US Special Envoy Mark Savaya says ‘there is no place’ for armed groups operating outside the state in Iraq

BAGHDAD — U.S. Special Envoy to Iraq Mark Savaya warned that Iraq’s sovereignty and progress “will remain at risk” unless all security forces operate under government command, saying that external interference and armed groups outside state control continue to threaten stability.

In a statement posted on his official X account, Savaya said that over the past three years Iraq’s leadership has taken steps “to reduce external influences, bring all weapons under the control of the legitimate government, and open its markets to international companies to help rebuild and develop the country’s fragile infrastructure.”

He noted, however, that “the work is not yet complete, and Iraq still requires continued support to remain on this path.”

The envoy’s comments appeared to reference Iran-backed militias, saying the U.S. government maintains “there is no place for armed groups operating outside the authority of the state.” He added that Iraq’s stability and prosperity depend on “having unified security forces under the command of a single government and the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, united under one flag that represents all Iraqis.”

Savaya said Iraq’s national interests, and those of the broader region, “depend on a fully sovereign Iraq, free from malign external interference, including from Iran and its proxies.” He emphasized that cooperation between Iraq’s federal and regional authorities is essential “to ensuring lasting security, economic growth, and national cohesion.”

The statement comes amid renewed debate over the future of the Popular Mobilization Forces, or Hashd al-Shaabi, formed in 2014 to fight the Islamic State group. Although officially part of Iraq’s security structure, the PMF includes factions closely tied to Iran and operating with varying degrees of autonomy.

In August, the Iraqi government withdrew a draft bill to formalize the PMF as a permanent military institution after warnings from rival political blocs and international partners. Parliament had completed the second reading of the bill in July, but many Sunni and Kurdish lawmakers walked out in protest over its inclusion on the agenda without consensus.

Savaya, a Chaldean Christian of Iraqi descent, was appointed on Oct. 19 by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who described him as a Michigan-based entrepreneur with strong community ties. “Mark’s deep understanding of the Iraq-U.S. relationship, and his connections in the region, will help advance the interests of the American people,” Trump said on Truth Social.

Savaya, who owns the U.S.-based Leaf and Bud cannabis company, responded on Instagram: “I am deeply humbled, honored, and grateful to President Donald J. Trump for appointing me as Special Envoy to the Republic of Iraq. I am committed to strengthening the U.S.–Iraq partnership under President Trump’s leadership and guidance.”

Both Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani welcomed Savaya’s appointment, calling it a positive step toward strengthening relations between Baghdad, Erbil, and Washington.