2026-07-30T20:21:52+00:00

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Shafaq News- Baghdad

Using force to limit
weapons to the state can lead to fighting among Iraqis and ultimately weaken
the state, Former Iraqi Prime Minister and head of Al-Nasr (Victory) Coalition,
Haider Al-Abadi, said on Thursday.

Speaking during the
opening session of the Baghdad Council for Dialogue, Al-Abadi pointed out that the
constitution clearly stipulates that weapons should be exclusively under state
control, noting that every government formed since 2003 has adopted that
principle in its governing program with the backing of all major political
blocs.

Read more: Iraq’s September deadline undercuts armed factions’ case for weapons

He condemned “recent
violations of Iraq’s sovereignty by the United States and Saudi Arabia,” saying
that there was no justification for targeting individuals who had no connection
to the original incident.

“According to what we
have heard from the government, there is still no conclusive evidence that the
attack originated from Iraqi territory. The matter requires investigation and
verification, especially as there are reports that the Houthis have claimed
responsibility for some of those strikes.” He warned that some parties were
seeking to draw the region into conflict between states, adding that a regional
war is now centered on Iraq.

Read more: Wednesday’s US-Saudi attack on Iraq: What Is Known

Turning to the
economy, Al-Abadi said Iraq is facing a “real financial crisis, and economic
reform remains particularly difficult “because uncontrolled spending fuels populist
expenditure.” He added that oil exports have fallen to about 12% of their
normal level for more than four months, while the country had already been
under financial pressure before the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Read more: 2026 budget: Iraq confronts unprecedented fiscal strain