Iraq removes Iran-aligned Hezbollah and Houthis from asset-freeze list after ‘mistake’
Iraqi PM orders accountability for the error over list meant for Islamic State/al-Qaeda only. Reversal is blow to US efforts curbing Iran
Iraq will remove Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthis from an asset-freeze list, officials said on Thursday, after the Iran-aligned groups were mistakenly included in an earlier government publication, prompting confusion and criticism.
The Justice Ministry’s official gazette last month published a list of groups and entities whose funds would be blocked, naming both militant groups, a move that would likely have been welcomed in Washington and increased pressure on Tehran.
A letter from the acting deputy governor of the Central Bank asked the Committee for the Freezing of Terrorists’ Funds to delete the clause containing the names, two bank sources said.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said Iraq had approved freezing only the assets of entities and individuals linked to Islamic State and al-Qaeda jihadists, in response to a request from Malaysia.
‘Hold accountable those responsible’
He said he had ordered an urgent investigation into the mistake “to hold accountable those responsible”.
Sudani added that Iraq’s political and humanitarian positions on “the aggression on our people in Lebanon or in Palestine” were “principled and not subject to exaggeration”.