Rubio urged to punish Iraq with 'maximum pressure' sanctions for its 'complete subjugation' by Iran

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FIRST ON FOX: A pair of House Republicans are urging Secretary Marco Rubio to punish Iraq with sanctions for its "complete subjugation" by Iran as part of the U.S.'s "maximum pressure" policy toward Tehran. 

"More than 4,400 American service members sacrificed their lives since the start of the Iraq War, yet today, Iraq stands as nothing more than a puppet of Tehran," Reps. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., and Greg Steube, R-Fla., wrote in a letter to the secretary of state and interim national security advisor. 

The letter laid blame on the Obama administration, arguing former President Barack Obama and his Iraq envoy Brett McGurk "propped up" Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, whose leadership was marred by brutal political crackdowns and led to the rise of ISIS. 

"The Obama administration doubled down on its mistakes, relying on Iranian-backed militias to fight ISIS," the letter read. "The consequences of those failed decisions are now undeniable: Iran-backed forces wield unchecked power over Iraq's government and security services."

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Since 2015, the U.S. has offered Iraq's forces $1.25 billion in foreign military financing, in addition to billions more for the interior ministry and defense ministry. 

Iran's influence over Iraq was on full display when, in 2021, Iraq issued an arrest warrant for President Donald Trump for the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, even as the U.S. still has 2,500 forces on the ground in Iraq to partner with local forces and fight ISIS. 

Steube and Wilson called on the U.S. to cut all foreign aid to Iraq until it comes out from under Iran's influence. 

The letter calls for the U.S. to sanction Iraq's importation of Iranian gas. Currently, only payment for the gas is under sanction, meaning Iran gives fuel to Iraq without charge but expects repayment in other ways. The Trump administration ended a waiver that allowed Iraq to buy Iranian electricity in March. 

In response to the letter, Iraq's embassy told Fox News Digital: "Iraq is a sovereign and independent state that pursues a balanced foreign policy rooted in mutual interests and respect."

It added that Iraq is looking to build relationships in the region "based on trust and complementarity, rather than escalation or polarization.

"The Iraqi government continues to build effective economic partnerships-particularly with its strategic partners, foremost among them the United States-in a manner that reflects shared commitments to sustainable development and mutual security."

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The lawmakers called for designating the Popular Mobilization Forces, an Iranian-backed paramilitary group operating in Iraq, and its financial backers as foreign terrorist groups and sanctioning Iraq's state banks that financially support Iran. It also called for sanctions on Iraq's political figures that allow Iranian influence to flourish. 

"We urge you to take immediate action to implement these necessary policies and ensure that American resources are no longer used to prop up Iran's control over Iraq."

The U.S. initially invaded Iraq in 2003, toppling Saddam Hussein's regime and drawing down its troop presence from wartime levels in 2007 and leaving altogether in 2011, before returning in 2014 at the head of the coalition to fight the Islamic State.

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Other nations, including Germany, France, Spain and Italy, also contribute hundreds of troops to the coalition.

In September, reports emerged that the Biden administration was working on a plan to draw down the U.S. troop presence in Iraq within the year, but no set-in-stone decision was made. 

Fox News Digital reached out to the State Department and the Iraqi Embassy for comment.