Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has asserted that the disarmament of militias in Iraq can only occur after the withdrawal of US troops from the country. In an exclusive interview with Reuters, Sudani emphasized that the presence of foreign forces complicates efforts to integrate armed groups into state institutions. His remarks come just days before Iraq’s highly anticipated parliamentary elections, where he is seeking a second term. Sudani is navigating a delicate balance between Washington, crucial for Iraq’s dollar transactions, and Iran, which supports Shia militias like the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). He highlighted that security and stability have improved, questioning the rationale for the continued presence of 86 coalition countries originally assembled to combat ISIS. Sudani outlined a potential plan for militia members to either join official security forces or transition into politics post-disarmament. This proposal aligns with ongoing US-Iraq negotiations to end the US military presence by 2025, as reported by Reuters. However, the broader challenge of disarming Iran-backed groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon underscores the complexity of such efforts. The PMF, alongside Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthis, forms part of the Axis of Resistance, which has faced Israeli attacks following the Hamas-led October 7 assault. Despite these tensions, Sudani’s government has allocated $700 million to the PMF in Iraq’s 2023 budget, reflecting its integration into state structures.