Iraqi MP Mukhtar al-Moussawi said that the future of armed groups in the country largely depends on a possible agreement that could be reached between the US and Iran. Evaluating Baghdad's efforts to bring weapons under state control, Moussawi noted that the Iraqi administration does not yet have full oversight in this area.
Speaking as a member of the Parliament's Foreign Relations Committee, Moussawi explained that differing stances within the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) directly affect the process. According to him, while some groups are ready to hand over weapons or sever organizational ties, others are firmly opposed.
A member of the Shia Badr bloc, Moussawi described the PMF as a predominantly Shia-based umbrella structure incorporated into the Iraqi state apparatus in 2016. He characterized the current developments more as temporary political arrangements rather than a permanent solution.
The MP argued that once the direction of US-Iran relations becomes clear, the approach to the arms issue in Iraq will also change. He suggested that if an agreement is signed between the two countries, Baghdad's stance on this matter could shift entirely.
Earlier this month, the Baghdad administration announced the first concrete steps to integrate armed groups into the state's security framework. This included discussions about transferring the facilities and weapons of Saraya al-Salam, affiliated with Iraq's Shia Patriotic Movement.
The process is reportedly supported by the ruling Shia Coordination Framework. The Coordination Framework approved Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's plans to reorganize the relationship between armed groups and the state.
Iran-backed armed groups Asaib Ahl al-Haq and Kataib Imam Ali had previously taken steps to reorganize their forces and align with the government's arms control initiative. In contrast, Kataib Hezbollah and Ashab al-Kahf rejected calls to separate.
As efforts continue to bring weapons under state authority in Iraq, the differing positions on the ground indicate that the issue will not be resolved in the short term. It is assessed that Baghdad's moves could become part of a broader political negotiation parallel to changes in external balances.
