Iraq armed factions enter talks on handing weapons to the state

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Armed factions in Iraq have agreed to negotiate with a tripartite committee over the disarmament of their weapons and the transfer of arms to state control, according to a senior official familiar with the talks. The committee was formed under the Coordination Framework and comprises former Prime Ministers Nouri al-Maliki and Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, along with Badr Organization leader Hadi al-Amiri. The factions, which had previously rejected the idea of handing over their weapons, presented a set of conditions for the talks. They called for any decision to be taken independently and free of external pressure, for the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) law to be approved by parliament to provide a constitutional basis for the process, and for no time limit to be set on negotiations. They also demanded that the weapons file be kept separate from U.S. demands and that the relevant official body responsible for receiving the weapons, along with the interior and defense ministries, be clearly identified. The factions said that if their demands are met, they are prepared to hand over their weapons to the state on the condition that U.S. forces fully withdraw and Turkish troops leave Iraqi territory. Hikmat Movement official Fahd al-Jubouri said on X that progress had been made in the talks between the government, the Coordination Framework and the factions, adding that a roadmap document is being prepared by the end of the month.