The U.S. State Department has dismissed Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani’s recent assertion that disarming armed factions is contingent on the departure of the U.S.-led Global Coalition, instead urging Baghdad to directly confront the influence of Iran-backed militias.

A State Department spokesperson, in a statement to Shafaq News Agency, emphasized that dealing with "terrorist organizations" is a sovereign Iraqi duty. The spokesperson warned that such groups "engage in violent and destabilizing activities in Iraq," draining national resources and acting against the country's interests.

The U.S. response came after Prime Minister Sudani, in an interview with Reuters this week, pledged to bring all weapons under state control but argued this goal is unattainable as long as foreign coalition troops remain.

“There is no ISIS. Security and stability? Thank God it’s there,” Sudani said, questioning the need for the continued presence of what he referred to as "86 states" in Iraq under the Global Coalition banner.

The U.S. clarified that its military footprint is already being reduced under a mutually agreed framework to conclude the coalition's combat mission. “This is not a withdrawal,” the State Department stated. “It is a shift toward a more traditional bilateral relationship in the areas of security and diplomacy.”

The Global Coalition was formed in 2014 at Iraq's invitation to combat the Islamic State (ISIS), which had seized vast territories. While ISIS was declared territorially defeated in 2017, approximately 2,500 U.S. troops remain in an advisory and assistance role. Last month, Washington and Baghdad finalized an agreement to complete the coalition's mission by September 2026.

Sudani's comments highlight Baghdad's delicate balancing act between Washington and Tehran. Iraq officially recognizes both its national army and the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a state-sanctioned umbrella of militias. However, several powerful PMF factions maintain close ties to Iran and operate as the "Islamic Resistance in Iraq," an umbrella group aligned with Iran's regional "Axis of Resistance." These factions have been repeatedly accused of attacking U.S. and coalition targets.

The United States has consistently called on the Iraqi government to disband or restrain what it describes as "pro-Iranian militias," arguing they undermine the sovereignty of the state and the authority of its institutions.

With an eye on the November 11 parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Sudani is framing his disarmament plan as a key effort to consolidate state authority. He has proposed integrating armed groups into official forces or encouraging their shift toward political participation.

“There will be a clear program to end any arms outside of state institutions,” he said, calling this “the demand of all.”