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

Iraq is confident it will meet a June 30, 2027 deadline to disarm Iran-aligned militias, according to Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein. Speaking at the Iraqi embassy in Washington, Hussein expressed confidence in his government's plan to disarm and integrate armed factions into the Iraqi security forces by the deadline. He dismissed suggestions that disarmament could become an open-ended political process, stating that the government had a "clear plan" and had already started negotiating with seven armed groups.

Despite resistance from powerful Iran-backed groups, Hussein said the government intended to integrate disarmed factions into the Iraqi armed forces, putting them "under the umbrella of the Iraqi government." The issue of Iran-aligned militants operating from Iraqi soil gained urgency after a Saudi oil pipeline attack, allegedly launched from within Iraq.

Hussein acknowledged external pressure on the Iraqi government but stressed that the final decision was Iraqi. He also emphasized Iraq's commitment to restoring strong relations with Gulf states, acknowledging past damage to ties due to attacks launched from Iraqi territory.