Has the US Changed Stance On Disarming Iraq’s Resistance Factions?

  

The United States is threatening a new wave of sanctions if the pro-Tehran Resistance does not disarm. At the same time Trump’s desire to get out of the Iran War may mean Washington may not push the issue much more.

Iran Reportedly Getting Its Way In Negotiations Over Disarming Iraq’s Resistance Factions

Quds Force Commander Gen Qaani and other Iranian officials have been pushing Baghdad hard to give up its plans to disarm their allies the Resistance

  

In Iraq the debate over the future of the Resistance has gone from demanding they disarm to compromising with them. This is the result of constant Iranian pressure upon Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi.

Iraq Govt Backs Down On Disarming Pro-Iran Resistance

  

Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi repeatedly said that September 30 was the deadline for the pro-Iran Resistance to disarm. After coming under pressure from Tehran and leading members of the ruling Coordination Framework he has now backed down over that date.

Arrest of Al-Nujaba Intel Chief Leads To Threats To “Burn Baghdad”

  

Earlier this week the intelligence chief for Harakat al-Nujaba was arrested. This led to threats of violence which resulted in the government backing down as it always has in these situations.

Pro-Iran Resistance Digs In Heels Over Not Disarming

  

Iraq’s Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi has set September 30 as the deadline for the pro-Iran Resistance to disarm. Several groups have refused and are digging in their heels over the matter.

Iran Putting Forward Plans To Maintain Resistance Factions In Iraq

Iran's Quds Force Commander Gen Qaani recently visited Iraq to talk with the Resistance and the ruling Coordination Framework 

  

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has set September 30 as the date for the pro-Iran Resistance factions to disarm. Tehran is attempting to come up with ways to maintain its allies while not causing a conflict with Baghdad.

Iraq’s PM Zaidi Threatened By US-Saudi Strike On Pro-Iran Resistance

  

On July 29 the United States and Saudi Arabia launched a series of strikes against the Hashd throughout Iraq. Bases were hit in Baghdad, Basra, Diyala, Karbala, Kirkuk, Ninewa and Wasit leading to the deaths of 20 Hashd members, the wounding of 32 along with 5 Iranian advisers being killed.  

Could Iraq’s Move Towards The US Actually Help Iran?

New Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi has decided to thrown in his lot with the United States and the Trump administration. That means disarming the pro-Iran Resistance and fighting corruption. Some of this might actually help Tehran though.

Iraq Could Amnesty Those Arrested In New Anti-Corruption Campaign

Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council said it may give amnesty to those recently arrested for corruption

In January 2025 Iraq’s parliament passed a new amnesty law which allowed those accused of corruption to go free if they promised to return the money they stole. It was a way for the state to recover some of its missing funds while not prosecuting officials which could lead to political problems since they were often working for the elite. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi may apply that same law to those he recently arrested in his anti-graft campaign.

New Reports On Corruption In Iraq’s Govt Contracting

  

Iraq’s government dominates the country. It gives out huge contracts every year which are manipulated by the ruling elite.

Iraq Wants To Become Even More Oil Dependent To Develop Economy

  

At the start of July it was reported that Iraq wants to boost its oil production to increase its revenues before the global economy begins moving away from petroleum. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said that he set a goal of 7 million barrels a day of output in three years. The premier also told the media that a 10 year economic plan is being created whose goal is reducing the budget’s reliance upon oil from 90% down to 45%. This isn’t much different from all the previous Iraqi PMs that have all spoken about dramatically increasing the oil industry to diversify the economy. The problem is Baghdad has never achieved any of these goals.

Iraq Put Back On Watch List By Intl Group For Money Laundering

  

In June 2026 the Financial Task Force put Iraq back on its grey list for countries involved in money laundering. The Task Force’s president Elisa de Anda Madrazo said that Baghdad needed to take urgent measures to cut the volume of cash based transactions, improve investigations, and more. Iraq was on the grey list before starting in 2018 but then taken off only to fall back.

PM Zaidi Begins Anti-Corruption Campaign

  

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi came into office promising to make two major changes to Iraq. The first was to disarm the pro-Iran Resistance and the second was to take on corruption within the state. The premier took a major step towards the latter in a wave of arrests across Baghdad on June 28.

Iraq Considering Emergency Economic Plan Until Oil Exports Revived

   

An economic advisor to Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said that the government was considering a 100 day emergency economic plan to cover spending and the budget until oil exports could return to pre-war levels.

Iraq Begins Integration Plan For Armed Factions

Imam Ali Brigade

  

On June 10 the Joint Operations Command announced it was beginning the process of integrating the Imam Ali Brigade into the Iraqi forces. This was the third armed group to do so after Moqtada al-Sadr’s Saraya al-Salam and Asaib Ahl Al-Haq.

US Demands About Iranian Influence In Iraq Causing Disarray Amongst Ruling Shiite Parties

  

Iraq’s Shiite elites and Hashd are worried about their political future. They are afraid that the United States not only wants the pro-Iran Resistance disbanded but their militias and financial power as well.

Iraq’s Pro-Iran Resistance Continue Attacks Upon Neighbors

  

New Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has promised to bring all weapons under state control but the pro-Iran Resistance is not only being defiant but threatening Iraq’s relations with its neighbors.

Iraq’s Financial Woes Continue Due To Iran War And Trump Administration

  

A combination of foreign events is undermining Iraq’s fragile economy. On the one hand the Strait of Hormuz Iraq’s main oil export route remains closed cutting off the country’s main source of revenue. On the other hand, the money Baghdad is making from petroleum is being held hostage by the Trump administration that wants the new Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi to crackdown upon the pro-Iran Resistance. Together this is driving the government towards insolvency.

Vote On PM Zaidi’s Cabinet Divides Ruling Parties

  

On May 14 parliament voted on some of Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s cabinet. This has led to deep divisions between the ruling parties over who got what.

Iraq Finds Itself Caught Between The US and Iran Over Forming The Next Government

  

Prime Minister designate Ali al-Zaidi is coming under increasing pressure from both the United States and Iran over the direction of his cabinet. The two powers are diametrically opposed to each other leading to a deadlock in talks over forming the next government.