In a wide-ranging exclusive interview with Rudaw, Masum said that Iran can play a role in the battle against IS and noted that the Islamic Republic supported the Kurdistan Region to ward off an IS threat.
The president, who traditionally plays a role as a mediator between Iraq’s parties and is a key diplomat, discussed the prospects of an oil and gas law — a major point of contention between the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad — as well as economic and military relations with Turkey and the US.
Rudaw: Your country is a part of an international coalition against the Islamic State (IS.) How effective do you think US President Barack Obama’s strategy is for destroying IS?
Fuad Masum: IS is not a short-term issue. You can strike them militarily in Iraq and Syria and cripple them so they can no longer do what they are doing now, but this isn’t going to eliminate the problem. IS is an underground organization and might have many branches. Therefore, a detailed investigation is required in order to understand and find out where and how they are operating.
Rudaw: You opposed Nouri al-Maliki’s candidacy for a third term as prime minister, but now he is your vice-president. Has your relationship improved?
IS is not a short-term issue. You can strike them militarily in Iraq and Syria and cripple them so they can no longer do what they are doing now, but this isn’t going to eliminate the problem. 
Fuad Masum: Being a deputy is different from being the prime minister. The prime minister has a lot of power, especially as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. This power enables the prime minister to do anything, good or bad. But now Maliki is a deputy. He doesn’t hold any power. He’s probably realizing now that he made many mistakes in the past.
Rudaw: If he doesn’t hold any power, why do you that believe that Maliki, the former prime minister of Iraq, agreed to take this position?
Fuad Masum: Maliki is the leader of a major Iraqi group, the State of Law coalition which is a big coalition in the Iraqi parliament. He doesn’t want to disappear. He wants to remain part of the institution that he was involved in for some time.
Rudaw: Since 2003, Iraq and Turkey haven’t had good relations while the relationship between Turkey and the Kurdistan Region have improved to a great deal. Do you think Turkish – Iraqi relations will improve under the current cabinet?
Fuad Masum: I hope so. Now that Turkey is more involved in the IS issue, Turkey has issued a number of statements against IS. Turkey attends all the meetings and has decided to take part in the fight against IS. Iraqi-Turkish problems were personal.
Rudaw: Strained Turkey-Iraq relations predate IS. What makes you think this might change now?
Fuad Masum: Well, sometimes the disagreements between two countries are tied to certain individuals. The problems between Iraq and Turkey were made personal.
Rudaw: Are you referring to Maliki and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan?
Fuad Masum: Yes, but now the situation has changed. The government in Iraq is new, and Turkey doesn’t have any negative experiences with Abadi. Also just as it’s a threat to Iraq and other countries, IS is also a threat to Turkey.
Rudaw: If relations between Baghdad and Ankara improve, will it be at the expense of Erbil-Ankara relations?
Fuad Masum: I don’t think so. Each has its own arenas. Erbil-Ankara relations don’t come at the expense of Iraq; nor do Iraqi-Turkish relations come at the expense of the Kurds. Turkey and the Kurdistan Region only have trade and economic ties. The ties with Iraq are broader.
Rudaw: The Kurdistan Region has its own oil policy and Baghdad is especially upset with Turkey for facilitating Kurdish oil exports. Do you think this issue will be solved?
Fuad Masum: The problems aren’t between Turkey and Iraq, but are instead Iraq’s domestic issues. Everyone must abide by the constitution. According to the constitution, the oil and gas law will systematize (the industry.) When this law is passed there won’t be any problems between Erbil and Baghdad.
The government in Iraq is new, and Turkey doesn’t have any negative experiences with Abadi.
Rudaw: Do you think the problems between Baghdad and Erbil will be solved?
Fuad Masum: Yes, they will be. Both sides need each other for different reasons. Baghdad needs Erbil for economic reasons, and we also need Baghdad. Baghdad needs Erbil for political reasons; we also need Baghdad for its economy and many other things.
Rudaw: After the American invasion of Iraq, the US accused Iran of being a destabilizing factor in Iraq. Now things have changed, and Iran and America are fighting alongside each other in Iraq against a common enemy. Do you believe that Iran and America have common interests in Iraq?
Fuad Masum: Iran and the US need to reconsider their policies and reach a solution because the problems aren’t going to remain American-Iranian issues: they will grow. Currently Iran’s policy aims to solve all of its own problems. The United States also realizes that Iran is a powerful state in the region and doesn’t want to stay enemies. I believe their relations will improve. When I met the US Secretary of State (John Kerry), he said that his government doesn’t want to create problems for Iran and that it’s not (America’s) job to change the regime in Iran. But there is one matter between them: the nuclear issue. If we reach an agreement on this issue, there won’t be any problems between the US and Iran.
Rudaw: In the Paris meeting about IS, I believe you told reporters that Iran should have been invited. Do you believe Iranian participation is necessary?
Fuad Masum: Then and now I believe that Iran should officially participate and play its own role in the fight against IS. Iran, as I have often said, has about 1,000 kilometers of shared border with Iraq, so it can’t be ignored. Since the first day that IS took over Shingal and few other towns, Iran sent humanitarian aid as well as weapons.
Rudaw: Do you believe that one of the reasons why America acted quickly in this area (Shingal and other areas of Nineveh province taken by IS) was that the US did not want Kurdistan and the rest of Iraq to fall into Iranian hands?
Fuad Masum: No, the fear wasn’t that Iran would take over the Kurds, but rather the danger that IS posed. The US intervention wasn’t out of fear of Iranian domination, but out of fear that IS might become more powerful in the region.
Rudaw: Taking a look at the past three years, we see a chaotic Middle East. The problems in the Middle East first appeared to be driving Iran and America further apart; for instance in the case of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. However, now the situation has changed. Do you believe the events in the Middle East made Iran a more successful player in the Middle East — I mean, more successful than America?
Fuad Masum: Iran holds its own weight in the region and has to be taken seriously. This isn’t about signing an agreement to have Iran withdraw from Syria or something along those lines. Now that IS is being targeted in Syria, this is necessary. As we have said, no borders has remained between Iraq and Syria.
No matter how hard IS is hit, they can get to Syria one way or another. They can’t be allowed to go to Syria to regroup, to take a break and then come back.
The US intervention wasn’t out of fear of Iranian domination, but out of fear that IS might become more powerful in the region.
Also, as America strikes IS, it has reassured Syria’s allies that the US won’t get involved in fighting Syria. But its sole purpose is to defeat IS. That’s why Arab countries’ fighter jets are involved in bombing IS. The areas under the Syrian army’s control haven’t been targeted (by coalition forces.) They may have been assured that the air strikes wouldn’t target them.
Rudaw: When IS advanced toward Erbil, the US interfered. Before then, IS had taken Mosul and parts of Syria but the US did not intervene. Does this mean that Kurdistan holds a special place in US foreign policy because of its pro-western, secular nature?
Fuad Masum: The Kurdistan Region in Iraq is seen as a prototype. The region has been stable and took in many refugees. This region must be protected — that’s why they acted quickly. Iran acted quickly as well. When IS advanced towards Erbil, Iran helped the Kurdistan Region. Had they entered and captured Erbil, the situation would have been different.
Rudaw: The oil and gas law is a priority for the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad. Do you think this law will be passed any time soon?
Fuad Masum: There might be an agreement to set a deadline to pass the law. The law has to be passed according to the constitution. Whatever is outlined in the constitution must be implemented. We all have to abide by the constitution. If the law is passed, then the oil and gas dispute will be solved.
Rudaw: Erbil insists that it should have control over the exploration, extraction and exportation of its oil. They say the revenues can go back to Baghdad for redistribution … but Baghdad doesn’t agree with this. How can this problem be solved?
Fuad Masum: There have been two views on the solution to this issue. There is an article in the constitution that has had varying interpretations. But firstly, all of us need to agree that we will abide by the constitution. Then we can sit down and look at the constitution to see what it says. There is always the possibility for agreements.
Today, this problem is between the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad. In the future, other Iraqi cities and Baghdad might face the same problem. For example, Basra or Nasiriya may say, “We want to do the same thing.” Therefore, the law must systematize (oil and gas.) If a law isn’t created we’ll both be hurt. Most of the Kurdistan Region’s 17 percent share of the budget comes from Nasiriya and Basra; if they ask for the same thing (as Kurdistan) then there will be a problem. Therefore, a comprehensive law for all of Iraq needs to be passed. If the law is passed and everyone abides by it, I believe there won’t be any more problems.
Rudaw: Since Saudi Arabia joined the coalition against IS, there are reports that Saudi-Iraqi relations are improving. Do you believe that Iraq can have good relations with Saudi Arabia and Iran at the same time?
Today, this problem is between the Kurdistan Region and Baghdad. In the future, other Iraqi cities and Baghdad might face the same problem.
Fuad Masum: Iraq must look at each country differently. Iraq doesn’t view Saudi Arabia through an Iranian lens. Iraq has shared interests with Iran and Saudi Arabia. Therefore, no one’s interests should be met at the expense of the other. Saudi is ready to normalize its relations with Iraq. Ibrahim al-Jafari, Iraq’s foreign minister, visited Jeddah two weeks ago. He was warmly welcomed there. At the Paris convention I met King Faisal. He greeted me very warmly. I even asked him, “Is the Saudi door opening?” He said it is totally open.
Iraq has to value its relationship with Saudi Arabia because when we say Saudi, it means the entire Gulf region. The Gulf is important to Iraq, especially Saudi Arabia. We have a long border with them, just as we do with Kuwait. This can’t be ignored.
Rudaw: How is your relationship with Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani?
Fuad Masum: If anything happens, I inform him via telephone. He does the same thing. We have a good relationship.
Rudaw: Is the Kurdistan Region President as optimistic as you are about Abadi?
Fuad Masum: Abadi is new in his post. He has good ideas. We have met in person several times. We will wait to see his steps after the government is formed. Mr. Barzani has spoken to him and congratulated him on his new post. Abadi will probably visit Erbil soon.
