Gulf States and US Press Iraqi PM to Disarm Pro-Iranian Militias by September

Gulf countries have joined US President Donald Trump in urging Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaydi to advance the disarmament of pro-Iranian militias in Iraq. According to an Iraqi political source cited by Kan News on Wednesday, Gulf states are pressuring Baghdad to address these militias following numerous attacks against Gulf interests in recent months. Jassim Al-Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, recently presented Iraqi officials with data on militia activities targeting Gulf countries during a visit to Baghdad.

This Gulf pressure complements American demands for Baghdad to dismantle the militias and bring their weapons under government control. Prime Minister Al-Zaydi visited Washington for the first time recently and met with President Trump, who has high expectations for reducing militia power. Al-Zaydi has received backing from both Gulf states and the US and set an ambitious deadline to disarm the militias by the end of September.

However, both Iran and the militias it supports in Iraq are resisting these efforts, and the conflict remains ongoing. Additionally, an Iraqi source told Kan News that one Gulf country has criticized Iran for a wave of unusual arrests in Iraq, including the detention of a Sunni party leader, highlighting the regional tensions involved.