Ministerial Council of National Security Reaffirms State Must Hold Sole Control of Weapons

Iraqi PM's Media Office

Iraq's Ministerial Council of National Security's meeting.

Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani, Iraq's Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, chaired on Monday the third periodic meeting of the Ministerial Council for National Security for the year 2026.

According to a statement by the Prime Minister’s Media Office, and received by PUKMEDIA, the meeting reviewed the overall security situation in the country, examined items on the agenda, and approved a series of decisions and recommendations, including a report on monitoring sources of terrorism financing, the importation of air defence systems, and efforts to keep Iraq outside the trajectory of regional conflict.

The statement noted that the participants discussed recent regional developments alongside prevailing security, political and economic challenges, and reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to safeguarding Iraq’s sovereignty and strengthening stability through integrated measures at the security, administrative and diplomatic levels.

The Council also reiterated Iraq’s right to self-defence and to prevent any attempt to target or exploit its territory. In light of these discussions, several key recommendations were emphasised:

First: Security and Military Measures

- Restricting the possession of weapons exclusively to the state and taking firm action against unlawful armed entities.
- Implementing necessary security, military and legal measures to prevent any attacks on neighbouring countries from Iraqi territory, as well as any assaults on diplomatic missions and confronting all entities operating outside the framework of the state and pursuing perpetrators without exception, in order to ensure the protection of Iraq’s security and sovereignty.

Second: Administrative Measures

- Dismissing and holding accountable individuals and entities involved in misconduct or illegal activities, and referring them to the judiciary.

Third: Protection of Diplomatic Missions

- Any violation of the security and safety of diplomatic missions and facilities was described as unacceptable and contrary to the law. The Government will take decisive military, security, legal and administrative measures against perpetrators, in a manner that preserves state sovereignty and institutional authority.
- The Council affirmed that any attack launched against neighbouring countries from Iraqi territory constitutes a terrorist act, and that the same designation applies to any attack targeting diplomatic missions operating within Iraq.

Fourth: Strengthening Diplomatic Efforts

- Enhancing diplomatic communication and coordination with neighbouring and regional states in order to reduce tensions, consolidate regional stability, and promote dialogue and understanding as the principal means of resolving disputes, while safeguarding Iraq’s supreme national interests and strengthening its regional standing.
- Strengthening mechanisms for the exchange of information and security assessments to support joint efforts in countering cross-border threats.
- Unifying regional and international efforts to address security challenges in a manner that reinforces cooperation based on respect for sovereignty and mutual interests.
- Emphasising the necessity for neighbouring, brotherly and friendly countries to refrain from using their territories as launch points for attacks against Iraq or from violating its sovereignty, including its land, airspace and territorial waters.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Ministerial Council for National Security stressed that the protection of the state requires decisive decisions and proactive measures, and that the integration of security, administrative and diplomatic efforts is a national necessity to preserve stability, strengthen the economy, and safeguard Iraq’s regional and international standing.

The participants further emphasised the need to prevent any military action against any party within Iraqi territory, reaffirming that Iraq is solely responsible for its security and that no external party has the right to interfere in its internal affairs.



PUKMEDIA