🔶 U.S. approval for the presence of groups accused of terrorism and close to Iran in the cabinet of Iraq

According to Agence France-Presse, Iraqi Prime Minister Alí al-Zaydí has completed his cabinet composition by appointing Laith al-Khuzaylí, a senior leader of the Asa'ib Ahl al-Haqq group, which is on the U.S. terrorism list. Diplomatic sources say the appointment was made after Washington gave implicit approval, and is part of efforts to disarm Iran-backed groups and place all weapons under the control of the Iraqi government.

According to one diplomatic source, during his trip to the United States in September to attend the United Nations General Assembly session, al-Zaydí obtained Washington’s approval for the participation of some Iran-close groups in the government. As the source said, this approval was conditional on advancing the disarmament program of those groups and providing assurances that they would refrain from attacking U.S. interests in Iraq. During this trip, al-Zaydí also met with Donald Trump, the U.S. president.