ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A US congressman on Tuesday criticized the head of Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council for “malign influence” in politics after a lawmaker from an Iran-backed faction was elected to a top parliamentary post, indicating he could face sanctions for helping Tehran tighten its influence over Iraq’s political system.
US Congressman Joe Wilson wrote in a post on X that the new Iraqi parliament “should have marked a new beginning and renewed hope for the Iraqi people.” Instead, “that hope was seized by the malign influence of Iran that installed puppets and individuals linked to extremist and terrorist networks,” he maintained.
Adnan Faihan of the Sadiqoon Bloc, affiliated with the Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq (AAH) armed group - designated a terrorist organization by the US - was elected first deputy speaker of parliament during the legislature’s first session last week. Faihan won over half of the votes.
Wilson blamed Supreme Judicial Council head Faiq Zaidan for the outcome, calling him an “Iran-aligned judge.” He claimed Zaidan “is not only a puppet of Iran, but has in many ways declared himself the de facto leader and political power broker of Iraq.”
The Sadiqoon Bloc, which won 27 of Iraq’s 329 seats in the November parliamentary elections, was one of several political wings of armed factions that secured seats.
Sanctions threats
Wilson and other US lawmakers have increasingly targeted Zaidan in recent years. Through initiatives such as the 2025 “Free Iraq from Iran Act,” members of Congress have described him as a “tool of Iranian influence” who allegedly uses Iraq’s legal system to shield Tehran-aligned militias and suppress political opposition.
“The Trump administration has the authority to impose sanctions on anyone who destabilizes Iraq on behalf pursuant to Executive Order 13303,” Wilson said. He added that “a determination should be made regarding whether Zaidan meets the criteria for these sanctions.”
Executive Order 13303, signed in 2003, was originally intended to protect Iraqi oil assets and the Development Fund for Iraq from legal seizure. A formal designation under the order could lead to financial penalties, including freezing US-based assets Zaidan may hold and banning Americans from conducting business with him.
Wilson pledged to “work with my colleagues in Congress to seek accountability including through working with the Trump administration on moving possible legislation to sanction Zaidan and affiliated militia leaders.”
US pressure on Iraq
The remarks come as Washington steps up pressure on Baghdad to curb Iran’s influence and limit the role of Iran-backed armed groups. The United States is reportedly urging Iraq to dissolve all armed factions, including those formally incorporated into state institutions such as the Popular Mobilization Forces.
Zaidan told Rudaw on Wednesday that AAH, Kata’ib Imam Ali, Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada and Ansar Allah al-Awfiya have pledged to keep weapons under Iraqi government control. Some factions, including Kata’ib Hezbollah, a powerful pro-Iran militia designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, have rejected disarmament.
In mid-December, Wilson criticized Zaidan after he thanked armed factions for cooperating on restricting weapons to the state.
“Zaidan makes public policy pronouncements dealing with security and political issues, trying to bamboozle the United States with a FAKE disarming of Iranian puppet militias, to help ensure Iran maintains its control of Iraq,” Wilson said at the time.
Wilson added that “Zaidan and his backers in Iran are actively working to entrench their control over Iraq and install a weak and compliant prime minister.” He warned that “this outcome is unacceptable and poses a serious threat to Iraq’s future and US interests.”