US seizes websites of Iraqi militia-affiliated news outlet

Aletejah’s Facebook page is also down. Its Twitter account remains active and is posting news content.

The US has upped efforts to pressure the Iranian government and its allies in Iraq since leaving the Iran nuclear deal in 2018. The United States accuses Iran of seeking to build a nuclear weapon, which Iran denies. Iran’s militia allies in Iraq also often attack US military positions in the country in an effort to get the United States to withdraw.

Washington has focused its recent efforts on extending a weapons embargo on Iran and reimposing UN sanctions on the Islamic Republic. The UN has so far rejected these moves, in part because the United States is no longer party to the Iran nuclear deal.

The seizure of Aletejah’s websites follows the US government taking over websites of energy companies that allegedly facilitated an oil deal between Iran and Venezuela. In late August, the Department of Justice announced the seizure of websites for Mobin International, Sohar Fuel and Oman Fuel. The fuel shipment violated harsh sanctions the US places on both countries.

Aletejah’s web domain names were owned by a company in the United States, according to the Department of Justice. This makes it clear how the government justified its seizure.

In the case of the energy companies, Mobin International is based in the United Arab Emirates, Oman Fuel is registered in the UK and Sohar Fuel is registered in Oman, according to Reuters.

The Department of Justice said the seizure warrant for the Mobin International, Oman Fuel and Sohar Fuel websites is under seal. The department alleged that the fuel shipment came from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is also a designated terrorist organization and subject to such actions.

The Department of Justice, when asked about the three companies, said it can take websites that use infrastructure based in the United States.

“US authorities are able to seize domains, including ones that utilize US-based infrastructure,” a department spokesperson told Al-Monitor.

The department declined to comment on whether the UAE or other governments assisted in seizing the websites.