Iran-aligned Iraqi factions reject timetable for handing over weapons

Iraqi factions aligned with Iran said Wednesday they were not bound by any timetable or agreement to hand over their weapons.

The factions said they had held negotiations on regulating their arms but had yet to receive a government response.

Their statement drew a distinction between talks on how the weapons would be regulated and any commitment to surrender them.

The factions did not announce a deadline for disarmament, maintaining that neither a schedule nor an agreement obliged them to give up their arms.