Iraq’s paramilitary groups say they will disarm. Will that ever happen?

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi pledged to reform the security apparatus by restricting weapons to state control. Paramilitary groups, many backed by Iran, have been powerful since the 2003 US-led war. US pressure and a sharp decline in oil revenue due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz make disarmament an economic necessity. Iraq's oil exports dropped from 3.3 million barrels per day to about 600,000 bpd in March.