IRAN INTERNATIONAL -- Iraq is seeking to convince Iran-backed armed factions in the country to lay down their weapons or join the official security forces, Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein told Reuters in an interview.

Hussein said it was unacceptable for armed groups to operate beyond Baghdad's writ.

"Many political parties started to raise a discussion, and I hope that we can convince the leaders of these groups to lay down their arms and then to be part of the armed forces under the responsibility of the government."

The push to rein in the armed factions comes as dynamics shift in the Middle East, including the weakening of Iran's allies in Gaza and Lebanon and the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in Syria.

Hussein added that in such efforts as the disarming of militias, the Iraqi government had to walk the tightrope between its ties to both Washington and Tehran.

During Trump's previous presidency, Iraq’s relationships with both the US and Iran were tested, particularly following the assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in 2020, which led to an Iranian missile attack on an Iraqi base housing US forces.

As Trump prepares to take office, Hussein expressed hope that Iraq could maintain its strong relationship with Washington under the incoming administration.

"We hope that we can continue this good relationship with Washington," Hussein said. "It is too early now to talk about which policy President Trump is going to follow for Iraq or Iran."

Meanwhile, last week, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei told the Iraqi prime minister that Tehran-backed militias should be strengthened and the United States must be ejected.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI), a coalition of Tehran-backed militants, said in a statement last year they would continue their attacks until the Americans are “expelled from the country, forced to submit and are defeated."