Nujaba Signals Using U.S. Companies in Iraq as Leverage

A member of political bureau of Harakat al-Nujaba signalled that U.S. companies in Iraq can be used as leverage against the U.S. as a means to counteract Washington’s attempts to disarm the Iran-aligned armed groups.

DEVELOPMENT

During a 5 September talk show episode on Al-Mayadeen, Mahdi al-Ka'abi asked rhetorically whether U.S. companies operating in Iraq could be used as leverage against Washington as it seeks to strip 'resistance' groups of their power.

WHY IT MATTERS

The Government of Iraq under Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has set 30 September–1 October as its deadline for auditing and disarming Iran-aligned armed groups. Four U.S.-sanctioned groups have so far been vehemently opposed to the government's drive: Kata'ib Hezbollah (KH), Harakat al-Nujaba (HAN), Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada (KSS), and Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya (HAAA). While the government has de-escalated the rhetoric it had aimed at pressuring these groups, the groups themselves are cautiously anticipating whether forthcoming U.S. pressure on Baghdad will push the government to move against them.

Al-Ka'abi's rhetorical question reflects HAN's anticipatory thinking about how it might respond to that pressure. HAN has signalled before its intent to disrupt oil pipeline projects feeding Jordan, on the assumption that such projects are intended to supply Israel with Iraqi oil indirectly. In January 2023, the head of HAN's political bureau implicitly threatened to disrupt the Basra–Aqaba pipeline project.

On 8 September, Iraqi Oil Minister Bassem Mohammed Khudair announced that Iraq is moving ahead with a key oil pipeline initiative in partnership with U.S.-based Chevron, TI Capital, and Qatar's UCC. The line would connect Basra to Fishkhabur, with a branch extending west into Syria and terminating at the Mediterranean port of Banias.

SO WHAT

Harakat al-Nujaba and partner Iran-aligned groups are most likely viewing Baghdad’s recent pipeline projects linking it with Syria with caution and vigilence, possibly incorporating U.S. companies in Iraq, primarily Chevron, on their bank of targets.