Efforts to disarm militias in Iraq are gaining momentum, Baghdad officials have said, but Washington has warned that promises alone will not enough and wants to see a speedy demilitarisation of pro-Iran factions.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa al-Sudani's adviser, Hussein Allawi, said on Monday there has been "effective progress" in limiting weapons to state control, linking the development to the fulfilment of some factions' conditions, including the withdrawal of international coalition forces from Iraq.
The remarks come amid rapid and largely unprecedented shifts over the past two days in the positions of senior Shia political figures and leaders of armed factions within the ruling Coordination Framework, several of whom have publicly endorsed the principle of "restricting weapons to the hands of the state".
Iraqi media reports have linked the change in tone to growing fears of escalation following repeated warnings from the Trump administration that pro-Iran armed groups could be targeted if drawn into regional conflicts.
Recent reports have also cited discussions between the government and faction leaders on integrating armed groups into state structures and curbing attacks on US interests.
The developments came as US President Donald Trump's special envoy to Iraq, Mark Savaya, welcomed reports that Iraqi armed groups were moving towards disarmament but stressed that intentions alone were insufficient.
In a post on X, Savaya said such steps were "a welcome and encouraging development", but insisted that disarmament must be comprehensive, irreversible and carried out within a clear and binding national framework, in line with Iraq's constitution and the rule of law.
Savaya said the exclusive authority to carry arms and use force must remain with Iraq’s legitimate federal and regional institutions, applying "across all parts of Iraq, without exception".
In a notable move, he also invoked Iraq's religious establishment, describing the step as a response to longstanding calls from senior clerics and religious authorities, and praising their "wisdom" and "moral leadership".
Despite the apparent shift, divisions remain, with Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba rejecting disarmament and saying it can only be discussed after the withdrawal of US and foreign forces, arguing that Iraq remains "incomplete in sovereignty".
Kataib Hezbollah has insisted that "resistance is a right" and that its weapons will remain with its fighters.
Some government-aligned figures have sought to downplay the significance of the shift, framing it as a managed political transition rather than forced disarmament and arguing that the state can address the economic future of faction members once weapons are handed over.
Falah al-Jazairi, a member of the Construction and Development (Imar wa Tanimia) coalition, led by Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa al-Sudani, explicitly played down the issue, saying the question of disarming factions "should not be exaggerated".
He argued that Iraq had "turned the page of resistance and is moving towards calm politics", claimed the current government deserves credit for easing the arms issue, and said the state would be able to find economic solutions for faction members after disarmament.
Iraqi officials and militia commanders have previously said the factions’ shift was driven by concerns over regional escalation, following repeated warnings from the Trump administration that they could be targeted if drawn into broader conflicts involving the United States and Israel.