Baghdad/Washington, May 9 -- Iraq has rejected US allegations against its Deputy Oil Minister Ali Maarij al-Bahadli, who Washington hit with sanctions following allegations he was helping Iran evade sanctions on its oil exports.
Announced late Thursday, the sanctions are the latest tool used by the US State Department as part of its broader pressure tactics to force Baghdad on curbing its supposed ties with Iran-linked networks and militias.
According to the State Department, Bahadli "abused his government position to divert Iraqi oil in support of the Iranian regime and its terrorist proxies."US officials accused him of helping facilitate the fraudulent blending of Iraqi and Iranian crude oil in order to disguise the origin of sanctioned...