Rubio: Militias must be disarmed to avoid the “Balkanization” of Iraq
Rubio: Militias must be disarmed to avoid the “Balkanization” of Iraq
2026-09-23
Shafaq News – Washington
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed on Wednesday his country’s support for the government of Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi in achieving its goals of restricting weapons to the state.
Rubio explained in a press statement that “we have no doubt about the Iraqi Prime Minister’s commitment to limiting weapons,” stressing that “militias must be disarmed to avoid the ‘Balkanization’ of Iraq,” meaning the division or fragmentation of the Iraqi state into small, warring states or entities based on ethnic, religious, or sectarian grounds.
Regarding the conflict with Iran, Rubio said: “We will continue to defend the straits and keep them open,” indicating that “Trump has a number of options available, including military options.”
He pointed out that “reaching an agreement with Iran will require continuous work for a period of time,” stressing that “the southern passage of the Strait of Hormuz is open.”
He added that “Iran believes that the Democrats will win the elections and that Trump will not be able to take action against it,” while noting that “Iran’s proxies in the region threaten the security and sovereignty of its countries.”
Rubio continued: “We will always act in accordance with our national interest and will not put the international order above our interests,” noting that “there is a consensus with the Gulf states on the need to keep the maritime straits open and free from any attack.”
He added that “there is also a consensus that what is happening in Yemen is a very serious problem,” stressing that “we will fulfill our obligations regarding the defense agreement with Saudi Arabia.”
Regarding the Russian-Ukrainian war, the US Secretary of State explained that “Russia and Ukraine have expressed interest in a limited ceasefire that includes grain and energy.”
He explained that “the war in Ukraine will not end on the battlefield but through a negotiated settlement,” stressing that “reaching a limited ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine will not be easy, and we are ready to play a constructive role.”
Regarding the Gaza Strip crisis, the US Secretary of State pointed out that “the ideal solution to the crisis is for Gaza to be free of Hamas and governed by a Palestinian leadership that reflects the will of its inhabitants.”
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