US envoy warns Iraqi leaders against role for Iran-aligned armed groups

BAGHDAD – U.S. Charge d’Affaires Joshua Harris met with Hikma Movement leader Ammar al-Hakim to discuss “the shared interests of safeguarding Iraqi sovereignty, defeating terrorism, bolstering regional security, and strengthening economic ties that deliver benefits for Americans and Iraqis,” according to a statement from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

During the meeting, Harris reiterated that “the inclusion of Iran-aligned terrorist militias in the Iraqi government in any capacity is incompatible with a strong U.S.-Iraq partnership.”

He said the United States “will continue to speak clearly to the need for immediate action to dismantle terrorist militias beholden to a foreign agenda that are jeopardizing Iraq’s sovereignty, stability, and economic livelihood.”

Earlier Harris met with Iraqi Justice Minister Khalid Shwani in Baghdad, where U.S. officials reiterated calls for dismantling Iran-backed armed groups during discussions on sovereignty, counterterrorism and regional stability.

The talks come as Iraqi political debate continues over restricting weapons to state authority and dismantling armed factions operating outside government control. The Iraqi Resistance Coordination Committee said earlier this month it rejects any discussion of disarmament “even with the government” until what it described as “full sovereignty for the country” is achieved and all forms of foreign presence end.

In a statement, the group said “the weapon of the resistance is a sacred weapon,” arguing it remains necessary “in a country where occupation still exists” and describing it as a safeguard for defending the land and religious sites. It said the armed factions had previously acted as “a strong shield” against the Islamic State group.

On Nov. 30, 2025, U.S. Special Envoy to Iraq Mark Savaya said Iraq has a “historic opportunity” to disarm non-state actors, warning that weapons outside state control threaten stability and economic growth.