H.R. 2658

[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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