US slaps sanctions on Iraqi deputy oil minister for Iran support

In March, Iraq's oil minister, Hayan Abdel-Ghani, said Iranian oil tankers stopped by US forces in the Persian Gulf were using forged Iraqi documents. Tehran denied using such documents.

The move to sanction the deputy minister comes as the US and Iran edge towards a temporary agreement to halt the war, with Tehran reviewing ​a proposal that would stop the fighting but leave the most contentious issues unresolved.

The US Treasury is also sanctioning three senior leaders of Iran-aligned militias Kata’ib Sayyid Al-Shuhada and Asa’ib Ahl Al-Haq, it said.