U.S. authorities are developing sanctions against Iraq in response to demands to withdraw U.S. troops from the country, the Washington Post reported.
It is noted that the decision has not yet been made, but in case of sanctions, the leading role in them will be played by the Ministry of Finance and the White House.
Recall that the parliament in Iraq called on the government to achieve the withdrawal of American military contingent from the country. This has caused indignation of U.S. President Donald Trump, who said that the authorities are ready to impose such sanctions, “as they have never seen”, adding that the withdrawal will not take place until Iraq pays for the American base, which cost the U.S. “billions of dollars”.
The U.S. had previously struck at a number of Kataib Hezbollah Shia facilities in Syria. As noted at the Pentagon, these actions were taken in response to the movement’s attacks on the Iraqi base near Kirkuk, where a U.S. citizen was killed and four U.S. military were wounded.
On the night of January 3, the U.S. military conducted an operation in the area of the international airport in the Iraqi capital against General Kassem Suleimani, commander of the Al-Quds Special Forces, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy head of the Iraqi Shiite militia. In Washington, they are believed to have been involved in organizing the storming of the American Embassy in December 2019.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has warned that Suleimani’s death will not go unanswered. Trump, in turn, promised to strike “a quick and strong blow” at 52 targets in Iran in case of an attack on the Americans.