Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi says his government has no intention of entering into a military confrontation with armed factions, adding that constructive talks are under way over bringing weapons under state control.
– Speaking at the eighth Baghdad Dialogue Conference, al-Zaidi said: “We are facing difficult days that no previous government has faced.”
– He said some factions had already handed over their weapons, severed previous affiliations and joined the Popular Mobilisation Forces, while discussions were continuing with others.
– “There is no intention of a military confrontation with the armed factions, and there is constructive dialogue with them on restricting weapons to the state,” he said.
– Al-Zaidi said that “all political forces agree on moving forward with restricting weapons to the state”, adding that work is under way on mechanisms for their handover.
– The prime minister also described the closure of the Strait of Hormuz as a “major challenge”, saying Iraqi oil exports were currently at about 10 percent of normal levels and that alternative export routes were “makeshift and limited”.
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