Iraqi sources have indicated that the issue of weapons held by armed factions was likely among the topics discussed in Baghdad between Iraq’s prime minister, head of the judiciary and US envoy Tom Barrack, who spoke of the “hard road toward” towards achieving stability in the region. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi received Barrack on Monday evening, nearly two weeks after the withdrawal of the US-led international coalition forces from Iraqi territory. According to observers, the withdrawal could prompt Washington and Baghdad to discuss post-pullout arrangements, particularly amid regional tensions and the possibility of renewed conflict between Washington and Tehran. According to the Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office, the meeting between al-Zaidi and Barrack addressed “bilateral relations between Iraq and the United States and ways to strengthen cooperation in various fields.” They also discussed “the latest developments in the region and efforts to support regional security and stability in a manner that serves the common interests of both countries and eases regional tensions and conflicts.” The US envoy praised al-Zaidi’s leadership in a post on X. ”Stability is not inherited; it is built by leaders who choose the hard road. Iraq's security and prosperity are the region's. Grateful for his leadership and partnership,” Barrack said. The US envoy’s visit to Baghdad came amid a shift in relations between Baghdad and Washington following the end of the international coalition’s military mission in Iraq late September. The relationship is now expected to transition toward a political and economic partnership, alongside continued security cooperation between the two countries. Barrack highlighted this shift during a meeting with US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires in Iraq Steve Fagin, saying that US-Iraqi relations are moving from a security-based partnership toward a broader relationship centered on economic cooperation and mutual interests. Barrack had met Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein in Istanbul on Saturday, where they discussed “bilateral relations between Iraq and the US ... in light of the end of the international coalition forces’ mission in Iraq, as well as prospects for cooperation between the two countries in the coming period,” according to an Iraqi Foreign Ministry statement. Barrack added that the meeting addressed developments in the region, ongoing conflicts and their implications for security and stability in Iraq and other countries in the region, as well as Iraq’s financial and economic situation and developments related to the Iraqi dinar’s exchange rate. Barrack also met in Baghdad with Supreme Judicial Council President Faik Zaidan. According to a statement by the council, the two sides “discussed ideas related to developing relations between the two countries in the legal and judicial fields.” An official source close to the Coordination Framework alliance did not rule out the possibility that “the visit is an attempt to support al-Zaidi’s government, which is facing intense pressure at this stage, particularly following the decision to devalue the Iraqi dinar.” Several lawmakers have recently raised the possibility of withdrawing confidence from al-Zaidi and bringing down his government in an attempt to absorb public anger following market turmoil and a sharp rise in the prices of goods and basic commodities after the dinar’s devaluation. The source told Asharq Al-Awsat that he believed “Washington has come to realize that Iran and its allies in Iraq are seeking to challenge it by pressuring al-Zaidi with the threat of a no-confidence vote. Barrack’s presence may be intended to renew confidence in al-Zaidi’s government, whose leadership has previously been praised by senior US officials, including President Trump.” The source also did not rule out the possibility that the US official would discuss the issue of weapons held by armed factions, given the importance Washington attaches to the matter. Bringing all arms under state control is one of the key issues in Iraqi-US talks. During a meeting in Baghdad last June, al-Zaidi and Barrack stressed the importance of completing efforts to end the presence of armed formations operating outside state authority and strengthening Iraqi sovereignty. Aqil Abbas, a researcher specializing in US affairs, highlighted the significance of Barrack’s meeting with Zaidan, saying that “the US-Iraqi understanding is based on the judiciary serving as the spearhead in efforts to dismantle armed factions, paving the way for the executive authorities to resolve this issue.” Abbas told Asharq Al-Awsat that Iraqi authorities would likely resort to the judiciary after exhausting negotiations with armed factions and efforts to reach a consensual political solution. This, he said, confirmed that the US strategy remained focused on addressing armed factions through Iraqi institutions. “The decisive factor in the weapons issue is the firmness of the government and judiciary, as well as the willingness shown by the Coordination Framework forces to deal with this issue,” Abbas said. He cautioned, however, that “Iraq’s shifting sands may dash Tom Barrack’s hopes. Without a firm US position encompassing Iraq as a whole, we will not see the armed factions disarmed anytime soon.”
