ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi on Monday reaffirmed Baghdad’s commitment to combating corruption, saying there would be "no red lines" for anyone who breaks the law or steals public funds, while pledging to recover money allegedly looted under previous administrations.

A massive anti-corruption campaign was launched by Zaidi, where Iraqi special security forces entered Baghdad's Green Zone early Sunday and imposed a lockdown, arresting dozens of high-level officials and lawmakers for their alleged involvement in corruption.

The Green Zone is home to the US embassy and other diplomatic missions, as well as the residences of many high-ranking politicians.

Baghdad's efforts to combat corruption and its commitment to preventing anyone from "misappropriating Iraqi funds or jeopardizing the country's future" were reaffirmed by Zaidi during a Monday meeting with heads of diplomatic missions of EU member states in Iraq, read a statement from his office.

“There are no red lines for anyone who breaks the law or steals Iraqi money, and the government will work to recover funds looted during previous administrations,” Zaidi added.

Under the premier's direction, the Iraqi finance ministry has created an account into which the funds recovered from corruption cases will be deposited, Iraqi government spokesperson Haider al-Aboudi said on Monday.

Speaking to reporters during a presser, Aboudi said the government has “delivered its direct message to all Iraqis” through its anti-corruption campaign, that “the sovereignty of law is a permanent curriculum and protecting public funds is a responsibility unaffected by the persons or circumstances.”

“Accountability is a principle and standard that applies to all within the framework of the constitution and the law,” said the spokesperson, dubbing Sunday’s operation “the first phase” of a broader campaign which will continue.

Aboudi also noted that Sunday’s operation a “purely Iraqi act and event,” and that no international party nor allied countries were involved in the campaign.

The Iraqi prime minister also told the European diplomats of his intentions to restrict weapons to the hands of the state.

“The state's monopoly on the use of force is not merely a slogan, as this policy has already been implemented and will continue, especially given the upcoming September 30th deadline for the complete withdrawal of coalition forces,” Zaidi said.

Zaidi has led a renewed drive to disarm armed groups and restrict weapons to state control. The initiative is heavily backed by Washington, who has long pushed for the groups – many of which have strong ties to Iran – to be disarmed.

The September deadline by which the coalition forces withdraw from Iraq matches with the end of the deadline for armed groups to hand over their weapons to Iraqi security forces as announced by Aboudi on Monday.

The premier also reaffirmed Iraq's commitment to balanced foreign relations and expanded international economic partnerships, while also highlighting government reforms aimed at boosting investment and economic development.

The EU member state ambassadors welcomed Baghdad's recent reform initiatives and expressed their countries' readiness to pursue "significant development and economic partnerships with Iraq," the statement added.

While many Sunni and Shiite leaders welcomed the new anti-corruption campaign, those arrested included Azm Alliance leader Muthanna al-Samarrai, a senior adviser to former Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, and several other high-profile officials.