The visit by leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Masoud Barzani angered pro-Iran Shiite factions that claimed the trip reflects the United States’ role in the country.
For two days, he held talks with government officials and senior leaders, with the media reporting that the Kurdish leader resolved several pending problems between Baghdad and Erbil.
Barzani said the visit sought to consolidate the efforts exerted by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to resolve disputes between the federal government in Baghdad and the Iraqi Kurdistan Region.
Political sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the meetings in Baghdad closed the chapter of deep disputes between Baghdad and Erbil.
They added however that “talk of permanent solutions depends on mutual commitments.”
Deputy parliamentary speaker Shakhoun Abdullah said Barzani’s visit paved the way for a new phase and aimed “to activate agreements, bolster cooperation and unify visions between parties of the political process.”
Local media said Barzani sought to discuss with leaders of the pro-Iran Coordination Framework the danger of “becoming involved in the escalation in the region, such as a potential war” between Lebanon and Israel.
Iraqi journalists quoted political sources as saying that Barzani met with leaders of Shiite parties to discuss American warnings of sanctions should Baghdad fail in containing the activities of the factions in the region.
Bangen Rekani, Iraqi Minister of Construction and leading member of the KDP, denied the reports.
Prominent Sunni politician Mashaan al-Jabouri said Barzani did not carry any American messages, but “expressed his personal concerns over the expansion” of the conflict in Gaza to the region.
Barzani made his statements in his capacity as a political leader, he remarked.
Despite the denials, Kataib Hezbollah military spokesman Abou Ali al-Askari criticized Barzani, saying it “reflects America’s role in the Iraqi political arena.”
“We believe that exerting pressure on American interests, especially organizations that claim to play a political role – even though they are involved in espionage – will be determined at the right time,” he added in a statement.
Notably present at the meetings Barzani held in Baghdad were leaders of some armed factions, such as Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada head Abu Ala al-Walai and Asaib Ahl al-Haq head Qais al-Khazali.
In contrast to the positions of the armed factions, Iranian ambassador to Iraq Mohammed Kazem al-Sadeq, who met Barzani, said: “Iran’s relations with the Kurdistan Region are old and deep-rooted and they are being strengthened.”
