Baghdad: The head of the Security Media Cell, Lieutenant General Saad Maan, affirmed that the process of restricting weapons to the state is a national and security priority aimed at strengthening the state’s authority, upholding the rule of law, and protecting Iraq’s security and stability. He emphasized that this process does not target any specific faction, entity, or group.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, Maan stated, “Restricting weapons to the state does not mean targeting a specific group or formation, but rather encompasses all weapons outside the framework of official state institutions, regardless of who possesses them, including tribal weapons and any weapons that do not comply with applicable regulations and laws.”
He added, “The state views this matter from a purely security, legal, and national perspective, and the primary objective is to ensure that all instruments of power and weapons are within the frameworks defined by law, thereby preserving the security of citizens and preventing the use of weapons outside official channels.”
The head of the Security Media Cell indicated that “a number of factions under the official administration of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) have already begun the process of handing over their weapons, while other factions are moving in the same direction.” He emphasized that “these steps are part of institutional and legal arrangements aimed at regulating the status of formations and fighters in accordance with the official framework of the state.”
He explained that “the PMF will work to regulate the rights of all fighters in the various factions and formations, and to preserve the rights of their families and their sacrifices, in accordance with applicable regulations and laws. This will ensure the preservation of their rights and enhance the integration of security and military operations within the official state system, while simultaneously serving Iraq’s best interests.”
Maan affirmed that “the Iraqi government is not in conflict with any formation or faction, nor is it dealing with this issue with a confrontational or exclusionary mindset. Rather, it is addressing it as a constitutional and legal responsibility related to Iraq’s security, stability, and the safety of its society.”
He added that what is being circulated by some, or the exaggeration of events regarding September 30th, is an inaccurate description and does not reflect the true course of action adopted by the state. He explained that the procedures related to this matter are proceeding within an institutional and legal framework, in coordination with the relevant authorities, and should not be presented to the public in a manner contrary to this approach.
He emphasized that the government believes that addressing sensitive national issues requires dialogue, understanding, and responsibility, while respecting the law and the decisions issued by state institutions. The ultimate goal is to achieve a stable security system where weapons are regulated and confined within legal and official frameworks.
Maan pointed out that all Iraqis, regardless of their affiliations or backgrounds, are committed to the country’s stability and security, and that there is a growing understanding of the importance of supporting the state’s approach to regulating weapons, considering it a matter concerning Iraq’s future, not a dispute between one party and another. He clarified that the presence of weapons outside the state’s control, regardless of their source or the entity possessing them, poses a challenge to the concept of a modern state.
The head of the Security Media Cell affirmed that “the security establishment will continue to convey the facts to the public with complete clarity,” calling on media outlets and social media users to “exercise accuracy in addressing this issue and not to rely on interpretations that may create a state of anxiety or portray events that are not true.”
He pointed out that “the priority is the security of Iraq and its social peace, and that all state institutions are working to achieve this goal in a patriotic and responsible spirit.”
Maan concluded: “The state’s monopoly on weapons is not a project of confrontation, but rather a project for statehood, stability, and societal security. Its success is a shared responsibility among state institutions, political, social, and tribal forces, and all the people of Iraq. They are all worthy of the trust placed in them and up to the task of achieving a safe and stable Iraq where the rule of law prevails and the rights of all its citizens are protected.”