Iran's Quds Force commander visits Baghdad for arms and oil talks

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Ismail Kaani, commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, arrived in Baghdad with a high-level military and security delegation, a source told Iraqi media. During his stay, Kaani met with officials linked to the Sadrist movement and leaders of armed groups, including Hadi al-Amiri, head of the Badr Organization. The discussions centered on two main issues: the disarmament of armed factions in Iraq and the effective export of Iraqi oil through the Strait of Hormuz. The weapons file remains one of the most sensitive issues for the Iraqi government, as major political blocs have set a September 30 deadline to consolidate arms under official state institutions. The State Administration Alliance has declared that activities threatening state security outside official institutions are illegal, and that counterterrorism law will be applied after the September 30 deadline. Tensions had risen last week following attacks targeting Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) personnel in Baghdad, before being eased through diplomatic channels after a late-night meeting between Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zaydi and al-Amiri. No further details on the outcomes of Kaani's Baghdad visit were immediately available.