Iraq: Disarmament is settled, no Shia war
Amid the consensus between the Iraqi government and parliament to adopt dialogue for resolving the issue of Iran-aligned factions and preventing any Shia-Shia clashes, President Nizar al-Amedi affirmed that monopolizing weapons in the hands of the state constitutes a “national decision,” stressing that Iraq no longer needs the international coalition and that its withdrawal will take place on September 30.
Al-Amedi, speaking during a dialogue session within the eighth edition of the “Baghdad Dialogue” conference, stated that all parties are keen to prevent Iraq from being drawn into the war raging in the region, as it would be one of the biggest losers. He clarified that Baghdad is engaging with all countries based on the principle of “Iraq First,” revealing that messages have been conveyed to Iran regarding a review of relations between the two countries.
He added that Iranian officials confirmed that the decision to monopolize weapons in the hands of the state is an “Iraqi decision,” and no Iranian official has requested delaying this file. He noted that Prime Minister Ali al-Allawi had asked state power forces to provide political and logistical support for these efforts, and that some factions have already responded and surrendered their weapons.
Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, al-Amedi confirmed that some Iraqi oil tankers have been facilitated, but he pointed out a problem with oil transportation due to the lack of a national tanker. He emphasized that the impact of the strait is not limited to Iraq, and that the government prioritizes the country’s interests.
On the issue of the international coalition, he affirmed that its mission will end on September 30, a date described by Prime Minister Ali al-Allawi as final. This comes within the framework of a plan previously agreed upon by Baghdad and Washington to end the coalition’s military mission and transition to a bilateral security partnership.
In the same context, First Deputy Speaker of Parliament Adnan al-Fayhan announced that resistance factions will not relinquish their weapons after September 30; rather, they will be deposited in the Popular Mobilization Forces’ warehouses. He affirmed the absence of a Shia-Shia war and called for embracing the factions and avoiding confrontation with them. He stated that the weapons will be stored as intended, according to his proposal, for the purpose of protecting the state.
For its part, the government confirmed that dialogue with the factions is progressing, with six factions involved in the talks. Some have shown a positive response, while others are still exploring mechanisms to reach understandings. Baghdad stressed that the file will be addressed through dialogue and understanding to preserve state sovereignty and prevent internal clashes.
For his part, Parliament Speaker Heibat al-Husseini affirmed that monopolizing weapons in the hands of the state is a constitutional entitlement and an exclusively Iraqi file, requiring no new legislation. He noted that setting September 30 as a deadline represents a plan and a priority to resolve the file. He also confirmed the absence of foreign troops at Ain al-Asad base, stating that it has come under the management of Iraqi security forces.
