President Barzani, Turkey’s defense chief stress ceasefire, peace at Antalya forum

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Nechirvan Barzani, president of the Kurdistan Region, and Turkey’s Defense Minister Yasar Guler underscored the importance of maintaining a US-Iran ceasefire, peace and stability in the region during a meeting on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.

According to a statement from the Kurdistan Region Presidency, the two sides met on the second day of the forum, where “their discussions focused on recent developments in the region and their implications.”

Both sides emphasized “the necessity of upholding the ceasefire" between the US and Iran and "fostering peace, and ensuring stability in the Middle East,” the statement added.

The meeting comes after a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran that halted nearly 40 days of war, which began on February 28 after the US and Israel launched a military campaign against Iran.

The Kurdistan Region has repeatedly reaffirmed that it will not side with any party in the US-Israel war against Iran and will not allow its territory to be used as a launchpad for attacks against neighboring countries. Despite these assurances, the Region has come under numerous attacks by Iran and allied Iraqi armed groups, who claim they are targeting US-linked positions in retaliation.

Guler praised the Kurdistan Region for what he described as its balanced approach to regional tensions, commending "the Kurdistan Region for distancing itself from regional conflicts, calling for broad coordination to preserve peace and stability.” He also “lauded the efforts of the Kurdistan Region’s President in this regard.”

President Barzani reiterated the Kurdistan Region’s commitment to a stabilizing role, stating that Erbil “will consistently act as a pillar of peace and stability,” while expressing his intention to deepen cooperation with neighboring countries “based on mutual interests.”

Despite a ceasefire which took effect last week, ending six weeks of conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran, the Kurdistan Region has been targeted by drone attacks, primarily targeting camps and bases housing Iranian Kurdish opposition groups and their families, leaving five people dead.

President Barzani and Guler also discussed relations between Turkey, Iraq, and the Kurdistan Region, voicing the significance of bolstering ties across all fields.