ARBIL, Iraq: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in Iraqi Kurdistan on Thursday for his first foreign trip since taking office in July. The visit, which aims to bolster relations between Iran and the autonomous region, is marked by high-level meetings with regional leaders.
Upon arriving in Arbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, Pezeshkian was greeted by President Nechirvan Barzani and given a ceremonial welcome with Kurdish Peshmerga forces in attendance. His schedule included talks with both President Barzani and Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, focusing on enhancing bilateral cooperation.
The visit follows an announcement made in Baghdad on Wednesday, where Pezeshkian revealed the signing of over a dozen agreements designed to strengthen Iran-Iraq relations. This trip comes amid heightened regional tensions related to the Gaza conflict and the involvement of Iran-backed groups, which have complicated Iraq’s diplomatic ties with the U.S.
Improved relations between Tehran and Iraqi Kurdistan have been facilitated by efforts to address Iranian Kurdish opposition groups, which have historically operated from the region. In response to Iran’s 2022 strikes on these groups, Iraq signed a security agreement with Iran in March 2023, committing to disarm and relocate these groups away from the border.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani reiterated Iraq’s stance on preventing any aggression against Iran from its territory, emphasizing the country’s role in stabilizing the border area.
