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.
On August 24 security advisor to the prime minister Qasim al-Araji said that September 30 will now be the start of the process to disarm the Resistance not the deadline for it to be accomplished. This was hinted at by government spokesman Haider al-Aboudi a few days before.
This came after two leading Iranian officials visited Baghdad and members of the Coordination Framework pushed for a compromise.
First, Quds Force commander General Ismail Qaani followed by the Speaker of Iran’s parliament Mohammed Qalibaf both made trips to Iraq. They told PM Zaidi that they opposed any disarmament and that an alternative could be that the Hashd would control the Resistance’s weapons. This is an easy way to avoid a confrontation because the factions are already part of the Hashd and run the Hashd Commission. It would mean no real change in the status quo and the Resistance would maintain their power.
To add to PM Zaidi’s problems it was reported that members of the Coordination Framework had come to question his plan. The State of Law list said that Badr now opposed disarmament. State of Law itself was also proposing all kinds of alternative plans that would delay the date for disarmament. PM Zaidi was using Badr’s leader Haid al-Amiri as a mediator with the factions. If he turned against the premier’s program that would be a major loss. Zaidi has no political party behind him and relies upon making alliances with leading figures such as Amiri within the Framework.
This is all a victory for Iran and its allies. Giving the Resistance more time will not change it or its sponsor’s minds on the issue of disarmament. In fact, it shows Premier Zaidi is weak and doesn’t have the support within the Shiite parties to carry out his ideas. He will also have to deal with the Trump administration who is looking to Iraq as a way to gain a victory against Tehran. Zaidi can hope that the president won’t mind him compromising because Trump doesn’t actually care about Iraq. It is only members of his national security council who have been pushing a very hard line with Baghdad. With the Iran War going so badly it’s unclear what influence they still have within the administration.
SOURCES
Agence France Presse, “Iraq pushes back deadline for factions to disarm,” 8/24/26
Al Alam, “”Crisis of Confidence” Clouds Disarmament: Will the September 30 Deadline Be Pushed Back by a Year?” 8/22/26
- “Post-September 30 Scenarios: Proposal to Postpone Faction Disbandment and Political Division Over Disarmament,” 8/18/26
Asharq Al-Awsat, “Baghdad Implicitly Backtracks on Deadline to Confine Weapons to the State,” 8/21/26
Kurdistan 24, “Iran Presses Iraq Against Disarming Armed Groups, Sources Say,” 8/24/26
Al Hurra, "In Baghdad, Iranian Official Urges Iraq to Stop Militia Disarmament,” 8/20/26
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