What they're not telling you: # Trump Congratulates Incoming Iraqi Leader, Who Moves To Disarm Pro-Iran Militias The incoming Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is preparing to disarm Iran-backed militias—and Trump just signaled Washington's approval of the move. According to reporting by Asharq Al-Awsat, a three-member committee led by al-Zaidi, outgoing PM Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, and Badr Organization leader Hadi al-Amiri is finalizing an "executive plan" to strip weapons from factions within the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) that receive Iranian support. The plan will be presented to US officials within days, marking a dramatic shift in Iraq's security architecture after years of Iranian influence consolidation.
# THE TAKE: Trump's Iraqi Gambit Isn't Magnanimity—It's Leverage Trump congratulating Iraq's new leadership for disarming Iran-aligned militias reads like a victory lap. Don't buy it. This isn't altruism. Trump needs Iraq's Shiite establishment to neuter Popular Mobilization Forces—Tehran's functional proxy army—*before* any U.S. regional reset. The militia infrastructure that bedeviled his first term remains operational. By publicly endorsing Iraq's disarmament push, Trump signals: comply, and Washington rewards you. The catch? Baghdad's committee lacks enforcement power. PMF commanders answer to Khamenei's networks, not Baghdad bureaucrats. Trump's congratulations function as pressure theater—creating political cover for Iraqi leaders to pursue what amounts to a counterinsurgency campaign *against their own security apparatus*. It's shrewd. It's also a bet that Iraq's fragile government can survive weakening the very forces protecting it from ISIS resurgence. History suggests otherwise.
What the Documents Show
Trump's public congratulations to al-Zaidi signal Washington's intention to leverage this transition to reduce Tehran's foothold in Iraqi state institutions. What mainstream coverage largely overlooks is the intensity of American pressure driving this disarmament effort. Washington has been systematically pressuring Iraq's ruling Shia political parties—traditionally aligned with Iran—to voluntarily strip these militias of their weapons and exclude them from the new government structure. This represents a significant pivot point: the same militias Washington once tolerated as counterterrorism assets against ISIS are now being targeted for elimination as Iranian proxy forces. The committee's appointment of Hadi al-Amiri, who himself maintains close ties to Iran, suggests a calculated strategy to use trusted Iranian contacts to convince militia leaders to surrender weapons without triggering a violent backlash.
Follow the Money
The negotiations are not proceeding smoothly. Sources revealed that committee meetings with militia faction leaders "did not proceed calmly" when the disarmament request was presented. At least three major PMF factions—Kataib Hezbollah, Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada, and Harakat al-Nujaba—have categorically rejected surrendering their weapons to any party, according to a spokesperson who spoke anonymously. More strikingly, this spokesperson stated the factions were "prepared to pay any price resulting from their refusal to disarm," language suggesting these groups may be willing to resort to violence or political confrontation rather than comply. This resistance points to a deeper structural problem. The PMF were formally incorporated into Iraq's state security apparatus but retain operational autonomy and Iranian guidance through the IRGC Quds Force, their original benefactor.
What Else We Know
Disarming them without triggering civil conflict requires either convincing them voluntarily or using force—both politically explosive options in a country where these militias command significant military capability and grassroots Shia support. For ordinary Iraqis, the implications are contradictory. Disarming Iranian-backed militias could reduce sectarian violence and restore state monopoly over security—potentially stabilizing the country. Conversely, forcibly disarming well-armed groups with deep community ties risks triggering conflict. The success or failure of al-Zaidi's plan will determine whether Iraq moves toward genuine state sovereignty or descends into proxy warfare between Washington's preferred leadership and Tehran's entrenched armed networks.
Primary Sources
- Source: ZeroHedge
- Category: Government Secrets
- Cross-reference independently — don't take our word for it.
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