White House officials say that the US is prepared to impose sanctions on Iraqi officials if they are found to be involved in ongoing crackdowns against protesters in the country. They didn’t name any specific targets for the sanctions.
Officials said they are aware that Iranian General Qassem Soleimani has been to Baghdad recently and is “behind the suppression of the protests,” and will sanction Iraqi officials who are working alongside him.
The recent US statements endorsing the protests in Iraq are heavily based on Iran being opposed to the protests and trying to save the Abdul Mahdi government. The US hadn’t commented at all until after reports of Soleimani giving top Iraqis a talking to on the priority of saving the government.
Reports suggested Soleimani had talked to top Iraqi officials, including Moqtada al-Sadr, and the son of Grand Ayatollah Sistani. Sistani has denied any understanding was reached, though Sadr went from endorsing the protesters to largely silent on the matter.
White House officials say they believe the sanctions would “be the best way to reverse Iran’s influence in Iraq.” The sudden US interest in early elections seems to be built on the idea that anti-Iran parties will be strengthened, though these parties tend to be nationalists who oppose foreign ties, including with the US.
And the intervention band named USA is marching on. I hope that the people of these countries will throw the Ayatollahs, the Sistanis, the Moqtada’s together with all foreign forces out of their lands. The danger is that this is exactly what ISIL preaches. Another religion-based revolution/rebellion will be leading to more death and destruction.
Sistanis and Sadar are citizens of Iraq, They have the right to defend the citizens from Amerikas long reach.
Hard to read fantasies of Iranian general behind suppression. Suppression of what? These are riots without a real political cause. Life is hard, not getting better. For as ling as US occupies its territory and controls its birder with Syria, keeps Kurds in Syria on the hook, snd generally prevent peace in the region.
The Empire of Chaos is gripping ME, and with it, destroying prospects for development.
Riots are expression of anger. Political leadership has no answers. They cannot do anything as the region is paralyzed., and kept in that mode on purpose. Hoping the unhappiness would bring to power people more malleable to US interests. Can the opposite happen?
It depends in the quality of elite.
Guess the WH will threaten sanctions for the govt crackdown in Bolivia?…..no ?
The idea of these riots are to detach Iranian influence in Iraq. Money will flow back once Iraqis comply.