U.S. Cracks Down on Iraq Oil Links to Iran

The United States has sanctioned Iraq’s deputy oil minister and several Iran-aligned militia leaders, stepping directly into a part of the oil trade that has been operating in the gray since the war began. The Treasury Department accused Deputy Oil Minister Ali Maarij Al-Bahadly of facilitating the diversion of Iraqi crude to benefit Iran and affiliated militias. The move also targets senior figures tied to Kata’ib Sayyid Al-Shuhada and Asa’ib Ahl Al-Haq. Any U.S. assets are frozen, and Americans are barred from doing business…