ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi on Monday discussed economic cooperation and Iraq’s efforts toward restricting arms to the state with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a meeting in New York, the premier’s office said.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly’s 81 session. The Iraqi prime minister left for New York early Monday morning to attend the assembly and deliver Iraq’s speech. He is also set to meet with leaders from a series of attending nations.

During the meeting, Zaidi "reiterated the government's determination to fulfill sovereign obligations and proceed with measures to restrict the possession of arms to the state, in accordance with constitutional and legal principles,” according to a statement from his office.

The session marks the premier’s first General Assembly meeting since assuming office in May. It comes at a sensitive juncture for Iraq, as a US-led anti-Islamic State (ISIS) Global Coalition is set to leave the country on September 30, and the state has redoubled efforts to bring weapons under its control and curb the influence of armed groups operating outside state authority.

Rubio “affirmed support for the government's measures and decisions aimed at solidifying state institutions and strengthening the foundations of stability and economic development,” the statement added.

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.

Zaidi’s speech at the assembly is set to emphasize Iraq’s strides toward economic reform, diversifying sources of income, fighting corruption, opening up to investments and also doubling down on re-exerting the country’s sovereignty over its territory, his office said ahead of his departure.

The Iraqi premier emphasized that Baghdad “is working to consolidate Iraqi-US relations and elevate the strategic partnership between the two nations through constructive economic cooperation that expands areas of joint action and strengthens mutual interests,” the statement said.

The American secretary “expressed his country's support” for the people and government of Iraq in establishing and sustaining “internal stability and realizing the aspirations of the Iraqi people for economic development and greater global engagement,” the statement added.

Zaidi’s first foreign visit after assuming office was to the US in July where he oversaw the signing of 48 memoranda of understanding (MoU) between Iraqi government bodies, private companies, and their US counterparts.

A meeting with Donald Trump was the center of the visit, during which the US president praised him and congratulated him on taking office.