ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) will begin distributing a new payment card, known as the Al-Muhandis Card, to members starting Friday, July 11, according to a statement from the group’s administrative and financial department.

The department said the cards were printed after weeks of continuous work and will be handed out by special teams across all Iraqi provinces. The process will continue until all members receive the new cards.

Card distribution will take place inside PMF brigades and directorates, with staff from the financial department present on-site. Members have been asked to bring their old Qi Cards and national IDs when receiving the new cards.

The move comes amid ongoing delays in salary payments for PMF fighters, with The New Region reporting in late June that the state-owned Rafidain Bank was unable to pay members' wages as per the usual arrangement.

Abbas Combat Division commander Maytham al-Zaidi said the delays are due to direct pressure from the US Treasury.

“The US Treasury warned the company responsible for PMF salaries to either withdraw or face sanctions,” Zaidi said in a statement followed by The New Region. He added that the company told Rafidain Bank and PMF leadership of its plan to pull out of the salary file and urged them to find a solution.

Zaidi noted the funds for salaries are available, but the disbursement process is blocked. “Any company that takes over PMF salaries risks being sanctioned by the US,” he said.

Iraq’s parliamentary Security and Defense Committee also blamed the United States for creating financial hurdles. Chairman Karim Alawi said Washington is using political and economic pressure on the Iraqi government, Iraq's Central Bank, and local banks.

“These pressures have even reached Visa card companies, affecting the payment process,” Alawi said in a statement received by The New Region.

Alawi accused the US of trying to dissolve the PMF and said that economic tools are being used to cause chaos in Iraq. He said this follows parliament’s move to pass legislation to restructure the PMF, a step opposed by the US.

Lawmakers called on PMF leadership to act quickly to solve the issue. One suggestion was to form special teams to pay salaries in cash as a temporary fix and later make deals with local banks for electronic payments to avoid foreign pressure.

US Congress members have launched several initiatives in recent months to curb Iranian influence on Iraq, calling for the cessation of all security assistance to Iraq and the imposition of terrorist designations on several armed factions who are part of the Iraqi state security apparatus due to their affiliation with Iran, including the PMF.

In March, US President Donald Trump addressed a letter to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, pressing Tehran for talks over the nuclear issue. The letter reportedly also included a direct request to dissolve armed groups in Iraq, specifically the PMF.