Iraq Demands Paramilitary Disarmament as Iran Pledges Non-Interference

President Nizar Amidi declared during the eighth Baghdad Dialogue Conference that Iraq will not allow its territory to be used for attacks against any other country. Amidi urged armed factions to surrender their weapons to ensure state control, emphasizing that the constitution mandates weapons be exclusively in the hands of the state. This push follows a government deadline of September 30 for paramilitary factions to integrate into state institutions and surrender independent arsenals, a move prompted by joint US-Saudi air strikes in July.

While groups like Saraya al-Salam and Asaib Ahl al-Haq have shown willingness to integrate, Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba have rejected complete disarmament, citing the need for resistance capabilities against foreign attacks. Amidi noted that only a few groups have yet to comply with the state's demands.

Simultaneously, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf concluded a three-day visit to Iraq. Ghalibaf signed a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding on security and border security and asserted that Iran does not interfere in Iraq's internal affairs. He stated that the withdrawal of foreign and coalition forces would strengthen Iraqi sovereignty. Economic cooperation is expected to advance further during an upcoming visit by an Iraqi Chamber of Commerce delegation to Iran.