Prominent Iraqi Politician: Weapon Control Unlikely; Expects Only Symbolic Arms Handover

A prominent Iraqi politician stated Friday that actual weapon containment efforts in the country are unlikely to succeed, anticipating instead only a "symbolic" handover. Saleh al-Arbawi, head of the Wa'i Movement, was quoted by media outlets expressing doubt about effective arms control, suggesting attempts might be circumvented or result in a merely symbolic gesture. Al-Arbawi explained that armed groups follow leaderships and ideologies beyond national borders, having received no orders to surrender their weapons. He stressed that "the ongoing war demands tightening and expanding fronts, not the opposite." He outlined the government's two main choices: confrontation, which he deemed unserving to the state; or dialogue, a process potentially outlasting the current government's term. Al-Arbawi added that the issue's fate is tied to ongoing conflicts or US-Iranian negotiations, with arms containment complexities rising as regional conflict expands.