ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian discussed relations between Erbil, Baghdad and Tehran during a Thursday meeting in Antalya, where the leaders agreed on the importance of continued coordination and cooperation to address regional challenges.
Barzani described the talks as “productive,” saying the two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and developments in the region.
“We stressed the importance of continued coordination and joint efforts to confront the challenges facing the region,” Barzani said in a post on X following the meeting.
He added that “dialogue, mutual understanding and cooperation” were the best ways to achieve “peace and lasting stability.”
The talks took place on the sidelines of the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Turkey.
The state Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) also reported on the meeting, saying the two presidents discussed major regional and international developments and emphasized “diplomacy, constructive dialogue and multilateral cooperation” in addressing shared challenges.
The meeting comes amid continued diplomatic and security engagement between the Kurdistan Region and Iran, particularly over border security and the presence of Iranian Kurdish opposition groups in the Region. Iran has also attacked the Kurdistan Region with over a thousand missiles and attack drones, citing the presence of Kurdish opposition parties and US forces.
On Sunday, Barzani received an Iranian delegation to discuss relations between Erbil, Baghdad and Tehran, as well as security cooperation and regional stability. According to the Kurdistan Region Presidency, the discussions also covered security agreements between Iraq and Iran.
The latest meeting follows talks between Barzani and Pezeshkian in Tehran in July, when the two leaders discussed expanding trade and economic cooperation and strengthening their historical and cultural ties.
Relations between Erbil and Tehran have also been shaped by security concerns.
Under a March 2023 agreement, Baghdad committed to disarming and relocating Iranian Kurdish opposition groups based in the Kurdistan Region and tightening security along the shared border.
The agreement has remained a subject of discussions between Iraqi and Iranian officials, with both governments emphasizing border security and preventing armed groups from threatening either country.
During a March phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Barzani reiterated that the Kurdistan Region would not become part of regional conflicts and would continue to support diplomatic efforts to ease tensions.
Barzani reportedly helped establish a backchannel between the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and American negotiators seeking an agreement with Iran to end the late February war.
