Iraq confident it can disarm Iran-backed militias by June 2027, Foreign Minister says

Iraq Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein expressed confidence on Thursday that Iraq will meet a June 30, 2027 deadline to disarm and integrate Iran-backed militias under state control. Despite resistance from powerful Iran-aligned groups, Hussein stated that his government has a clear plan for the disarmament process. He emphasized that the deadline is firm and that Iraq will not allow it to become an open-ended political process.

Earlier, the Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah group denied reaching an agreement with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi on the disarmament plan, but that did not deter the Iraqi government. Hussein mentioned that seven armed groups have already expressed support for the disarmament plan, and some factions have begun handing weapons to the security forces.

He acknowledged external pressures but stressed that the decision remains an Iraqi one. Hussein also highlighted that the investigation into last month's attack on a Saudi oil pipeline, which Baghdad claims originated from within Iraq, is ongoing. He clarified that the attack occurred just 13km from the Iranian border and expressed the need for Iranian cooperation.

In terms of US-Iraq ties, Hussein mentioned that Baghdad is eager to establish a bilateral security relationship with the US, including intelligence sharing, training, and military sales. He also assured Gulf states that once armed groups are integrated into the Iraqi armed forces, they will no longer pose a threat to neighboring countries.