Foreign minister tells new US envoy Iraq remains committed to weapons policy

BAGHDAD — Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein told the incoming U.S. chargé d’affaires that Iraq remains committed to bringing weapons under state control, in their first meeting since Steven Fagin returned to Baghdad.

The two discussed Iraqi-U.S. relations and political, security and economic developments in Iraq and the region, Hussein said in a post. He said the government is moving toward restricting weapons to state institutions while also working to strengthen Iraq’s regional relationships.

The meeting comes days after Harakat al-Nujaba leader Akram al-Kaabi threatened to target any U.S. troops remaining in Iraq after Sept. 30, and after Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada set 10 conditions for any handover including the withdrawal of American and Turkish forces. Kataib Hezbollah also refuses while U.S. forces remain.

The State Administration Coalition has said armed activity outside state authority after Sept. 30 could be handled under the Anti-Terrorism Law, though officials have said they are pursuing a negotiated process. Security adviser Qasim al-Araji has said the date relates to the coalition withdrawal and marks the start of a new phase of talks rather than a deadline for surrendering weapons, and that the Popular Mobilization Forces Commission could receive weapons transferred by factions. A Coordination Framework committee of Hadi al-Amiri, former Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Nouri al-Maliki has been working on the issue.