By Maha El Dahan, Timour Azhari and Humeyra Pamuk DUBAI/WASHINGTON, Jan 23 - Washington has threatened senior Iraqi politicians with sanctions targeting the Iraqi state - including potentially its critical oil revenues - should armed groups backed by Iran be included in the next government,

The United States, since its 2003 invasion of Iraq, has held effective control over the country's oil revenue dollars, giving Washington

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani urged authorities on Thursday to address all requirements of the Baghdad Metro project.

Of the 7,000 detainees the U.S. aims to transfer from Syria to Iraq, the government in Baghdad has so far confirmed the arrival of 150.

By Maha El Dahan, Timour Azhari and Humeyra Pamuk DUBAI/WASHINGTON, Jan 23 - Washington has threatened senior Iraqi politicians with sanctions targeting the Iraqi state — including potentially its critical supply of oil revenue sourced via the Federal Reserve Bank of New York — should Iran-backed armed groups be included in the next government,

Iraq’s caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has stepped aside to clear the way for former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, according to two Iraqi officials.

Denial comes amid fears of potential US strike on Iran, where protests have continued since last month - Anadolu Ajansı

Iraq’s government said Sunday that US forces have completed a “full withdrawal” from military facilities within the country’s federal territory, which excludes the semiautonomous Kurdistan region where US troops remain.

Tensions with US over Iran-aligned politicians come as US has also praised Baghdad for accepting Islamic State prisoners from Syria