Peregraf — Mark Savaya, the U.S. President’s Special Envoy to Iraq, stressed that no political party, organization, or individual has the right to possess or operate armed formations outside the authority of the state, emphasizing that this principle applies uniformly across all parts of Iraq, without exception.
In a statement posted on X, Savaya welcomed the reported steps by Iraqi armed groups toward disarmament, describing them as a positive and encouraging development. He said the move reflects a response to the long-standing calls of the Marjaeya and Iraq’s senior religious authorities, praising their “wisdom, moral leadership, and principled guidance,” which he said continue to serve as a compass for the nation.
However, Savaya cautioned that statements of intent alone are not sufficient. He stressed that disarmament must be comprehensive, irreversible, and carried out within a clear and binding national framework, including the full dismantling of all armed factions and an orderly, lawful transition of their members into civilian life.
Reiterating a key constitutional principle, Savaya said the exclusive authority to bear arms and use force must rest solely with legitimate federal and regional institutions responsible for organizing, commanding, and managing Iraq’s armed forces in order to protect citizens and defend national sovereignty.
Concluding his statement, the U.S. envoy said Iraq stands at a decisive crossroads: either advancing toward sovereignty, stability, unity, prosperity, and the rule of law, or remaining trapped in fragmentation and insecurity, where illegal armed groups exploit national resources for personal gain and external agendas, undermining the authority of the state.