Shiite parties in Iraq have proposed delaying the ratification of a law related to the pro-Iran Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in order to hold dialogue with the United States over its contentious articles.
The Iraqi parliament was supposed to convene to ratify the law, which US Secretary of State Marco Rubio last month said would “institutionalize Iranian influence and armed terrorist groups undermining Iraq’s sovereignty.”
The American objections mean it is unlikely for the current parliament to ratify the law and the issue will be delayed until a new parliament is elected. Parliamentary elections are expected to be held in November.
Some hardline Iraqi parties have called on parliament to convene to approve the law despite the objections.
PMF official Abdel Rahman al-Jazairi said he supports delaying the ratification until dialogue can be held with the United States and anti-ISIS coalition over the contentious issues.
He acknowledged that the law is unlikely to be approved by the current parliament given the “unavoidable” internal and external reservations, he was quoted as saying by local media.
He confirmed that “foreign meddling” was affecting the ratification, while also denying American claims about the PMF’s ties to Iran.
On Saturday, US Chargé d'Affaires Steven Fagin explicitly expressed Washington’s concern about the law after meeting with Mohsen Al-Mandalawi, First Deputy Speaker of parliament, reiterating Rubio’s statement.
Mandalawi is a strong advocate of ratifying the law. Fagin said that the move would strengthen terrorist groups.
On Tuesday, US State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce warned that the bill “further institutionalizes armed groups associated with terrorist groups and Iran-backed groups, including several that have attacked US interests and killed US personnel.”
“We strongly oppose any legislation that is inconsistent with the goals of our bilateral security assistance and partnership that runs counter to strengthening Iraq’s existing security institutions. We support genuine Iraqi sovereignty, not legislation that turns Iraq into an Iranian satellite state,” she told a press briefing.
Jazairi stressed that “Iraq relies fully on the PMF, which complements the armed forces including the army and police.”
He called on Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and State of Law coalition to hold dialogue with American officials to overcome the differences over the bill.
Moreover, he acknowledged that some factions of the PMF “operate with abandon,” noting the attacks on oil fields and security positions.
The US is judging the entire PMF based on the actions of these outlaw groups, he remarked.
Ultimately, Jazairi said Iraq cannot support a clash with Washington, nor tensions on the street, given the several problems the country already has to contend with.
Meanwhile, MP Hassan al-Asadi called on the parliament to ratify the law despite the American opposition.
In a statement, he explained that the law organizes the structure of the PMF. He rejected “any foreign meddling related to the ratification of laws, whether by the US or others.”
Iran-aligned Iraqi factions have called on the US to pull out its troops from the country in wake of its opposition to the law.
