ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – An ongoing program by the Iraqi government to restrict weapons to the state will also “reform” the country’s economy by attracting international investment, Iraq’s top security official said on Wednesday, with an end-September deadline in place for armed groups to hand over weapons. 

The Iraqi government, led by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, has set September 30 as the deadline for armed groups to hand over all weapons to the state. The initiative is heavily backed by the US, which has long pushed for those groups – many of whom have strong ties to Iran – to be disarmed. 

“The Iraqi government is continuing to implement the restricting weapons to the state program … in order to create a safe and stable environment that supports efforts to reform the country’s economic situation by attracting international companies,” National Security Advisor Qasim al-Aboudi said in a meeting with EU Ambassador Klemens Semtner. 

During the meeting, the ambassador reaffirmed the EU’s support for the program, stressing, “The EU member states have a strong historical relationship with Iraq, and they value and cherish this relationship.” 

Last week, Zaidi directed the formation of a draft law for restricting weapons to the state, describing rogue weapons as the “most serious threat” to Iraq. 

The Iraqi government has previously said that elements using Iraqi territory as a launching pad for attacks on other countries and groups who do not hand over weapons by September 30 will be considered “criminals” and prosecuted under the counter-terrorism law. 

The disarmament deadline is also set to coincide with the withdrawal of the US-led coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS) from Iraq. 

Many pro-Iran armed groups have long used the US-led coalition’s presence in the country as a reason to maintain their weapons. These groups initially helped defeat ISIS but then shifted to also attacking American personnel and interests as tensions soared between Washington and Tehran in the following years. 

While several pro-Iran armed factions have announced their willingness to hand over their weapons and integrate into the state security apparatus, others have expressed skepticism. 

On Saturday, Iraq’s interior ministry said that over 600 tribal sheikhs have worked with authorities to register their tribespeople’s weapons.