The US wants Iraq’s incoming prime minister to take “concrete actions” against pro-Iran armed groups before the United States restores financial transfers and security assistance. A senior State Department official outlined the conditions to AFP on Tuesday, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Iraq‘s ruling coalition nominated Ali al-Zaidi as its next leader, and US President Donald Trump quickly called him to offer congratulations, a notable contrast to his earlier threats to cut all support if former frontrunner Nouri al-Maliki took office.
Nevertheless, the official made clear that goodwill alone would not suffice. Washington expects Zaidi to address what it calls the “blurry line” between the Iraqi state and Shia armed factions aligned with Tehran. Resuming full support “would start with expelling terrorist militias from any state institution, cutting off their support from the Iraqi budget and denying salary payments to these militia fighters,” the official said. “Those are the type of concrete actions that would give us confidence.”
More Than 600 Attacks on US Facilities
The stakes are considerable, as the official confirmed that US facilities in Iraq sustained more than 600 attacks following the outbreak of hostilities between the United States, Israel, and Iran on 28 February. Targeted sites included the US Embassy in Baghdad and oil fields run by foreign companies. Attacks halted after a fragile ceasefire took effect on 8 April, though Iranian strikes in Iraqi Kurdistan have continued.
The official nonetheless acknowledged the complexity of the task ahead. “I’m not underestimating the severity of the challenge or what it would take to disentangle these relationships,” he said, adding that a clear public declaration, that militia groups hold no place within the Iraqi state, would represent a credible first step.
