The story: US lawmaker Mike Waltz (R., Fla.) is spearheading a congressional measure that would label the president of Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council as a “tool of Iranian influence.” The move has caused an uproar in Iraq’s political establishment, with top officials charging that it is an unwarranted intervention in internal Iraqi affairs. However, others have lauded the measure, suggesting that it could push the justice system towards greater accountability. If the amendment becomes law, observers say, severe knock-on effects could include the effective blacklisting of Iraq’s judiciary.

The coverage: The proposed amendment to a foreign appropriations bill was first reported on June 27 by conservative media in the US. The report was then shared on Twitter/X by Waltz, who added that the...