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Ali Maarij al-Bahadly is the Iraqi Deputy Minister of Oil who was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department on May 7, 2026. He is accused of abusing his official positions to help Iran evade sanctions, selling Iranian oil under the guise of Iraqi oil, and supporting Iran-aligned militias in Iraq.Key details regarding Ali Maarij al-Bahadly:Role in Oil Smuggling: The US Treasury alleges that Al-Bahadly authorized the trucking of millions of dollars' worth of Iraqi oil per day, which was blended with Iranian crude and exported using forged documents to evade U.S. sanctions.Affiliations: He is accused of aiding Iranian-affiliated smugglers and Iran-backed militias, including Asa'ib Ahl Al-Haq (AAH).Career Background: Before becoming Deputy Minister, he held other senior positions, including head of the Iraqi parliament's oil and gas committee and head of the licensing and contracts office in the Ministry of Oil.Sanctions: As of May 2026, he is officially designated for sanctions by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).His actions were described by U.S. officials as facilitating the theft of Iraqi resources to fund Iranian-backed terrorism in the region