Iraqi officials now are exploring how to buy natural gas from Iran but still protect Iraqi banks from American penalties. Though its officials now say they tolerate the United States military presence in Iraq, the militia fought American troops at the height of the Iraq war. The terrorist designations could complicate talks over those issues and a range of diplomatic matters by fueling animosity toward the United States. Administration lawyers have been poring over the proposed language for the terrorist designations and their possible consequences. One official said that trying to enforce the sanctions that the terrorist designations would prompt would be a nightmare.

Source: New York Times March 19, 2019 09:00 UTC