Iran’s Ambassador to Iraq Iraj Masjedi sat down for talks with Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government’s Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani on Sunday.
Speaking in the meeting in Erbil, Masjedi, who is heading Iran’s Embassy in Iraq since April, said Tehran seeks to keep up its support for KRG and strengthen bonds of friendship.
“Iran assisted the region in its hard times and is now ready to help settle problems between Erbil and Baghdad through dialogue,” he said, according to a KRG statement carried by Iraqi Kurdish news agency Rudaw.
The Kurdish premier, a son of KRG President Massoud Barzani, thanked Iran for lending a helping hand to the region and welcomed Iran’s mediatory role to bridge divisions between Erbil and the central government.
“Serious dialogue is needed for settling Erbil-Baghdad differences, and Iran can play a constructive role in this regard,” he said.
Following his meeting with Barzani, Masjedi met members of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan who enjoy traditionally good relations with Iran.
The meeting came against a backdrop of last month’s announcement by KRG that it will hold a referendum on separation from Iraq on September 25.
The KRG decision has met fierce criticism from Iraq’s neighbors and many other countries.
