Iraq's efforts to bring all weapons under exclusive state control are facing resistance from powerful Iran-aligned armed factions, which say they will not disarm without guarantees over their future security, political status and the withdrawal of US forces from the country.
Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's government has repeatedly said it is making progress on its campaign to restrict weapons to the state's security forces, a policy that enjoys broad public support across Iraq.
However, officials have yet to explain the nature or extent of that progress as several influential factions continue to reject even discussing disarmament.
According to sources who spoke to The New Arab , the factions want assurances that their leaders and members will be protected from future attacks, will not face political or security persecution inside Iraq, and that the US military presence in the country will end.
They argue that relinquishing their weapons while regional tensions persist would leave them vulnerable.
Among the factions opposing disarmament are Kataib Hezbollah, Harakat al-Nujaba, Sayyid al-Shuhada, al-Awfiya and al-Badala, which are regarded as the ideological and most heavily armed wing of the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF).
Although Baghdad has not publicly acknowledged the scale of the disagreements, statements issued by Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba in recent days have underlined the divisions, particularly ahead of Zaidi's expected visit to Washington.
During commemorations for Iran's former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the two groups declared that "the weapon is not an option for bargaining" and pledged to continue developing their "military and security capabilities both quantitatively and qualitatively".
Kataib Hezbollah secretary-general Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi also reaffirmed the group's ideological ties to Tehran.
"The Brigades were established by decision of the martyr of the Ummah (the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei), and their members remain loyal to that path and committed to the Islamic resistance and its weapons," he said, while urging Iraqi political leaders to resist what he described as "arrogant imperial projects".
Harakat al-Nujaba, led by Akram al-Kaabi, similarly said last month that its position on what it called the "sacred weapon" "has not changed and never will", adding that "the resistance's weapons are a red line".
The statements came after Asaib Ahl al-Haq, led by Qais al-Khazali, announced it would sever its links with the PMF and hand its weapons over to the state.
A similar decision had previously been taken by Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who ordered his Saraya al-Salam faction to surrender its weapons after Zaidi launched a programme to bring all arms under state control by 30 September.
Three senior members of the Coordination Framework alliance told The New Arab that the factions refusing to disarm were not seeking confrontation with the Iraqi state but remained unconvinced that sufficient guarantees had been offered.
One source said there were "no guarantees" over the safety of faction leaders after surrendering their weapons, arguing that both the United States and Israel had previously failed to honour their commitments.
The factions also wanted assurances that the US military presence in Iraq would end and that they would not later face political or security persecution.
The source added that Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba viewed the disarmament initiative as "a dangerous plan" that could weaken Iraq in the same way Syria's military capabilities were degraded after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, arguing that their recent statements were intended as a message to Washington rather than a challenge to Baghdad.
Political analyst Abdullah al-Rikabi told The New Arab that the split reflected wider divisions within what remains of the Iran-led Axis of Resistance.
"The factions that agreed to surrender their weapons are seeking a political future and calm on the domestic front," he said.
"As for the factions that refuse, they believe continued Israeli military activity and US influence in the region make retaining their weapons necessary."