During his first official visit to Washington, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi announced from the White House that the end of September is the deadline for all non-state armed groups to surrender their weapons. The commitment, made alongside President Donald Trump, marks a sharp escalation in Baghdad’s declared intent to reassert the state’s monopoly on force. Trump publicly praised Zaidi as “brave” and a “fierce fighter,” signalling strong US backing for the new government’s reform agenda.

According to US officials, the Trump administration views the Iraqi leader as a potential partner in curbing Iran-aligned militias that have launched hundreds of attacks on American personnel. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated after meeting Zaidi that Iraq must “assert its sovereignty and disarm the Iran-aligned militias.” Concurrently, Gulf Cooperation Council states have intensified pressure on Baghdad, with the GCC secretary-general presenting intelligence on militia attacks against member states, according to an Israeli broadcaster citing an Iraqi political source. This external alignment reinforces a coordinated US–GCC demand for disarmament.

Inside Iraq, the prime minister’s stance draws support from the Sadrist movement, which commands a broad popular base and has long advocated confining arms to the state. Figures within the Coordination Framework, the coalition that brought Zaidi to power, express cautious backing, warning that failure to deliver could erode both domestic and international confidence. Analysts in Baghdad note that the government has already reclassified drone possession under anti-terrorism laws, a legal step seen as a precursor to enforcement. The prime minister is navigating between political hawks who fear a Sadrist resurgence and a public weary of militia influence.

Iranian state-linked media report that Zaidi will soon travel to Tehran at the invitation of President Masoud Pezeshkian, a visit framed as strengthening bilateral ties. This comes as some regional assessments suggest that Iran’s grip on Iraqi factions has loosened under US pressure, potentially giving Baghdad room to manoeuvre. The simultaneous engagement with Washington and Tehran reflects the tightrope Iraq walks between its two main international patrons.

Zaidi is expected to return to Baghdad within days, where the test will be translating the White House pledges into executive action. The September deadline sets a clear timeline, but the militias are unlikely to disarm voluntarily, raising the prospect of a prolonged political and security standoff. The US has conditioned its continued support on tangible progress in both disarmament and anti-corruption efforts. Meanwhile, the invitation to visit Jordan and ongoing economic projects such as the Basra–Aqaba pipeline signal a parallel push to diversify Iraq’s regional partnerships. The dossier now moves to the domestic arena, where the government’s ability to enforce its writ will determine whether the current diplomatic momentum translates into lasting institutional change.