The Iraqi government has announced plans to complete the state monopoly on weapons by September, aligning the move with the scheduled withdrawal of Global Coalition forces from the country.
Speaking during a press conference in Baghdad on Wednesday, government spokesperson Haider al-Abboudi said the deadline forms part of the ministerial programme approved by parliament and is intended to strengthen state authority over security matters.
The announcement comes as Baghdad continues efforts to advance economic reforms alongside security restructuring. Al-Abboudi said the Council of Ministers had approved work on a programme budget in cooperation with the World Bank and Iraq’s parliamentary finance committee.
He also revealed plans for an international development fund backed by guarantees estimated between $100 billion and $150 billion. According to the government, the fund will operate independently from the state budget and focus on attracting investment to support long-term economic stability.
Al-Abboudi said Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s upcoming visit to the United States would focus mainly on economic cooperation, while reaffirming Iraq’s commitment to maintaining balanced relations with international partners.
On the Kurdistan Region, the spokesperson said the prime minister had instructed oil companies operating there to increase production in an effort to improve revenues and address the ongoing salary and financial crisis affecting the region.
