‘No to uncontrolled weapons and uncontrolled groups’ Muqtada al-Sadr
Al-Sadr’s statement comes amid increasing U.S. pressure on the Iraqi government to disarm militias loyal to Iran and integrate them into Iraq’s official armed forces.

Jan 6, 2025
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – “No to uncontrolled weapons and uncontrolled groups,” declared Sadrist Movement leader Muqtada al-Sadr in a strongly worded post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday.
In his post, al-Sadr reiterated his call to restrict weapons to Iraq’s legitimate army and security forces. “No and a thousand no’s to uncontrolled weapons and uncontrolled groups,” he wrote on his personal account.
— مقتدى السيد محمد الصدر (@Mu_AlSadr) January 6, 2025
The statement was part of a post in which al-Sadr congratulated the Iraqi army on the anniversary of its establishment on January 6, 2021. “We wish them steadfastness in their love for the country and the people, and that God keeps them away from evil, corruption, and dependency,” al-Sadr added in his message.
Al-Sadr’s statement comes amid increasing U.S. pressure on the Iraqi government to disarm militias loyal to Iran and integrate them into Iraq’s official armed forces.
In December, U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in Baghdad. “Secretary Blinken underscored the U.S. commitment to the U.S.-Iraq strategic partnership and to Iraq’s security, stability, and sovereignty,” said State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller following the meeting. Reports emerged after the meeting that the U.S. had pressed for the disarmament and dismantling of Iraq’s militias.
According to an announcement from the Iraqi Prime Minister’s Media Office on Sunday, Prime Minister al-Sudani is scheduled to visit Tehran on Wednesday. Leaked reports suggest that the disarmament of Iraqi militias will be a key topic in his discussions with Iranian officials.
One of the most contentious groups is the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). Although officially part of the Iraqi Armed Forces and reporting directly to the Prime Minister, the PMF comprises various Shiite armed groups, many of which are under Iranian control.