US Threats Against Pro-Iran Factions In Iraq Escalate

 

The Trump administration is getting serious about ending Iran’s influence in Iraq. The president’s new special envoy to the country is constantly commenting upon bringing pro-Iran factions under state control and a defense spending bill pending in congress threatens to cut funding if those groups are not disarmed.

 

In October the White House announced that Michigan businessman Mark Savaya would be President Trump’s special envoy to Iraq. Since then Savaya has released a steady stream of messages on social media that the pro-Iran Resistance groups have to be brought under state control. This has been a long time American demand but this White House is the first one putting some real teeth behind it.

 

That was shown in December when an ultimatum was issued and the threat of sanctions issued. First the Iraqi press reported that a draft of the National Defense Authorization Act in the U.S. Congress calls for U.S. aid to be cut in half until Baghdad takes steps to take weapons away from the Resistance. Then Gabriel Soma who is a member of an advisory board to President Trump warned that weapons had to be brought under the state’s control in Iraq or there could be embargoes and other penalties against the government.

 

These types of statements are being made almost every week by American officials. They are regularly being reported in the Iraqi press and there is constant speculation about the White House’s intentions.

 

Groups backed by Iran have attacked U.S. forces, the Iraqi government and population ever since Saddam Hussein was overthrown. The U.S. confronted them off and on ever since then. After the end of the war against the Islamic State however there has mostly been verbal warnings against the pro-Iran groups and sanctions against individuals. This is a full court press by the Trump administration telling Baghdad that things have to change or the relationship with the U.S. will. This will be a tough task since so many of the Iraqi elite are tied to Tehran and the Resistance is not only part of the security forces but the government as well. Baghdad has attempted to appease both the U.S. and Iran but that is getting harder and harder and it’s unclear how things will work out.

 

SOURCES

 

Al Alam, “Savaya’s Demands Escalate Separation of Powers Added to the List Alongside Controlling Uncontrolled Weapons,” 11/29/25

 

Kurdistan 24, “Trump Advisor Warns Baghdad: Disarm Militias or Face ‘Severe’ Penalties and Embargoes,” 12/9/25

- “U.S. Congress Links Iraq Security Cooperation Funds to Restrictions on Iran-Aligned Militias,” 12/8/25

 

Rudaw, “US envoy warns Iran-backed militias threaten Iraq’s stability,” 12/12/25