Iran pressures Iraqi factions over disarmament as groups issue demands

Iran is exerting pressure on Iraqi armed factions to resist disarmament as the Iraqi government and militias engage in a give-and-take over demands related to the impending withdrawal of the international coalition. According to sources, the Iraqi weapons control committee has received a list of demands from various armed factions concerning the disarming process. The Iraqi government has presented several points to these factions in an effort to regulate and control weapons within the nation.

The sources reveal that Iran is also urging Iraqi factions not to relinquish their weapons, as the government aims to ensure that all arms are under the state's control. As the September 30 deadline looms for the international coalition's mission to conclude, Iraqi officials have reaffirmed their commitment to bolstering security institutions and empowering the central government to assume full control of security post-withdrawal.

Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaydi has affirmed that September 30 is an "unyielding and final" date for the coalition's military mission and the complete departure of its forces, marking October 1 as the beginning of a new era with no foreign military presence in the country. A US official has also declared that Washington anticipates the withdrawal to be completed by the same date.

Sabah Al-Numan, spokesperson for the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, confirmed that the September 30 deadline is the final date for ending the coalition's mission, and that the withdrawal is accelerating daily, accompanied by plans to enhance the Iraqi forces' capacity to manage security. Nevertheless, the issue of armed factions' weapons remains a paramount challenge that must be addressed.

The Associated Press has reported that several influential armed groups continue to refuse disarming or are setting conditions, while the government strives to bring all armed formations under the central state command.