ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – The Iraqi interior ministry on Sunday said that the possession of weapons outside of state control is "prohibited," coming amid a crescendo of public discourse relating to the disarmament of non-state actors.

"No weapons can exist other than those of the state, and no customs or laws can be enacted or applied other than the existing laws," said ministry spokesperson Abbas al-Bahadli in a statement carried by Iraqi state media, adding that the ministry "does not accept these disputes in any way."

"The law is clear and explicit and will not tolerate the use of weapons; anyone who does so will be held accountable under the law," Bahadli warned, further noting that "many of those involved are currently undergoing investigations, and many others have already been sentenced."

Illegal weapons in Iraq stand out as one of the most pressing challenges to security and stability in Iraq, with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani repeatedly pledging to address the issue beyond the scope of official and legitimate state institutions in his government program.

Unofficial data puts the number of arms within the Iraqi society at around 15 million pieces of medium and light weapons, with armed groups and tribes possessing the bulk of them. 

The ministry spokesperson called on Iraqi tribes to "abide by the law" and report anyone who "attempts to destabilize social peace," warning that "tribal disputes and acts of aggression are now considered crimes under Article 4 of the Anti-Terrorism Law."

The interior ministry said in March that it would continue to buy medium-range weapons from the public as part of the government’s efforts to confine arms to the state, while announcing the extension of a nationwide process for registering arms owned by civilians until the end of this year.

Sources within the Ministry of Interior have disclosed that RPGs and PKCs are among the most prevalent medium weapons used by civilians in Iraq. Additionally, Kalashnikov rifles, Bren guns, and various types of pistols are commonly owned light weapons.

The ministry's statement comes amid growing pressure put by the US on Iraq to curb Iranian influence on Baghdad, pushing Iraq to dissolve all armed factions, including the state-integrated Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).

Faiq Zidan, President of Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council, on Saturday announced that the leaders of some armed factions have adhered to his advice on cooperation “to enforce the rule of law, confine weapons to the state, and transition to political action now that the national need for military action has ceased.”

Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba, two US-designated Iran-backed Iraqi militias, rebuffed the disarmament calls on Saturday, saying they maintain the right to “resistance” as long as there are foreign forces present in the country.