The appointment of Tom Barrack as US presidential envoy to Iraq may lead to greater American pressure on Baghdad to meet its demand for the disarmament of factions allied to Iran in an effort to stem its influence in Iraq.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has repeatedly spoken about the disarmament. So far, influential cleric Moqtada al-Sadr was the only figure to comply, announcing that the Saraya al-Salam armed wing will become part of state institutions and come under the direct command of the armed forces.
The move was described as “encouraging”. Sadr, however, had distanced himself from Iran years ago, so it remains to be seen if any of the Tehran-aligned parties will also make a similar move.
Zaidi had declared on Saturday that he was “determined to end all armed presence outside the authority of the state” despite the pressure he is facing from powerful political forces.
He explained that the disarmament of factions will take place in phases and it began with Sadr’s announcement.
The Asaib Ahl al-Haq headed Qais al-Khazali, Badr Organization headed by Hadi al-Ameri, Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada, Kataib al-Imam Ali, Thar-Allah movement all spoke about the possibility of their disarmament, but they remained vague over how.
In contrast, the Kataib Hezbollah and Nujaba movement refuse to lay down their weapons.
Hussein al-Sheihani, member of the Sadiqoon movement’s politburo, the Asaib Ahl al-Haq's political wing, said the ruling pro-Iran Coordination Framework “is preparing a draft decision that organizes the process to limit possession of weapons.”
It also tackles “how to handle foreign forces in Iraq and discusses how to empower the security forces and air defense system.”
Meanwhile, a prominent Framework member said Barrack’s appointment will increase pressure on Zaidi and his backers in the coalition to address the issue of the possession of weapons outside state control.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat on condition of anonymity, he said: “The Framework is really interested in reaching a solution to this problem. It wants the process to be simple and away from sharp clashes with the government and factions.”
The official spoke of “possible scenarios” about resolving the issue, including “assuring the factions that they will not be persecuted legally and that they may be merged” with government bodies.
Reports have said that the US will not agree to their integration into government agencies until they lay down their weapons.
The official said that the “complete elimination of the factions from the scene is not possible given their military role and the political weight enjoyed by the factions inside the Framework,” which brought Zaidi to power.
Analyst and former diplomat Ghazi Faisal said that Barrack may have a role to play in pressuring the government to disarm the factions.
The process will be based on the constitution and laws that bar the formation of armed groups outside state control, he told Asharq Al-Awsat.
He noted the strategic agreement signed between Iraq and the US in 2008, adding that Barrack may offer support requested by the government, especially the interior and defense ministries, in line with the agreement.
Faisal said that with some factions saying they were ready to lay down their arms, the US wanting to confront Iran’s influence and the Iraqi government’s determination to impose state monopoly over weapons, all parties involved may resolve this file in the coming months.
