Iraq can disarm pro-Iran Shiite militias only after US exit: PM

BAGHDAD,— Iraq will be able to bring all weapons under state control only after the U.S.-led coalition leaves the country, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said Monday in an interview with Reuters, reaffirming plans for a full withdrawal of foreign forces by 2026.

Speaking in Baghdad, Sudani said the multinational coalition that helped defeat the Islamic State group no longer has a justification to remain.

He noted that Iraq’s security situation has improved significantly, allowing the government to take over full responsibility.

“There is no ISIS,” Sudani told Reuters. “Security and stability exist, thank God. Then give me a reason for the presence of 86 countries in the coalition.”

The prime minister said Iraq remains committed to ensuring that all arms are under the authority of state institutions. He added that factions currently operating outside those structures could either join official security forces or enter politics through democratic means.

Plan for Coalition Exit

Sudani said the plan to end the coalition’s presence remains on track, with a full withdrawal expected by September 2026. The first phase of the drawdown began earlier this year.

The coalition, led by the United States, was created in 2014 to combat the Islamic State group after it seized large areas of Iraq and Syria.

“The end of the coalition’s mission will pave the way for consolidating the rule of law,” Sudani said. “Only then can we move to a stage where no armed groups exist outside the state.”

Balancing U.S. and Iran Ties

The government continues to face pressure from Washington to disarm Iran-backed Shiite groups that were once part of the fight against ISIS.

Many of those factions are under the umbrella of the Popular Mobilization Forces, or PMF (Hashd al-Shaabi), which was later incorporated into the Iraqi security structure but maintains close ties with Tehran.

At the same time, Sudani has sought to keep relations steady with both the United States and Iran, two rivals that have shaped Iraq’s political and security landscape since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.

“No side can drag Iraq into a war,” Sudani said. “Our stance is clear: decisions about war and peace are the responsibility of state institutions.”

He added that Iraq’s situation differs from Lebanon’s, where Hezbollah plays a major political and military role. “There is enough time, God willing. The situation here is not like Lebanon,” he said.

Growing Role for U.S. Companies

Despite tensions between Washington and Tehran, Sudani highlighted a growing presence of American investment in Iraq. He described it as a “qualitative entrance” of U.S. companies into the country’s energy and infrastructure sectors.

He pointed to Iraq’s largest-ever deal with General Electric, aimed at generating 24,000 megawatts of power, roughly equivalent to the nation’s current capacity.

He also cited a framework agreement with Chevron for an oil project in Nassiriya, southern Iraq, involving four exploration blocks and the development of existing fields.

Sudani said an agreement with U.S. LNG firm Excelerate helped mitigate chronic electricity shortages caused by fuel disruptions.

Another preliminary agreement with ExxonMobil will, for the first time, allow a global firm to jointly develop oilfields and an export system, he said.

According to Sudani, American and European companies have also expressed interest in constructing a gas import and export platform off the coast of Grand Faw Port, the first of its kind in Iraq.

Gas and Energy Goals

Sudani said Iraq plans to end the burning of natural gas by 2027, a practice that wastes billions in potential revenue. He added that Iraq aims to achieve self-sufficiency in gas and halt imports from Iran.

“We burn gas worth four to five billion dollars every year and import another four billion dollars’ worth,” he said. “These are mistaken policies, and our government is working on practical solutions.”

Election Campaign

With elections scheduled for November 11, Sudani said he expects to secure another term, running against traditional political factions within his coalition. “We expect a significant victory,” he said. “We want to continue on this path.”

He predicted a higher voter turnout than the roughly 40 percent recorded in last year’s parliamentary polls, down sharply from about 80 percent two decades ago.

Sudani has positioned himself as Iraq’s “builder-in-chief,” with campaign posters displayed near major construction projects across Baghdad.

He said his administration inherited 2,582 incomplete projects and managed to complete many at a fraction of their original cost.

While Iraqis have welcomed new bridges and roads that have eased congestion in the capital, the government’s three-year budget, totaling more than $150 billion annually, has sparked debate.

Critics say the hiring of about one million new public employees has added to an already oversized bureaucracy.

Sudani defended the spending, saying it provided stability and long-term benefits. “I am not worried about Iraq’s financial situation. Iraq is a rich country,” he said. “My concern is the delay in implementing reforms.”

(With files from Reuters)