President Barzani, Araghchi discuss border security, regional tensions

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani held a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday evening, Iran's foreign ministry said early Saturday, adding that the two discussed bilateral relations and regional developments, including border security, as diplomatic efforts continue to secure a lasting truce between Tehran and Washington.

The Iranian foreign ministry said in a statement that President Barzani and Araghchi “sides discussed and exchanged views on relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Kurdistan Region, including economic and trade exchanges, as well as the strengthening of coordination to maintain common border security and combat terrorism.”

According to the statement, the two sides also “exchanged views on regional developments and the importance of the commitment of regional countries to strengthening endogenous security within the region.”

The Kurdistan Region Presidency said that the discussions focused on "the development of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region's relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran, particularly in the fields of economic and trade exchange.” 

In a statement, the presidency said the two sides also “exchanged views on strengthening coordination to maintain border security” and underlined “the importance of the efforts of regional countries to consolidate security and stability in the Middle East.” 

The call comes amid renewed diplomatic efforts following months of conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel. Washington and Tehran have been engaged in indirect negotiations aimed at securing a permanent ceasefire after the US and Israel launched a large-scale aerial campaign against Iran on February 28, triggering retaliatory Iranian drone and missile strikes across the Middle East.

A Pakistan-brokered ceasefire reached on April 8 temporarily halted six weeks of hostilities, though negotiations later stalled amid escalating tensions around the Strait of Hormuz and competing maritime restrictions imposed by both sides.

The Kurdistan Region has repeatedly reaffirmed that it will not side with any party in the war and will not allow its territory to be used as a launchpad for attacks against neighboring countries. However, the Region has continued to face drone and missile threats despite the extension of the ceasefire between the warring courtiers.

According to Rudaw tracking data published Thursday, the Kurdistan Region has experienced approximately 855 drone and missile attacks since the outbreak of the conflict in late February, resulting in at least 20 deaths and 128 injuries. Since the beginning of May alone, 25 attacks have been recorded, most of them targeting Erbil province.

Tehran confirmed earlier this week that it was reviewing a US response conveyed through Pakistani mediators. Earlier on Friday, Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi again met Araghchi in Tehran, according to Iran’s ISNA news agency, which said Islamabad has been facilitating communication between Tehran and Washington “to reach a framework for ending the war and resolving disputes.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday he hoped the Pakistani delegation’s efforts would advance negotiations.

“We've made some progress, but obviously, we are dealing with a system that is a little fractured, the Iranian system,” Rubio told reporters. “There’s some good signs, but I don’t want to be overly optimistic as well.”

Regional tensions have also persisted in the Gulf. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy said Friday that 35 commercial vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz under its coordination in the previous 24 hours, asserting that passage through the strategic waterway requires its permission.

Meanwhile, US Central Command said its forces redirected 97 commercial vessels and disabled four others while enforcing restrictions on Iranian ports. US President Donald Trump said Washington has “total control” over the Strait of Hormuz and insisted the waterway remain open without tolls.