Iraq Says Carrying Arms Outside State Authority Is Strictly Prohibited

Carrying weapons outside the authority of the Iraqi state is strictly prohibited, Lieutenant General Saad Maan, head of Iraq’s Security Media Authority, said on Thursday.

Maan stressed that bearing arms beyond the state’s control was “absolutely not permitted,” underscoring the official position on weapons held outside its authority.

He also said the number of registered weapons in Iraq was approaching six million. The figure referred to registered arms, rather than an estimate of all weapons in circulation.

His remarks addressed both the state’s authority over carrying arms and the scale of weapons registration. The brief statement did not provide details of new enforcement measures or a timetable for further action.