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.
As part of the Trump administration’s Maximum Pressure campaign it has demanded that the Resistance be disarmed, all weapons be put under state control and that Iran’s financial networks within Iraq be dismantled. This is supported by new Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi.
There has been some movement on this front. First, Moqtada al-Sadr had his Saraya al-Salam turn over their weapons to the government. Asaib Ahl Al-Haq and the Imam Ali Brigades are supposed to be next. Several other groups have expressed a willingness to do the same while others such as Kataib Hezbollah reject the idea.
This is causing a whirlwind of controversy within the ruling Coordination Framework.
For one, there are some who believe that the United States doesn’t just want the Resistance to be disarmed but to put an end to the Hashd al-Shaabi which was created after the fall of Mosul to defend the country and was then taken over by pro-Iran militias. Many of the parties within the Framework have Hashd units. They also steal money using ghost fighters that are on the government payroll.
Second, the U.S. wants to cut Iran’s financial networks within Iraq. That includes the government funding the Resistance who are part of the Hashd, smuggling dollars and more. All of the Shite parties benefit from this as well and assist Tehran. Many of them are also funded by Iran. The U.S. is thus threatening their money.
Third, PM Zaidi has not finished naming his cabinet. Key ministries such as Interior and Defense have not been filled. Resistance factions won a large number of seats in the 2025 election and were expecting to be named to prominent positions. Asaib Ahl Al-Haq thought it could gain several spots because it agreed to disarm. There are contradictory reports in the media over whether the U.S. will allow any Resistance members to join Zaidi’s government.
Fourth, Iran is also putting pressure upon its allies. Quds Force commander General Ismail Qaani is pushing for the Resistance to not only maintain but expand their positions within the state apparatus. It is also against disarmament. Al Mada reported that Tehran circulated a message that the Resistance cannot give up its weapons because they do not belong to them but to Iran.
At first, many within the Framework believed they could make cosmetic changes to the Resistance and appease Washington but now they don’t know how far the Trump administration will go. That is making them very nervous.
SOURCES
Al Alam, “Between Washington’s Triple Veto and Tom Barrack’s “Stick”: Non-Negotiable US Conditions Encircle al-Zaidi’s Government,” 6/1/26
Asharq Al-Awsat, “Kataib Hezbollah Vows to Keep Arms as Iraq Faces US Pressure to Disarm Groups,” 5/30/26
Associated Press, “Two Iran-backed Iraqi militias to begin handing over weapons to authorities,” 6/2/26
Bas News, “Iraq Launches Three-Phase Plan to Disarm, Integrate Iran-Backed Militias,” 5/30/26
Kurdistan 24, “Muqtada al-Sadr Orders Saraya al-Salam’s Integration Into Iraqi State,” 5/27/26
Al Mada, “Barrack’s Mission: Dissolving the Hashd and Draining Tehran’s Finances,” 6/2/26
- “”The Framework” in Disarray … The Specter of Disbanding the PMF Looms Over Negotiations,” 5/31/26
- “Starting Today: 5 Factions Disarm … and a Circulating Iranian Message Laments a “Breach of Trust,”” 6/1/26
Shafaq News, “Asaib Ahl Al-Haq backs limiting weapons to Iraqi state after Al-Sadr move,” 5/27/26
- “Iraq’s Kataib Sayyid Al-Shuhada opposes disarmament under current conditions,” 5/27/26
- “US vetoes armed faction participation in Iraq’s new government,” 5/31/26
Al Sumaria, "Abu Mujahid al-Assaf announces Hezbollah Brigades’ readiness to cooperate on he “weapons control” file,” 5/30/26
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