Baghdad: Ammar al-Hakim, leader of the National State Forces Alliance, announced on Saturday that the consolidation of weaponry under state control is a pivotal Iraqi initiative. Weapons will consequently be transferred to the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), recognizing them as an official security entity.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, al-Hakim’s media office released a statement detailing his engagement with student leaders during the Baghdad Diwan activities. Celebrating the Prophet’s birthday and Imam al-Sadiq’s birth, he also commemorated the martyrdom of Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Baqir al-Hakim, reinforcing the Prophet Muhammad’s teachings and ethical example.

Al-Hakim highlighted the ethical principles of the Prophet’s mission, focusing on humility, tolerance, and social responsibility within Islamic practices such as congregational prayer, Hajj, and Zakat. He underscored the necessity for youth empowerment and collaboration with entities capable of fostering potential, while rejecting sectarian rhetoric.

He addressed Iraq’s economic challenges, particularly the decline in revenues due to limited oil exports. Al-Hakim expressed optimism about resolving the Strait of Hormuz crisis and emphasized diversification of export routes through new pipelines. He advocated for an economic shift away from reliance on oil, proposing a five-pronged strategy involving agriculture, industry, tourism, investment, and modern technology.

Furthermore, al-Hakim reiterated the importance of the state’s exclusive control over weapons through dialogue, commending the PMF’s role in combating ISIS and restoring sovereignty. He expressed support for anti-corruption efforts and the development fund project aimed at boosting the private sector.