Al-Zaidi at the United Nations: Confine Weapons to the State and Iraq Moves Toward a New Phase of Stability and Development

Prime Minister Ali Falih al-Zaidi on Friday, 25 September 2026, outlined his government's vision for the coming period, affirming from the podium of the United Nations General Assembly that strengthening state authority, confining weapons to its constitutional institutions, and anchoring decisions of war and peace within the state framework are fundamental pillars for Iraq's next phase.

Al-Zaidi made the remarks while participating in the meetings of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, stressing that restoring the rule of law, strengthening institutions and consolidating citizens' trust in the state form the basis for political and security stability and economic development.

The prime minister affirmed that the government is moving toward ensuring that state institutions alone decide on matters of war and peace and the use of force, and that instruments of force and weapons remain within constitutional institutions—an approach he said is grounded in the law, national interest, and the protection of Iraq's sovereignty.

Iraq wants to move from battlefields to a space for cooperation

On Iraq's foreign relations, al-Zaidi presented a vision that leverages Iraq's geographic and political position as a factor for rapprochement, expressing Baghdad's aspiration to be a bridge for dialogue and cooperation between the peoples of the region and the world, rather than allowing Iraqi territory to become an arena for regional competition and conflicts.

He said Iraq's vision is based on respecting states' sovereignty and non-interference in their affairs, and on encouraging economic cooperation and aligning interests among regional countries so that stability becomes more beneficial than conflict.

A new phase after the end of the international coalition's mission

The prime minister addressed the future of relations with international partners, explaining that Iraq is moving, alongside the conclusion of the international coalition's mission, to shift a significant aspect of those relations from a military framework to economic and developmental cooperation and capacity building.

At the same time, he emphasized the continued need to confront terrorism, organized crime, and cross-border drug trafficking, calling for greater coordination and border control to prevent environments that could be exploited by extremist groups.

Economy and the path to development at the forefront of Iraq's vision

Al-Zaidi's speech did not focus solely on security issues; he also concentrated on the economy and investment, saying the government seeks to reduce dependence on a rentier economy, support the private sector, and provide a more attractive environment for Iraqi and foreign investment.

He also referred to plans to develop the oil and gas sectors, refining and petrochemical industries, alongside diversifying energy export routes and linking Iraq to regional and international markets.

He described the project “Path of Development” as part of a broader vision to transform Iraq into a strategic corridor for trade, investment and energy between East and West, arguing that increased economic interconnection among regional countries can create shared interests that support stability and reduce the likelihood of conflict.

An Iraqi message from New York

The themes al-Zaidi presented to the General Assembly reveal a government focus on three parallel tracks: strengthening the authority of state institutions at home, expanding the economy and investment, and building regional and international relations based on cooperation and shared interests.

In his address, Iraq also reiterated its support for using dialogue and diplomacy to address regional and international crises, while stressing respect for sovereignty and efforts to minimize the repercussions of conflicts that have, in past years, affected the region's security, economy and energy markets.

Thus, Baghdad's speech from New York conveyed a message that goes beyond security alone; according to the vision al-Zaidi outlined, the government seeks to present Iraq as a state that reasserts the centrality of internal decision-making while deploying its resources and geographic position to become an economic and political linking hub between regional and global partners.