U.S. Turns Up Pressure on Iraq to Distance Itself From Iran

Iraq maintains close ties to both Iran and the United States and has often found itself caught between them. Now, with its two partners at war, the government in Baghdad is coming under increasing U.S. pressure to choose a side.

Washington is demanding that Iraq distance itself from Iran and rein in the Iran-linked Iraqi militias that have been behind recent attacks targeting U.S. interests there. In the latest step to force Iraq’s hand, it has suspended U.S. cooperation with and funding for Iraq’s security services, two Iraqi officials said on Monday.

The State Department declined to comment specifically on the move, but said Washington has demanded the Iraqi government crack down on militias supported by Iran, including some with ties to officials in the Baghdad government.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/21/world/middleeast/us-iraq-security-cooperation.html

Good luck with that!