[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2658 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2658
To require an interagency strategy to free Iraq from Iran, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 3, 2025
Mr. Wilson of South Carolina (for himself and Mr. Panetta) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and
Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require an interagency strategy to free Iraq from Iran, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Free Iraq from Iran Act''.
SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
It is the policy of the United States to support the people of Iraq
in their desire to liberate their country from the malign influence of
Iran and its puppet militias and to support democracy, rule of law, and
human rights in Iraq.
SEC. 3. INTERAGENCY STRATEGY TO FREE IRAQ FROM IRAN.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in conjunction with the
Secretary of the Treasury, and the CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global
Media, shall develop and submit to Congress a strategy to support the
efforts of the Iraqi people in countering Iran in Iraq and countering
Iranian backed puppet militias in Iraq.
(b) Elements.--The strategy required under subsection (a) shall
include--
(1) A description of efforts to irreversibly dismantle all
Iran-backed puppet militias in Iraq, including but not limited
to the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), and end Iran's
dominance of Iraq's political system.
(2) A description of efforts to cease U.S. security
assistance to the Federal Government of Iraq, unless (A) All
Iran-backed militias including but not limited to the PMF are
dismantled, (B) Iraq ceases its support for terrorism including
its sponsorship and support of Iran backed puppet militias, (C)
Iran backed puppet militias including the PMF are no longer
part of the Ministry of Interior of the Federal Government of
Iraq nor any other organ of the Federal Government of Iraq, (D)
Iran backed puppet militias and their political parties no
longer maintain direct or indirect control of Iraqi government
ministries.
(3) A description of efforts to support Iraqi civil society
against Iran and its puppet militias including:
(A) A description of how the Intelligence Community
will--
(i) use intelligence-gathering capabilities
to monitor and expose the Iranian regime and
its puppet militias in Iraq's efforts to
suppress dissent and target protestors;
(ii) provide support to Iraqi civil society
actors and opposition groups to enhance their
security and operational capabilities; and
(iii) assist in identifying and countering
disinformation campaigns initiated by the
Iranian regime and its puppet militias in Iraq
to delegitimize democratic movements.
(B) A description of how the United States Agency
for Global Media (USAGM) will--
(i) expand and enhance broadcasting efforts
in Iraq with a focus on the Federal Government
of Iraq's support of Iranian backed puppet
militias and Iranian backed terrorist
organizations as well as programming regarding
the war crimes and corruption of Iranian backed
puppet militias in Iraq;
(ii) utilize social media platforms to
expose and highlight the Iranian regime and
Iran backed puppet militia's crimes against the
people of Iraq, including human rights abuses,
corruption, and acts of violence against
protestors; and
(iii) support independent Iraqi journalists
and media outlets in their efforts to report
freely and counter the regime's propaganda.
(C) A plan for ensuring coordination between
relevant agencies, including the Department of State,
the Department of the Treasury, the Intelligence
Community, and USAGM, to ensure a comprehensive and
unified approach in supporting the Iraqi people's
pursuit of independence from domination by the regime
in Iran and its puppet militias in Iraq.
(c) Form.--The strategy required under subsection (a) shall be
submitted in unclassified form.
(d) Implementation Plan.--Not later than 60 days after the date on
which the strategy required by subsection (a) is developed, the task
force shall submit to Congress a plan for implementing the strategy.
SEC. 4. DESIGNATION OF THE IRAN'S PUPPET MILITIAS IN IRAQ AS TERRORIST
ORGANIZATIONS.
(a) Designation as FTO.--No later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall designate as a
foreign terrorist organization pursuant to section 219(a) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189a) each of the following:
(1) Abu Fadl al-Abbas Brigades.
(2) Badr Corps.
(3) Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba.
(4) The Popular Mobilization Forces (Al-Hashd al-Sha'bi).
(5) Kata'ib al-Imam Ali.
(6) Kata'ib Jund al-Imam.
(7) Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada.
(8) Sarraya al-Jihad.
(9) Sarraya al-Khorasani.
(10) The Islamic Resistance of Iraq.
(11) Any foreign entity or organization that is an agent
of, affiliated with, or owned or controlled by the Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps.
SEC. 5. FUNDING LIMITATION OF IRANIAN BACKED PUPPET MILITIAS IN IRAQ.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no Federal department
or agency, including the Department of State and the Department of
Defense, may obligate or expend any Federal funds to support, directly
or indirectly, any militia or organization described in subsection
(4)(a) of this Act, or any person who is a member of such militia or
organization.
SEC. 6. PROHIBITION OF SECURITY ASSISTANCE TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF
IRAQ.
(a) Prohibition.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no
Federal department or agency, including the Department of State and the
Department of Defense, may obligate or expend any Federal funds to the
Federal Government of Iraq.
(b) Waiver.--The prohibition described in subsection (a) may be
waived if the President certifies that Iraq is no longer supporting or
sponsoring Iranian backed puppet militia or if the President certifies
that Iraq is taking significant demonstrated steps to remove Iranian
backed puppet militias from its security forces and the President
certifies that the waiver is in the national security interest of the
United States.
(c) Annual Review.--Iraq's support to Iranian backed puppet
militias shall be reviewed annually by the Department of Defense
annually in accordance with this section, in addition the prohibition
in subsection(a) shall be reviewed annually by the Department of
Defense to ensure the funds prohibited do not compromise the national
security interests of the United States or Iraq.
SEC. 7. SANCTIONS ON AGENTS AND FACILITATORS OF IRANIAN BACKED PUPPET
MILITIAS DESTABILIZING IRAQ.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary of Treasury shall issue a report describing
Iran's puppets in Iraq including political figures, members of the
judiciary, puppet militias, financiers, and facilitators of Iran and
its puppet militias in Iraq.
(b) Matters To Be Included.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall
include former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Al-Rafidain Bank,
the State Organization for Marketing of Oil in Iraq, Badr Corps leader
Hadi al-Ameri, Iraqi National Security Adviser Qais al-Araji, Iraqi
Military Chief of Staff Abdul Rashid Yar Allah, and Iraqi Federal
Supreme Court President Jassem Abboud as part of the report described
in subsection (a).
(c) Sanctions.--The Secretary of Treasury shall impose sanctions
pursuant to Executive Order 13438 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to
blocking property of certain persons who threaten stabilization efforts
in Iraq) on all persons described in the report described in
subsection(a).
(d) Form.--The strategy required under subsection (a) shall be
submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified annex if
necessary.
SEC. 8. PROHIBITION ON THE IMPORTATION OF LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS BY THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF IRAQ FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAN.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law the Secretary of
Treasury shall impose sanctions prohibiting the Government of Iraq or
any private entity within Iraq from importing liquefied natural gas
from the Government of Iran or any private entity within Iran.
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