Taif Sami Mohammed, a former senior Iraqi official celebrated by the Biden administration in 2022 with the International Women of Courage Award, has since been placed on the U.S. terrorist watchlist, and her visa has been revoked. A State Department official confirmed to Fox News Digital that the department rescinded Mohammed's visa this week, a significant shift from the public praise she received just a few years prior.
In March 2022, then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken lauded Mohammed, then Iraq's deputy finance minister, as the country's "Iron Woman." He credited her with stopping bribes, uncovering schemes that enriched corrupt officials, and combating corruption despite threats. The award ceremony, which also featured remarks from then-first lady Jill Biden, recognized twelve women for extraordinary courage and leadership.
Mohammed later advanced to become Iraq's finance minister. However, her standing has since eroded both domestically and internationally. U.S. Republican lawmakers had previously accused her of facilitating terrorist financing through Iraq's financial system and urged the Trump administration to take action. Representatives Joe Wilson, R-S.C., and Greg Steube, R-Fla., had labeled Mohammed a "key enabler of terrorist funding in Iraq."
In August 2025, an Iraqi court summoned Mohammed and placed her on a judicial wanted list as part of a widening corruption investigation into former senior government officials, according to IraqiNews. The report stated that Mohammed is believed to be outside Iraq and has not been detained, and that the court action is part of an investigation rather than a determination of wrongdoing. The investigation reportedly stems from a broader probe into government contracts and public funds involving other former Iraqi officials.
The State Department has not specified when Mohammed was added to the U.S. terrorist watchlist or the intelligence that informed this decision. The department did not immediately provide details linking her placement on the watchlist to the congressional allegations of terrorist financing, the Iraqi corruption investigation, or other U.S. government intelligence.
Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson stated, "While the Biden State Department shamefully celebrated and awarded foreigners who threaten our nation, the Trump State Department revokes their visas and ensures these individuals are removed from our country." He added, "Under President Trump and Secretary Rubio, suspected terrorists will never be allowed to remain in the United States."