Iran reacts to US appeal for the disbandment of Hashd al-Shaabi
An Iranian diplomat has announced Tehran's reaction to the United States' appeal for the disbandment of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), commonly referred to as Hashd al-Shaabi. This issue was reportedly brought up by former President Donald Trump in his correspondence to Iran.
Iran’s Ambassador to Iraq, Mohammad Kazem Al-e Sadegh, has disclosed that the United States has recently issued a letter requesting the disbandment or incorporation of Hashd al-Shaabi into other Iraqi military units. This proposal, however, has been firmly opposed by both Iran and Iraq.
In a statement to the press, Al-e Sadegh criticized the United States’ position, asserting that Hashd al-Shaabi is a recognized military institution under Iraqi legislation and has been instrumental in combating ISIL. He underscored that decisions concerning Iraq’s internal affairs are the sovereign prerogative of Iraq, rather than external powers like the US or Iran.
“We examined the letter’s contents,” he stated, referring to the correspondence from Trump. “While it conveyed an openness to engage in negotiations, it simultaneously included threats.”
Al-e Sadegh emphasized that Iran’s negotiations with the United States will concentrate exclusively on nuclear matters, clarifying that issues concerning Iraqi resistance groups are to be determined autonomously by those entities.
