Efforts to pass new amendments to Iraq’s PMF Authority Law have hit a major roadblock. Deep political disagreements and clear opposition from the United States have stalled progress. As a result, many expect lawmakers to postpone the vote until the next parliamentary term.
A political source told Shafaq News that the revised PMF Authority Law, initially planned for approval during the current session, now faces delays. Unresolved conflicts within the Shiite bloc over the PMF’s role and command structure have complicated matters. The source explained that “the current draft seeks to formally integrate the PMF into Iraq’s armed forces under a clear military hierarchy.” However, powerful factions within the PMF reject this arrangement. Without consensus, the PMF Authority Law will likely be deferred or renegotiated later.
This delay follows comments from Parliamentary Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani. He confirmed that the United States explicitly opposes the bill in its present form. Political sources added that Washington is applying diplomatic pressure to block the legislation. The US fears that approving the law would cement the PMF’s autonomy from the Iraqi army. It would also legally legitimize factions Washington classifies as terrorist groups.
These concerns reflect a statement issued by the US State Department. The statement came after a recent phone call between Secretary Marco Rubio and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. Washington expressed “serious concern” about the draft law. Officials warned it could “entrench Iranian influence and armed militias, undermining Iraq’s sovereignty.”
The controversy surrounds nearly nine years of PMF history. Iraq’s parliament first passed the original PMF law in November 2016. It followed ISIS’s takeover of Mosul and large parts of the country. However, that law lacked clear structural guidelines. As a result, some political factions now push for a detailed overhaul to define the PMF’s place within Iraq’s security forces.
The PMF was created in mid-2014 by a government decree. It followed a fatwa by Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. The fatwa called for volunteers to defend Iraq. Thousands of fighters from existing Shiite armed groups joined under the PMF umbrella.
This debate over amendments occurs while the Iraqi parliament struggles to maintain quorum. A significant number of lawmakers have recently skipped sessions. The ongoing division and external pressures leave the PMF Authority Law’s future uncertain.
