a copy of this plan has been seen by Senate representatives. The plan, titled "Iranian Terror Proxy Sanctions Act," has the support of Senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio. Meanwhile, a similar proposal has also been introduced by Republican Representative Ted Poe in the House of Representatives. Reuters states that it is still unclear when these proposals will be reviewed by congressional committees, as committee review is the first step toward making a proposal law. This comes as a White House spokesperson accused Iran of failing to prevent recent attacks on the US consulate in Basra and the US embassy complex in Baghdad. Reports indicate that on Friday evening, three mortars landed in the Green Zone of Baghdad, where Iraqi government buildings are located. Such attacks had not occurred in the Green Zone for several years. Additionally, on Saturday morning, three rockets struck Basra Airport, where the US consulate is located. The White House stated on Tuesday: "Any attack on American facilities that harms our personnel or buildings will hold Iran responsible. The US will act decisively and swiftly to defend American lives." Meanwhile, Reuters reported on Friday, September 1, citing Western sources, that Iran has provided ballistic missiles to Iraqi Shiite groups and has also transferred technology for producing such missiles to these groups. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson strongly denied the Reuters report about the transfer of Iranian ballistic missiles to Iraq, calling it a "baseless, meaningless, and ridiculous claim."