Iran signals to Iraq: Ready to help centralize militia weapons under state control

The president of Iraq's Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, revealed that Iranian officials have expressed willingness to assist Iraq in centralizing militia weapons under state control. This comes amid American pressure on Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to regulate the arms of Iran-aligned factions, a commitment he has made since taking office in mid-May.

The president of Iraq's Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, revealed today (Wednesday) that Iranian officials have expressed willingness to assist Iraq in centralizing the weapons of Iranian-backed militias under the Iraqi state. In a televised statement quoted by the Iraqi news agency, Barzani said that "weapons must be solely under the authority of the state, and by order of the supreme commander of the armed forces, who is the Iraqi prime minister." He added that Iranian officials informed him during his visit to Tehran of their readiness to help the prime minister on this issue, and they conveyed the message to the prime minister. Barzani noted that Iraq's stability is an interest of Iran, and mentioned that the volume of trade between the countries, including electricity and gas sales, yields profits of more than $15 billion annually. These remarks come against the backdrop of growing American pressure on Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to act on regulating the weapons of Iraqi factions affiliated with Iran, a commitment he has made since taking office in mid-May with American support. Al-Sudani has given factions until September 30 to surrender their weapons, coinciding with the end of the international coalition mission led by Washington to fight the Islamic State organization. Despite this, some factions still refuse to cooperate.