Iraqi prime minister sets June 30 deadline to disarm groups outside state control

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said Thursday that his government will address weapons outside state control under a roadmap with agreed timelines, with the process to complete by June 30, 2027.

In a statement carried by the Iraqi News Agency, Zaidi said the process would follow “a clear roadmap and agreed timelines.”

It will also uphold the constitutional principle that decisions on war and peace belong to the constitutional authorities, prohibiting military action outside their authority.

The government would also work to fully disarm all non-Iraqi armed groups operating on Iraqi territory, he added.

“We congratulate the Iraqi people on this great day, Oct. 1, 2026, and the major national achievement of ending the international coalition’s mission in Iraq,” he said.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said Baghdad is negotiating with armed groups to hand over their weapons according to a specific timetable.

“We have a firm plan, and we expect the groups to hand over their weapons,” Hussein told Al-Iraqiya television.

He said Iraq maintains close relations with the US and Iran, and is in constant communication with both.

Hussein expressed hope that Iraq would establish a defense partnership with the US, as well as defense partnerships with other countries.

On energy, he said Iraq has begun discussions with Syria, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye on building a pipeline to diversify the country’s oil export routes.