The United States has imposed sanctions on Iraq’s deputy oil minister over support for Iran, as Washington puts intense pressure on the incoming government to sever links, AFP reports.

The deputy minister, Ali Maarij al-Bahadli, “abused his government position to divert Iraqi oil in support of the Iranian regime and its terrorist proxies,” State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott alleges.

“As part of a scheme to evade sanctions, Iranian oil was fraudulently mixed with Iraqi oil and sold for Iran’s benefit,” he adds.