Iraq Denies U.S. Claim Deputy Minister Helped Iran’s Oil Sales

Iraq’s Oil Ministry has denied that its deputy minister was involved in opaque sales of Iraqi oil mixed with Iranian crude for Iran’s benefit, as the U.S. alleged on Thursday when it sanctioned the senior official. The United States on Thursday sanctioned Iraq’s Deputy Minister of Oil, Ali Maarij al-Bahadly, and several Iran-aligned militia leaders for facilitating the diversion of Iraqi crude to benefit Iran and affiliated militias. The move also targeted senior figures tied to the Kata’ib Sayyid Al-Shuhada and Asa’ib…