Iraq’s Zaidi doubles down on militia disarmament, boosting oil exports

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi vowed to press forward with plans to disarm militias and increase Iraq’s oil exports on Friday, reflecting Baghdad’s efforts to develop economically and avoid conflict amid the regional war. 

Zaidi gave a lengthy address at the Baghdad International Dialogue conference, an annual event hosted by the non-governmental Iraqi Dialogue Institute that focuses on strengthening Iraq’s dialogue with the international community. 

Militia weapons

The premier said that all armed groups in Iraq have agreed to turn over weapons to the state despite reports that some were opposed to doing so.