Iraq Vows Legal Monopoly on Weapons, Reassures Employee Salary
At a Glance
- All armed groups should surrender weapons by September 30.
- Government dismisses rumors of a 40-day payment cycle.
- Iraqi PM will visit Riyadh; date pending.
Iraqi government spokesperson Haider al-Aboudi stated that the final deadline for collecting weapons from armed groups will be September 30 of this year as the state asserts its legal monopoly, assuring that public employees' salaries are secured.
Key Statement and Focus Area
- Al-Aboudi said discussions to control weapons are ongoing under the direct supervision of the Prime Minister and within legal frameworks.
- He affirmed that Iraq will reject regional axes and alliances while fully supporting bilateral cooperation.
Speaking during a press conference on Monday, Al-Aboudi stated that centralizing weapon control is a legal stance to protect citizens' assets and reassure neighbors that "Iraq will not serve as a transit corridor for aggression."
Regarding PM al-Zaidi’s regional visit, al-Aboudi confirmed that the Prime Minister will travel to Saudi Arabia; however, no date has been set yet.
Regarding the financial entitlements of government employees, he dismissed rumors regarding the distribution of salaries every 40 days.
The spokesperson also highlighted that oil exports have decreased due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, reaching only 4 million barrels per month.
FYI
Baghdad has established a strict September deadline in mid-July for all armed factions to surrender their weapons to state control.
Meanwhile, coordinated U.S. and Saudi airstrikes targeted Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) facilities in response to recent drone attacks on energy infrastructure.
Although armed groups initially vowed immediate retaliation against both Washington and Riyadh, the groups agreed to postpone their planned strikes following appeals for restraint from senior Iraqi political leaders.
In protest of the joint military operations on Iraqi soil, Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi canceled his scheduled diplomatic trip to Riyadh.
However, bilateral discussions have recently resumed after the Saudi intelligence chief visited Baghdad to deliver a renewed invitation to the Prime Minister.
An Iraqi Member of Parliament, Ahmed al-Moussawi, told Channel8 earlier that the matter of restricting weapons to state control is “a sensitive one that requires time,” warning that rushing the disarmament initiative could trigger armed conflict.
Along with internal and external security challenges, Iraq's economy remains severely strained.
To mitigate the crisis, government is collaborating with the Central Bank to secure public salaries, diversify oil export routes, recover stolen state funds through an anti-corruption crackdown, and develop critical economic infrastructure.
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