Iraqi Prime Minister from Washington: After September 30, no entity will be allowed to bear arms outside state control

Washington, July 14 (KUNA) — Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zoubaidi affirmed on Tuesday that the decision to centralize weapons in the hands of the state has been taken and that no entity will be permitted to bear arms outside its control after the September 30 deadline expires, stressing that “the Iraqi decision is in the hands of Iraqis alone.”

Speaking in response to a journalist’s question during his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, al-Zoubaidi said, “The issue concerns the relationship between weapons and the state. This is a fundamental point. It is a decisive decision here, not merely a choice.”

He added, “We have received weapons from various factions. Those who hand over their weapons will become civilians engaging in political activity, and we will cooperate with them.” He emphasized, “After September 30, there will be no need for any faction to exist. Factions are a temporary necessity, not a permanent profession.”

He pointed to the upcoming “National Sovereignty Conference,” scheduled to coincide with the end-of-September deadline for factions to surrender their weapons to the Iraqi state. He also noted that his visit to Washington would include discussions on “economic partnerships” between Iraq and the United States in several fields. (End) R.S.R./M.A.H.A.