A letter sent by the US State Department to the Iraqi government this week included recommendations that Iraq disarm Iran-backed militias in the country and form a government free from Tehran's influence.

The correspondence is the latest sign of rising pressure from the Trump administration on Iraq as the process to select a new prime minister drags out. 

The letter, which was obtained by Al-Monitor, read that a “new Iraqi prime minister must place Iraq and the interests of its people first and foremost and work closely with the United States.” The text, which did not bear the name of any official, outlined actions the next premier should take:

• "Disarm and dismantle all Iranian-aligned militia groups" within six to 12 months and "reintegrate" their members into civilian life.
• Confront corruption and money laundering.
• Reform the judiciary to reduce "political and factional influence."
• "End Iranian interference in Iraqi affairs by removing all Iranian advisers, operatives, and agents from Iraqi territory and institutions."
• "Define and institutionalize" the role of the Popular Mobilization Units [PMU], and place them “strictly under” the Iraqi armed forces so they are devoid of any "parallel structures outside the Ministries of Defense and Interior."
• Form a cabinet of “competent and professional officials loyal to the Iraqi state.”
• Building strong "economic and security partnerships" with the United States.

The PMU is a group of predominantly Shiite militias that formed in 2014 to fight the Islamic State. A number of PMU factions, such as Kataib Hezbollah, are backed by Iran. Though technically part of the Iraqi security apparatus since 2016, the units have considerable autonomy.