British Ambassador to Iraq Irfan Siddiq sharply criticized Iran-backed armed factions, accusing them of operating through intimidation and extortion in a mafia-like manner. He also revealed that one such group had taken control of a contract originally awarded to a British company operating in Iraq.
Siddiq’s connection to Iraq dates back to the aftermath of the 2003 US-led invasion, when he served as a political affairs official with the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad. During that time, he was involved in rebuilding Iraqi institutions and participated in the constitutional drafting process.
He later returned to Baghdad as Britain’s deputy ambassador between 2010 and 2011, during the drawdown of US forces. In 2025, he was appointed British ambassador to Iraq, with a focus on political and economic cooperation and regional stability.
British Company Loses Contract
In a televised interview aired Monday evening, Siddiq said an armed faction had pressured authorities and ultimately taken over a project from a British company holding a government services contract. He added that the Iraqi government’s silence over the incident had enabled armed groups to tighten their grip on the country’s economy.
The ambassador did not identify the British company involved. However, several major British firms have operated in Iraq in recent years, particularly in security and aviation services linked to Baghdad International Airport.
British security company G4S was responsible for airport protection and security services from 2010 until its contract expired in late 2022.
In December 2020, Tehran’s prosecutor accused G4S of involvement in the killing of Qassem Soleimani, the former commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force. Iranian authorities claimed the company had provided the US military in Iraq with information regarding the arrival time of the aircraft carrying Soleimani to Baghdad in January of that year.
Distinguishing the PMF from Armed Factions
The British diplomat sought to distinguish between the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) as a formal state institution and certain affiliated factions that, according to him, have not fully complied with directives issued by the PMF leadership and Iraq’s commander-in-chief.
He referred in particular to recent months, during which hundreds of rocket attacks targeted Iraqi, Gulf, and American sites.
Speaking about his discussions with PMF chairman Falih al-Fayadh, Siddiq said he told him the organization faced serious internal problems requiring reform and accountability. According to the ambassador, al-Fayadh agreed on the need to distance the PMF from armed factions operating within it.
There are rising concerns in Iraq that the PMF’s official structure effectively provides cover for factions engaged in violent activities under the umbrella of the so-called “Axis of Resistance.”
Siddiq said the United Kingdom has no objection to dealing with the PMF as a legitimate security institution, provided it remains fully under government control. He added that London would be willing to support reforms within the organization if requested, drawing on Britain’s experience in Northern Ireland.
At the same time, the ambassador argued that the original justification for maintaining the PMF in its current form had largely vanished following the defeat of ISIS. He questioned why international coalition forces that fought alongside the PMF against terrorism are now being portrayed as occupation forces, describing such claims as illogical.
He stressed that decisions concerning war and peace should remain exclusively in the hands of legitimate state institutions, emphasizing that only Iraq’s elected government has the authority to manage such matters.
“No Relations with Armed Factions”
During the interview, Siddiq repeatedly criticized armed factions and rejected describing them as the “Iraqi resistance.” He questioned whom these groups were resisting, who controlled the territories where they operated, and why they continued to exist.
Regarding the participation of militia-linked groups in government, Siddiq said Britain does not engage with what he described as “militia parties.” However, he noted that London respects Iraq’s political decisions regarding government formation and could reconsider its position in the future if those groups abandon their weapons and transition fully into political activity.
The ambassador also criticized what he described as extensive and illegitimate Iranian interference in Iraqi affairs. He called on the new government, led by Ali al-Zaidi, to strengthen state sovereignty and ensure that all weapons remain under state control.
Siddiq said Iran exerts significant influence over Iraqi affairs and accused Tehran of failing to respect Iraq’s sovereignty, describing the interference as both inappropriate and unlawful. He expressed hope that Iraq’s new government would address the issue.
