IRGC Called the Disarmament of Iraqi Factions a "Stab in the Back" for Iran

The transfer of weapons by Shiite groups operating in Iraq to the control of the Arab republic's government will deal a serious blow to Iran's positions.

As reported by Al Hadath, this was stated by Ismail Qaani, the commander of the Al-Quds Special Forces within Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

"The disarmament of [Iraqi] groups and the transfer of control over it to the state would be a stab in the back for Iran," he noted.

Qaani arrived in Iraq earlier this week on an unannounced visit, where he met with the leaders of several Shiite paramilitary groups and the leadership of the Shiite party bloc "Coordination Framework," which nominated Ali al-Zeidi for the position of prime minister. According to Al Hadath, during meetings in Baghdad, the Al-Quds Force commander urged Iraqi politicians to seek a postponement of the deadline for the final surrender of weapons by Shiite formations to state authorities.

At the end of June, the Iraqi government determined that the end of September would be the final deadline for all paramilitary formations operating in the country to surrender their weapons to the state. The deadline set by the government coincides with the final withdrawal of the international coalition contingent from Iraq.