BAGHDAD, Feb 23, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Iraq's candidate for the premiership, Nouri al-Maliki, told AFP Monday that he seeks a state monopoly on weapons, a key US demand, and that he believes an understanding with armed factions is achievable.

"In fact, what America wants is not new. These are our demands. We want weapons in the hands of the state. We want a centralised military force. We have said it repeatedly: we want one army under one command, directly under state authority," he said.

"It's quite possible" to achieve a deal with pro-Iran armed factions, he added. "There is a good basis for understanding with the factions" but this cannot happen "through force, war, or confrontations", he said.