Iraq moving to set timetable for arms control, shift focus to economy: analyst

Political analyst Wathiq Al-Jaberi has said that the Iraqi government is moving to establish a clear timetable to restrict weapons possession to state authorities, as part of efforts to reorganize the security landscape and shift toward strengthening economic and diplomatic relations with regional and international partners.

Speaking to Al Arabiya FM, Al-Jaberi explained that the recent "State Administration" meeting was particularly significant as it brought together all political forces represented in the government and parliament, as well as the heads of the three branches of government, the president of the Supreme Judicial Council, and the president of the Kurdistan Region, to discuss several critical issues facing Iraq.

He added that the meeting focused on government reform, anti-corruption efforts, and consolidating arms under state control, noting that the government aims to set a timetable for the handover of weapons and to end their presence outside official institutions.

Al-Jaberi pointed out that the government is holding serious talks with remaining factions and political groups that have yet to surrender their weapons, stressing that previous justifications for keeping arms outside state control are no longer valid, given that Iraqi security forces have established control and the ongoing implementation of the foreign troop withdrawal plan.

He noted that the withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq, expected to be completed by September, marks an important step toward resolving outstanding security issues. Al-Jaberi said Baghdad is seeking to transform its relations with the United States, NATO countries, and regional states from a security focus to broader economic and investment partnerships.

View the post on X

He added that the government has set a two-month deadline to finalize the arms control file, alongside considering several proposals for the future of armed factions, including integrating them into security institutions or transitioning them to civilian or government roles, with ongoing dialogue channels to address any concerns about the process.