Intel: Congress wants to sanction Iran’s allies in Iraq. Here’s why the State Department thinks it’s a bad idea.
Congress just moved a bill that could lead to sanctions on an Iran-backed militia that won several seats in the Iraqi parliament this year. But the State Department isn’t on board.
The bill requiring the State Department to determine whether Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba and Asaib Ahl al-Haq are eligible for sanctions cleared the House Foreign Affairs panel unanimously this morning. That latter group won 15 seats in the May elections.
Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, who has aggressively pushed for these sanctions, acknowledged that the State Department isn’t on board during a Wednesday hearing.
“My staff was in Baghdad last month and the embassy staff scoffed at this legislation, saying sanctions would provoke the terrorist militias,” said Poe.
