Iraq seizes over $11 million from deputy oil minister in anti‑corruption raid

Iraqi judicial authorities announced that more than $11 million (about 4 billion Iraqi dinars) and several properties were confiscated from Ali Maʻarij al‑Bahadli, the deputy minister responsible for oil‑product distribution. The seizure was made during the large‑scale anti‑corruption operation known as “Salh al‑Fajr,” which has so far detained dozens of officials, including members of parliament, as part of a broader campaign against graft.

The United States Treasury had sanctioned al‑Bahadli a month earlier, accusing him of using his position to divert Iraqi oil revenues to benefit the Islamic Republic of Iran and its proxy groups. Washington alleges he facilitated the mixing of Iranian and Iraqi oil, falsified origin documents, and helped export oil as Iraqi product. Iraqi officials say the investigation remains ongoing and that the anti‑corruption drive will continue.