Iran Warns against Dissolving Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces

Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani meets with Humam Hamoudi, the head of Iraq’s Islamic Supreme Council, in Tehran. (Tasnim)
Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani meets with Humam Hamoudi, the head of Iraq’s Islamic Supreme Council, in Tehran. (Tasnim)
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Iran Warns against Dissolving Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces

Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani meets with Humam Hamoudi, the head of Iraq’s Islamic Supreme Council, in Tehran. (Tasnim)
Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani meets with Humam Hamoudi, the head of Iraq’s Islamic Supreme Council, in Tehran. (Tasnim)

Iran warned on Monday against any attempts to dissolve the Hashd al-Shaabi or Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in Iraq, and considered any calls to dismantle those units, which include militias loyal to Tehran, as a “conspiracy.”

Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani said that calls for dissolving the PMF is a “new conspiracy that would drive the comeback of instabilty and terrorism to the region.”

He made his remarks during a meeting in Tehran on Monday with Humam Hamoudi, the head of Iraq’s Islamic Supreme Council and the country’s first deputy parliament speaker, reported Iran’s news agency ISNA.

Shamkhani added: “The patience and perseverance of the Iraqi people and the heroics of the country’s army, security and popular forces, especially the PMF, led to the destruction of the region's greatest threat, ISIS, despite the discontent of some countries.”

He stressed that the wisdom of the Iraqi officials and deputies would not allow enemies to sew conspiracies that would disintegrate the country.

Sources close to the Islamic Supreme Council said that Hamoudi’s visit to Tehran aims to inform the Iranian leadership about the nature of alliances in the upcoming elections and to discuss the fate of Iraq’s Shi’ite “National Alliance.”

Some Shi’ite blocs and figures, including the Islamic Supreme Council, are concerned about the “ambiguous” future that awaits the National Alliance, after the withdrawal of the Sadrist Movement and divisions among its members.

Some sources said that Iran was currently exerting efforts to “repair” the crack left inside the Alliance, and to make sure that Shi’ite forces would win the prime ministry seat during the upcoming round of elections.

On Sunday, Hamoudi criticized French President Emmanuel Macron, who on Saturday called on Iraq to dismantle all militias, including an Iran-backed military force, and for the government in Baghdad to open dialogue to ease tensions with Iraqi Kurdish leaders.

Hamoudi said that the French position was an intervention in the internal affairs of Iraq.



Putin Urges Iran to Take 'Zero Enrichment' Nuclear Deal with US, Axios Reports

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with Belgorod region governor Vyacheslav Gladkov in Moscow, Russia July 11, 2025. Sputnik/Mikhail Metzel/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with Belgorod region governor Vyacheslav Gladkov in Moscow, Russia July 11, 2025. Sputnik/Mikhail Metzel/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
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Putin Urges Iran to Take 'Zero Enrichment' Nuclear Deal with US, Axios Reports

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with Belgorod region governor Vyacheslav Gladkov in Moscow, Russia July 11, 2025. Sputnik/Mikhail Metzel/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with Belgorod region governor Vyacheslav Gladkov in Moscow, Russia July 11, 2025. Sputnik/Mikhail Metzel/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

Russian President Vladimir Putin has told US President Donald Trump and Iranian officials that he supports the idea of a nuclear deal in which Iran is unable to enrich uranium, Axios reported on Saturday, citing sources, Reuters reported.

Iran's semi-official news agency Tasnim denied the report, quoting an "informed source" as saying Putin had not sent any message to Iran in this regard.