Iraq Unveils Phased Plan to Disarm Iran-Backed Militias by June 2027

Iraq will seek to disarm Iran-backed militias by June 30, 2027, under a phased plan aimed at ending the operation of armed factions outside direct state control, Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi revealed Saturday.

The process would begin with a 90-day period in which militia groups would halt attacks while receiving assurances that U.S. forces would not target them.

Weapons handovers would follow, with Baghdad seeking to complete disarmament by mid-2027.

“This is not something that is optional. It is a necessity,” al-Zaidi told The New York Times.

Phased Disarmament

The government has formed a committee to negotiate the process with militia leaders. Al-Zaidi said the terms of the timeline would be announced on September 30.

The factions are pressing for more time and want the deadline extended until the end of 2027.

Al-Zaidi had initially said the militias would be disarmed by September 30, when the remaining U.S. forces are due to leave Iraq.

The groups rejected that timetable, and officials later said the date could instead mark the start of disarmament.

The revised plan separates an initial de-escalation period from the subsequent surrender of weapons.

Independent Factions to End

Baghdad's objective extends beyond collecting arms. Al-Zaidi said four powerful militias resisting disarmament would no longer be allowed to operate as independent organizations.

“They will join the Popular Mobilization Forces as individuals and integrate into them,” he said.

Groups continuing to operate under militia names after the deadline “will be deemed outlaws,” according to the prime minister.

The Popular Mobilization Forces, or PMF, expanded after Iraq mobilized armed groups during the fight against Islamic State.

Successive governments have sought to bring those forces under state authority, though several factions maintain close ties with Tehran.

Regional Conflict Complicates Plan

The timetable comes as Iraq attempts to remain outside the war between the U.S. and Iran while facing pressure over attacks by armed groups operating from its territory.

Militias have struck Kuwait, Jordan, energy sites in Iraq and the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

Saudi Arabia this month accused Iraq of being the source of a drone attack that disrupted its east-west oil pipeline.

Iraqi officials believe splinter elements from Iraqi militias helped facilitate, but did not orchestrate, the attack.

Regional diplomats and Iraqi security officials have questioned whether the June 2027 target can be met while the wider conflict continues.

A senior Iraqi security official said the process would be unlikely to succeed without a peace agreement between Washington and Tehran.

Baghdad Caught Between Washington and Tehran

The militia issue has become central to Iraq's balancing act between the U.S. and Iran.

Washington is pressing Baghdad to curb Iran-aligned armed groups that have accumulated military and political influence.

Tehran, meanwhile, is seeking to preserve the role of allied factions during its confrontation with the U.S.

Al-Zaidi has also linked disarmament to Iraq's economic ambitions.

“Arms have to be confined first so you can build a solid economy,” he said.

Iraq has lost roughly $60 billion in revenue since the war began, according to the prime minister, with monthly oil export income down 60% as disruption in the Strait of Hormuz restricts shipping.

Baghdad is considering alternative export routes, including expanded pipeline links through Türkiye and potential connections carrying Iraqi oil directly to Europe.

Militias have also tied disarmament to the presence of foreign forces in Iraq, including Turkish troops in the north.

Al-Zaidi said Baghdad is pursuing an agreement with Türkiye over a withdrawal while also working on a plan to absorb local Kurdish militias into the PMF.