UPDATE 1-US sanctions Iraq's deputy oil minister, militias over Iran support

The ​United States sanctioned ‌on Thursday ​Iraq's deputy oil minister and militias over support for ‌Iran, the Treasury Department said.

The Treasury Department accused Iraq's minister Ali Maarij Al-Bahadly of ‌abusing "his position to facilitate the diversion of ‌oil to be sold for the benefit of the Iranian regime and its proxy militias in ⁠Iraq." The ​department is ⁠also sanctioning three senior leaders of Iran-aligned militias Kata’ib ⁠Sayyid Al-Shuhada and Asa’ib Ahl Al-Haq, it said.

“Treasury ​will not stand idly by as ⁠Iran's military exploits Iraqi oil to fund terrorism against ⁠the ​United States and our partners,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a ⁠statement. The sanctions freeze any U.S. assets of ⁠those ⁠targeted and generally bar Americans from dealing with them.