“Iraq is trying to convince powerful armed factions… to lay down their weapons or join official security forces,” Fuad Hussein, Iraq’s Foreign Minister, told Reuters in an interview.
According to Reuters, this move by the Iraqi government comes amid significant changes in the Middle East, including the severe weakening of Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas, Iran’s two major proxy groups, due to heavy Israeli strikes, as well as the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad’s government in Syria.
Several prominent figures in the incoming administration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump have pledged that with his return to the White House, pressure on the Iranian regime will intensify.
Given the close ties between Iraqi Shiite militias and the Iranian regime, as well as the significant shifts in the regional balance of power, some Iraqi officials are concerned about political stability in the country.
However, in his interview with Reuters during his visit to London, Fuad Hussein stated that he does not believe the storm of regional changes will sweep through Iraq.
The Iraqi Foreign Minister noted that two or three years ago, discussing the disarmament of militia groups in the country was impossible, but now, the presence of armed groups outside government control is unacceptable.
Fuad Hussein highlighted that many political leaders and groups have initiated discussions with militia leaders on this issue and expressed hope that these groups will lay down their weapons and join the armed forces under the control of the central government.
These remarks can be seen as Baghdad’s response to the statements made by the Iranian regime’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during his meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani on January 8, in which Khamenei called for strengthening the Shiite militia group Hashd al-Shaabi in Iraq.
Khamenei told the Iraqi Prime Minister: “Hashd al-Shaabi is one of the key components of power in Iraq, and it must be strengthened more than ever before.”
Hashd al-Shaabi is one of Iran’s proxy groups in the Middle East.
Iraq’s Foreign Minister also expressed hope that the “good relations” between Baghdad and Washington would continue during Donald Trump’s second term as U.S. president. However, he added that it is still too early to predict Trump’s foreign policy toward Iraq or the Iranian regime.
“The government was in talks to rein in the groups while continuing to walk the tightrope between its ties to both Washington and Tehran.”
Referring to Iraq’s mediating role in normalizing relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, he stated: “The government was in talks to rein in the groups while continuing to walk the tightrope between its ties to both Washington and Tehran.”
Regarding Syria, Fuad Hussein emphasized the importance of an inclusive political process in the country and stated that Baghdad would resume oil and grain exports to Damascus once it is assured that they reach all Syrian citizens.
