BAGHDAD, Iraq – Iraq’s parliament appointed Laith Hadi al-Khazali as a deputy prime minister on October 15, 2026. The United States previously sanctioned him over alleged human rights abuses and later designated him a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.
Parliament said 261 members attended the session. Lawmakers approved three deputy prime ministers and several ministers for vacant and newly created posts. The new officials then took the constitutional oath.
The appointment puts al-Khazali in a senior government role despite the U.S. designations. However, the available evidence does not establish how the appointment will affect Iraq’s relations with Washington.
Parliament approves new government appointments
Parliament named Muhsin Ali Akbar al-Mandalawi, Laith Hadi al-Khazali and Mohammed Tamim al-Jubouri as deputy prime ministers.
Lawmakers also approved ministers for the interior, defense, planning, higher education, culture, construction and housing, labor and social affairs, youth and sports, and tourism. They also filled a state minister position.
The vote created a Ministry of Digital Economy, Governance, Science and Technology. Parliament appointed Mohammed Sahib al-Darraji to lead the new ministry.
However, the official announcement did not name a minister for migration and displacement. The available record therefore does not confirm that every Cabinet vacancy has been filled.
Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said the deputy prime ministers would not receive salaries or separate budgets for their offices. He also said they would not have their own staff appointments.
Al-Zaidi described their work as focused on practical tasks, their areas of expertise and public needs. He also said he wanted to reduce the number of government advisers.
Parliament’s announcement did not explain each deputy prime minister’s specific duties. Further official records are needed to establish al-Khazali’s responsibilities and decision-making powers.
Why the United States sanctioned al-Khazali
The U.S. Treasury sanctioned Laith al-Khazali on December 6, 2019, under Executive Order 13818. The order targets serious human rights abuses and corruption.
Treasury identified al-Khazali as a leader of Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, an Iraqi armed and political group. It alleged that he controlled efforts in Diyala province in 2015 to remove Sunni residents, including through killings.
Treasury also cited the brothers’ leading roles in a January 2007 attack on an Iraqi government compound in Karbala. The attack killed five U.S. soldiers and wounded three, according to the agency’s announcement.
These details reflect the U.S. government’s stated reasons for imposing sanctions. They should not be treated as proof of a criminal conviction without separate judicial records.
A separate U.S. terrorist designation
On January 3, 2020, the U.S. State Department announced another set of designations. It designated Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and named Laith al-Khazali and his brother Qais as Specially Designated Global Terrorists.
The two actions used different legal authorities. Treasury’s 2019 action concerned alleged human rights abuses. The later State Department action concerned terrorism-related designations.
The U.S. government said the measures were intended to restrict the group’s and its leaders’ access to resources and transactions involving U.S. persons.
These designations document Washington’s official position. They do not, by themselves, determine the legal status of every allegation in Iraqi courts or invalidate Iraq’s parliamentary vote.
Political and diplomatic context
Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq is an Iraqi armed and political movement led by Qais al-Khazali. The U.S. government has described the group as backed by Iran and alleged that it received Iranian funding and training.
That background helps explain Washington’s concerns. However, it does not establish that Iran directed Laith al-Khazali’s appointment or that Iraq has changed its foreign policy because of the vote.
Iraq maintains important relationships with both the United States and Iran. Its government also faces competing domestic political interests.
Al-Khazali’s appointment raises questions about how Washington will respond to his new role while the U.S. designations remain in place. Yet no specific diplomatic consequence has been established by the evidence reviewed.
Iraq-US relations remain an important subject for follow-up reporting. An official U.S. response could clarify Washington’s position on the appointment and any implications it sees for bilateral ties.
The Associated Press reported no immediate official U.S. response when it covered the vote. The sources reviewed for this article did not establish whether Washington issued a statement later.
Questions remain about the new role
The parliamentary announcement confirms al-Khazali’s appointment but does not detail his duties. Further government documents are needed to establish whether the prime minister has assigned him a specific portfolio.
The current U.S. Treasury sanctions listing also needs to be checked directly before publication. The original Treasury and State Department announcements document the historical actions, but the current records are needed to confirm their present status.
JournosNews has not obtained direct comments from al-Khazali, his representatives, Iraq’s prime minister’s office, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad or the State Department. Responses from these parties could clarify his responsibilities and any official reaction to the appointment.
The confirmed development is that Iraq’s parliament appointed al-Khazali as a deputy prime minister. U.S. government records document sanctions against him and terrorism-related designations involving him and his organization.
His precise government responsibilities, the status of the migration and displacement portfolio, and any subsequent U.S. response remain unresolved.
Reporting Credit: Iraqi Council of Representatives, October 15, 2026, parliamentary announcement; U.S. Department of the Treasury, December 6, 2019, sanctions announcement; U.S. Department of State, January 3, 2020, designation announcement.
