Barzani: Iran expressed readiness to assist Iraq on the issue of weapons containment
- Anticipated changes in the leadership of some militias in the coming period
Kurdistan Region of Iraq President Nechirvan Barzani said that “Iranian officials informed me during my visit to Tehran of their readiness to assist Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Idabi in the file of centralizing weapons under state control,” adding that they “conveyed this message to Ali al-Idabi.”
Barzani, in televised statements reported by Iraq’s official “Waa’ News Agency,” stated that “weapons must be exclusively under the authority of the state, by order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, who is the Iraqi Prime Minister,” noting that “the problems we face arise when we are not all in the same boat, whereas in reality we are together, whether in Baghdad, Basra, Zakho, or Duhok.”
He continued that “Iranian officials in charge of the Iraqi file confirmed that if the goal is to assist a neighboring state, we are prepared for that,” pointing out that “Iraq’s stability also serves Iran’s interests.”
In a related development, a source within the Coordination Framework, who requested anonymity, told Al Jazeera Net about the behind-the-scenes details of an unannounced visit by Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani to Baghdad on Monday, during which he met with Iraqi political and security leaders and armed faction commanders to discuss the file of centralizing weapons under state control and security and economic developments related to the regional situation.
The source said that Tehran sent a message through Qaani stating “no handover of faction weapons at present,” amid Iranian assessments of the possibility of a new round of war breaking out in the region. However, he noted that Tehran’s stance is not uniform toward all factions, and that messages differ from one faction to another.
He clarified that the Iranian message also stressed the need to seek a political settlement between the government and factions refusing to hand over their weapons, rather than sliding into confrontation, while maintaining the weapons and not handing them over at present.
He added that Tehran wants to have a presence in de-escalation efforts.
While Baghdad affirms its seriousness in centralizing weapons under state control, the source believes that “implementing this on the ground faces significant difficulties according to current circumstances.” He revealed discussions about anticipated changes in the leadership of some factions in the coming period, describing them as tactics dictated by internal and external circumstances.
Regarding the possibility of confrontation, the source said that political forces reject the use of excessive force and bloodshed, preferring to continue dialogue and negotiations to reach a settlement, especially after the State Administration Coalition threatened to apply the “Anti-Terrorism Law” to any armed activity after the government deadline of September 30, which coincides with the scheduled withdrawal of coalition forces from Iraq.
The State Administration Coalition, which includes the most prominent Shia, Sunni, and Kurdish political forces, affirmed on August 5 that it is necessary to centralize weapons under state control, and considered entities conducting activities that threaten security outside official institutions “illegal and subject to combat.”
In parallel, Ammar al-Hakim, head of the al-Hikma Movement, is leading de-escalation efforts and persuading factions to move toward centralizing weapons under state control during the remaining month of the deadline, according to the source.
However, the task appears difficult, as armed groups show no willingness to go far in dialogue before knowing their fate after handing over their weapons. A source from one of the factions refusing to hand over weapons told Al Jazeera Net earlier that these groups view disarming their arsenals as potentially ultimately placing them under US control.
