Asharq Al-Awsat: Iran seeks to transfer Iraqi factions’ weapons to its territory As disarmament deadline nears

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has travelled to Baghdad with proposals aimed at preventing a confrontation between the Iraqi government and Tehran-aligned armed factions over the government’s plan to bring all weapons under state control.

Ghalibaf’s visit comes as a September 30 deadline approaches for implementing Iraq’s weapons-control plan. Iraqi sources cited by Asharq Al-Awsat said his talks went beyond parliamentary relations and focused heavily on the future of weapons held by armed factions, particularly groups aligned with Iran.

One proposal reportedly under discussion would involve “freezing” or concealing heavy weapons, while another would allow a significant portion of the factions’ arsenals to be temporarily moved to Iran as a “deposit” until a political agreement is reached. The proposals have not been publicly confirmed by Tehran or Baghdad, and their details could not be independently verified.

The Iraqi government, however, has signalled that it intends to maintain the September 30 deadline. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has pledged to enforce the law and bring weapons under state control, in line with his government’s programme to unify security decision-making and place military capabilities within the official state system.

Baghdad has already taken practical measures, including establishing a committee to oversee the disengagement and integration of armed groups, creating a database of weapons and closing fictitious offices linked to the Popular Mobilization Forces.

The issue has increased tensions with factions such as Kataib Hezbollah, which has rejected surrendering what it describes as “resistance weapons”. Sharp statements and threats directed at al-Zaidi have added to concerns that the dispute could develop into an intra-Shiite confrontation.

The reported Iranian proposals appear designed to provide factions with a face-saving compromise while allowing the Iraqi government to claim progress towards its weapons-control objectives without triggering an immediate armed confrontation.

Ghalibaf’s involvement is significant because of his senior position within Iran’s political establishment. During his Baghdad visit, he described Iraq’s “resistance” as an important element of the country’s strength and called for stronger regional cooperation and new security arrangements free from foreign interference.

His visit also follows an unannounced trip to Baghdad by Esmail Qaani, commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force. According to Iraqi sources, Qaani’s meetings also addressed the weapons of Tehran-aligned factions and wider regional developments.

The developments indicate that the future of Iraq’s armed factions and their weapons has become a broader issue involving Baghdad, Tehran and influential Shiite political forces. With the September deadline approaching, the central challenge for the Iraqi government will be to assert state control over weapons while avoiding a confrontation with powerful factions backed by Iran.

By Aghakazim Guliyev