KRG to Maintain Tehran Ties

Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government Nechirvan Barzani said on Monday neighboring Iran is a significant country for its autonomous region.

“KRG enjoys good relations with Tehran and will continue [such relations] in the future,” Fars News Agency quoted Barzani as saying.

Tensions in relations between Tehran and Erbil—the seat of KRG—emerged after the latter insisted on holding an illegal secession vote on Sept. 25 despite opposition from Iraq’s federal government and regional countries due to the adverse consequences of such a move.

Widely respected as a pragmatic leader and peace broker, Nechirvan Barzani said Erbil respects the Iraqi Federal Court’s ruling that declared the vote “unconstitutional”.

“We are ready to hold talks with Baghdad on the basis of the constitution,” he said, adding that Baghdad should also cancel any punitive measures it has taken against Erbil after the vote.

Regarding Baghdad’s demands that Kurdistan hand over border crossings and airports as preconditions for the start of dialogue with Erbil, Barzani said KRG would cooperate with the central government.

The KRG leader expressed his government’s readiness to accept observers from the federal government at airports and border crossings.