ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region presidency spokesperson said Friday that political stability remains a cornerstone of President Nechirvan Barzani’s foreign policy, amid his visit to Iran.
"All parties view the Kurdistan Region's policy as balanced," spokesperson Dilshad Shahab told Rudaw's Dilnya Rahman, adding that, "the right path is to continue and strengthen our relations with all parties.”
The statement comes as Kurdistan President Nechirvan Barzani on Friday met with Iranian leaders to discuss Iran-Iraq relations and broader regional affairs. The timing of the meetings in Tehran intersects with the funeral of Iran's late supreme leader Ali Khamenei, attended by President Barzani and other Kurdish officials, amid ensuing peace talks between Washington and Tehran following the Iran-US war.
Launched on February 28 against Iran, the joint US-Israeli aerial campaign obliterated several of the country's top leaders and commanders including Iran’s late supreme leader Khamenei, who himself was killed on the first day of the strikes. While several prior dates had been set for the funeral, the following war and ensuing intermittent military escalations delayed the ceremony.
President Barzani met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and discussed regional developments, efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation, and the newly-reached ceasefire after a recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in mid-June.
Barzani has consistently pursued neutrality, emphasizing an opposition to war, stressed Shahab.
He added that stakeholders value the Kurdistan Region’s position, noting Barzani's belief that diplomacy, not conflict, resolves crises. The president also reiterated support for Iran-US negotiations.
Shahab said the reception by top Iranian officials underscores both the Kurdistan Region's importance and the president’s stature.
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