U.S. State Department: Committed to supporting a stable Iraq free from external influences

Washington, Sept 10 (KUNA) – The U.S. State Department said on Thursday that the United States is committed to supporting a stable Iraq free from what it described as “malign external influences.” This was stated in a statement by State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott following Washington’s imposition earlier today of new sanctions targeting networks supporting Hezbollah Brigades in Iraq and Lebanese Hezbollah. The statement said these sanctions are part of the “economic pariah” campaign aimed at “the broader financial networks supporting Iran’s campaign to destabilize the region.” It said, “Tehran uses these groups as tools to spread violence and sabotage across the Middle East and the world, threatening the security of Iraq and Lebanon, the safety of U.S. personnel and U.S. diplomatic facilities in the region, and global energy flows.” It added that “Hezbollah Brigades, which the U.S. State Department designated as a foreign terrorist organization in 2009, have intensified their threats to U.S. interests, including a recent plot to target Jewish institutions in the United States, and continue to direct attacks against U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq, endangering innocent civilians and undermining Iraqi sovereignty.” The statement affirmed that “the United States remains committed to supporting a sovereign and stable Iraq free from malign external influences and to protecting Lebanon’s institutions from the destructive financial and political interference of Hezbollah.” It stressed that “these networks not only threaten regional stability but also undermine the economic interests of the very populations Iran claims to serve.” It also confirmed that Washington will continue to work closely with its partners across the region and around the world to isolate Iran’s terrorist proxies and cut off the vital funding sources that enable them to carry out their operations. The U.S. Treasury Department had announced earlier today the imposition of sanctions on networks accused of providing support to Iraqi Hezbollah Brigades and Lebanese Hezbollah, as part of the “economic pariah” campaign launched by Washington late last month to cut off all economic lifelines to the Iranian regime. (End) A.M.M. / M.M.J.