Washington uses Iraq's own oil money to bend Baghdad to its will

France24 · 🇫🇷 public France · Apr 23, 2026 · 990 words · By Anaelle JONAH

US/Iranian Influence in Iraq Economic Instability in Iraq Political Conflict in Iraq

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What to know about US/Iranian Influence in Iraq

Washington uses Iraq's own oil money to bend Baghdad to its will The Trump administration has blocked a shipment of nearly $500 million in cash to Iraq, pressing Baghdad to dismantle powerful Iranian-backed armed groups.

Claims checked 14

Techniques found 2

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center100%

Right0%

4 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Why it matters

Analysts say the blockage risks destabilising an already fragile economy.

Common ground

The US government blocked a cargo plane delivery of nearly $500 million in US banknotes destined for Baghdad, according to the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the move on Tuesday, citing US and Iraqi officials.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Name Calling / Labeling: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this US/Iranian Influence in Iraq story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that The US government blocked a cargo plane delivery of nearly $500 million in US banknotes destined for Baghdad, according to the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the move on Tuesday, citing US and Iraqi officials?
How does this story connect US/Iranian Influence in Iraq with Economic Instability in Iraq over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20260423-washington-uses-iraq-own-oil-mo…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Name Calling / Labeling 60% confidence

Attaching a negative label to a person or group to reject them without evidence.

Why it matters: Recognizing name calling / labeling helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 14 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 7

schedule Pending 4

help Insufficient Evidence 2

info Single Source 1

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Claim 1: “The US government blocked a cargo plane delivery of nearly $500 million in US banknotes destined for Baghdad, according to the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the move on Tuesday, citing US and Iraqi officials.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results corroborate that the US government blocked a cargo plane delivery of nearly $500 million in US banknotes destined for Baghdad, specifically citing the Wall Street Journal's reporting on the move.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The U.S. embassy in the Green Zone of Baghdad, Iraq, was attacked on 31 December 2019 by Kata'ib Hezbollah militiamen and their Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) supporters and sympathizers. The attac…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_the_United_States_em…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Baghdad Wall is a 5 km-long (3.1 mi) wall being built by the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division of the United States Army around the predominantly Sunni district of Adhamiya in Baghda…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baghdad_Wall

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Embassy of the United States of America in Baghdad (Arabic: سفارة الولايات المتحدة، بغداد) is the diplomatic mission of the United States of America in the Republic of Iraq. Chargé d'affaires ad i…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embassy_of_the_United_States,_…

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 2: “The measures come after a series of attacks on US facilities in Iraq and neighbouring countries, carried out by groups Washington says are showing solidarity with Tehran since the war began.”

CORROBORATED

Web search results indicate that the measures were implemented following attacks on US facilities in Iraq and neighboring countries, with groups accused of supporting Tehran.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2003 invasion of Iraq led by the U.S., which toppled Iraqi president Saddam Hussein and his Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party, was the decisive event that allowed Iran to begin exerting an unprecedented…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_involvement_in_the_Ira…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Throughout the duration of the Iran–Iraq War, numerous efforts were made to halt hostilities and initiate discussions on the unresolved issues that precipitated the onset of the war; however, these en…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_efforts_during_the_Iran–…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This timeline of the 2026 Iran war covers the period since 28 February 2026. The war is ongoing.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_2026_Iran_war

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 3: “However, an Iraqi official on Tuesday confirmed to The National that dollar shipments have stopped.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that an Iraqi official stated on Tuesday that dollar shipments to Iraq had stopped.

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web search NEUTRAL — However, an Iraqi official on Tuesday confirmed to The National that dollar shipments have stopped.
https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20260423-washington-…

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web search NEUTRAL — An official at the Central Bank of Iraq confirmed that dollar shipments have stopped, but said US transactions to cover the import of goods are still in place.
https://www.msn.com/en-ae/news/middleeast/us-suspends-iraq-s…

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web search NEUTRAL — Tishwash: The US has stopped sending cash dollars to Iraq. Is this the beginning of a blockade? Private sources confirmed that the United States has decided to completely halt cash dollar shipments to…
https://dinarrecaps.com/our-blog/tidbits-from-tnt-tuesday-7-…

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Claim 4: “The Central Bank of Iraq, which has yet to comment specifically about the reports, said on Tuesday it was not lacking US dollars and that it had "fulfilled all requests from banks and exchange companies for US dollars, which are intended for pilgrims, travellers and foreign transfers".”

CORROBORATED

Two web search results report that the Central Bank of Iraq stated it was not lacking US dollars and had fulfilled requests for dollars intended for pilgrims, travelers, and foreign transfers on a specific Tuesday.

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web search NEUTRAL — he Central Bank of Iraq confirms it has fully met the dollar demands of travelers and pilgrims .
https://cbi.iq/language/change/english/https:----cbi.iq--new…

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web search NEUTRAL — The Central Bank of Iraq has not commented specifically about the reports. However, it said on Tuesday it was not lacking US dollars and that it had "fulfilled all requests from banks and exchange com…
https://english.aawsat.com/arab-world/5260084-multiple-israe…

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web search NEUTRAL — The Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has announced that pilgrims can purchase dollars through designated banks and companies in Baghdad and other provinces. The process involves exchanging Iraqi dinars for …
https://www.iraq-businessnews.com/2025/05/08/dinars-to-dolla…

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Claim 5: “Iraq's most powerful armed groups – which include the Badr Brigade, Asaib Ahl al-Haq and Kataib Hezbollah – wield huge influence within the country's financial sectors and government, with some of their units formally incorporated into the Iraqi armed forces.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 6: “It was the second such shipment delayed since the start of the US-Israeli war against Iran in late February, official sources told the Journal.”

CORROBORATED

At least two web search results state that the blockage of the $500 million shipment was the second such delay since the start of the Iran war in late February, citing 'U.S. and Iraqi officials' or similar sources.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — On 28 February 2026, the United States and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran targeting military and government sites and assassinating several Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Iran_war

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Iran–Israel conflict is a long-standing geopolitical and military confrontation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the State of Israel, involving proxy hostilities since 1985 and direct clas…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran–Israel_conflict

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Iran and Israel have not maintained a formal diplomatic relationship with each other since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Beginning in the mid-1980s, the Iran–Israel proxy conflict has grown to large…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran–Israel_relations

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 7: “Adel Bakawan, director of the European Institute for Studies on the Middle East and North Africa, stated that Iraq's oil revenues have been held at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for the past twenty years since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

schedule

Claim 8: “US President Donald Trump warned in January that he would cut off assistance to Iraq if former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, leader of the Iran-aligned Islamic Dawa Party, returned to the role.”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

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Claim 9: “Washington already suspended the mechanism once before, in 2015, amid fears the cash was reaching Islamic State militants.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that Washington previously suspended cash transfers to Iraq in 2015 due to fears that the money was reaching militant groups, specifically mentioning the Islamic State.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Islamic State (IS), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), and by its Arabic acronym Daesh, is a transnational Salafi jihadist m…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_State

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — In June 2014, the Islamic State (also known as ISIS or ISIL), which had controlled a large portion of Northeastern Syria at that time during the Syrian civil war, launched a widespread offensive in Ir…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_State_invasion_of_Iraq

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Islamic State of Iraq (ISI; Arabic: دولة العراق الإسلامية Dawlat al-ʿIrāq al-ʾIslāmiyyah) was a Salafi jihadist militant organization that fought the forces of the U.S.-led coalition during the Ir…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_State_of_Iraq

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 10: “Maliki initially rejected Trump's threat as "blatant American interference" and vowed to "continue to work until we reach the end".”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

help

Claim 11: “The Americans conveyed the decision to senior politicians that the hard currency, which is usually flown to Iraq, will stop until forming the next government and arresting militia members for attacking the US embassy and troops in Iraq.”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results or cross-references to support the specific claim that the US conveyed this decision until a new government is formed and militia members are arrested. The evidence is entirely absent.

help

Claim 12: “Washington has also "suspended participation in security meetings, which is essential for Iraq for the co-operation in this field, including intelligence sharing"”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results or cross-references to support the claim that Washington suspended Iraq's participation in essential security meetings, including intelligence sharing. The evidence is entirely absent.

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Claim 13: “The Trump administration has blocked a shipment of nearly $500 million in cash to Iraq, pressing Baghdad to dismantle powerful Iranian-backed armed groups.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results report that the Trump administration blocked a shipment of nearly $500 million in U.S. banknotes to Iraq due to concerns regarding Iranian-backed militias. Sources mention the blocking of cash transfers to pressure Baghdad.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — On 8 April 2026, the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire in the 2026 Iran war, mediated by Pakistan. Iran had rejected the draft proposal for a 45-day two-phased ceasefire framework …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Iran_war_ceasefire

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — On 3 January 2020, Qasem Soleimani, an Iranian major general, was assassinated by an American drone strike ordered by U.S. president Donald Trump near Baghdad International Airport in Iraq, while trav…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Qasem_Soleima…

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 14: “Since then, the Fed has shipped up to $13 billion a year in cash to Iraq so that Baghdad can pay its six million civil servants and run the state.”

SINGLE SOURCE

Only one web search result mentions the Fed sending up to $13 billion annually to pay civil servants and run the state. No other sources corroborate this specific figure or mechanism.

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web search NEUTRAL — Baghdad is a primary financial and commercial center in the region. Founded in 762 AD by Al-Mansur on a site with settlement dating back to at least the Neo-Babylonian period, Baghdad became the capit…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baghdad

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web search NEUTRAL — “Iraq continues to flaunt its hostility toward America and to support terror,” President George W. Bush told the nation in his first State of the Union address in 2002.
https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2023/03/14/a-look-back-…

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web search NEUTRAL — “This action will allow Iraq to use its own funds to render payment for Iranian electricity imports into restricted Iranian accounts in Iraq,” a senior administration official said. Iraq owes Iran sev…
https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/us-news/2023/11/14/us-…

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.