Middle East
From left, Duhok Governor Ali Tatar, Halabja Governor Nuxsha Nasih, Erbil Governor Omed Xoshnaw, and Sulaimani Governor Haval Abubakir at the Sanandaj Summit on May 20, 2025. Photo: Omed Xoshnaw/Facebook
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Governors from the Kurdistan Region’s four provinces participated in a key summit in Sanandaj, a predominantly Kurdish city in Iran’s western Kurdistan (Rojhelat), aimed at enhancing economic ties and cross-border cooperation. This marks the third such meeting between governors of provinces along the shared border between the Kurdistan Region and Iran.
The Region’s delegation included Erbil Governor Omed Xoshnaw, Sulaimani Governor Haval Abubakir, Duhok Governor Ali Tatar, and Halabja Governor Nuxsha Nasih. They met with their counterparts from Iran’s Kurdistan, Kermanshah, and West Azerbaijan provinces.
Speaking to Rudaw on the sidelines of the summit, Governor Nasih noted that the parties signed an agreement focusing on cooperation in the areas of culture, health, and trade.
Erbil Governor Xoshnaw reaffirmed the Kurdistan Region’s commitment “to having good and strong ties with all countries,” including Iran.
In a Facebook post following the summit, Xoshnaw said discussions centered on “promoting, improving, and strengthening trade and industrial activity across all sectors, as well as further developing relations between the Kurdistan Region and the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
In a similar vein, Sulaimani Governor Abubakir was quoted by Iran’s state-run news agency (IRNA) as highlighting the province’s potential, noting that it is “the largest province in the [Kurdistan] Region in terms of surface area” and possesses “notable prospects for expanded ties with Iran.”
Abubakir emphasized that Sulaimani currently maintains direct relations with 700 cities worldwide and expressed a desire to establish similarly close ties with cities across Iran.
He underscored the importance of regional cooperation, stating, “If regional governments and neighbors cooperate as friends, we will not need to seek help from other countries.”
Addressing the pressing issue of water shortages, Governor Abubakir stressed the severity of the crisis and pointed to Iran’s pivotal role in resolving water-related tensions.
The Kurdistan Region has been grappling with acute water shortages for years, particularly during the summer months. The crisis has been significantly worsened by Iran's water management policies on transboundary rivers.
Since 2011, Iran has constructed multiple dams on the Little Zab and Sirwan rivers, both of which originate in the Zagros Mountains of northwestern Iran before flowing into the Kurdistan Region. These rivers are crucial tributaries of the Tigris River. However, extensive damming by Iran has drastically reduced the flow of water into the Kurdistan Region, exacerbating an already critical situation.
Beyond dam construction, Iran has also been diverting water from key transboundary rivers for its own agricultural and domestic use. This unilateral control over shared water resources - coupled with the absence of a comprehensive water-sharing agreement between Iran and Iraq - has left the Kurdistan Region increasingly vulnerable to water shortages and heightened water stress.
For his part, Duhok Governor Tatar was quoted by IRNA as emphasizing the strong economic ties between his province and Iran. He noted the widespread presence of Iranian goods in Duhok’s markets and emphasized the “many commonalities” the province shares with Iran, which remains one of its primary export destinations.
“The only thing that separates us is the geographical border,” Tatar said, calling for deeper cultural exchanges and expanded scientific cooperation between the two sides.
On the Iranian side, Javad Karami, Deputy Coordinator of Economic Affairs for West Azerbaijan Province, announced plans for an upcoming conference in the provincial capital of Urmia focused on foreign investment opportunities. He stated that the event will include participation from economists and officials from the Kurdistan Region.
Additionally, Arsalan Azhari, Deputy Coordinator of Economic Affairs for Iran’s Kurdistan Province, proposed the launch of a joint airline between Rojhelat (Iranian Kurdistan) and the Kurdistan Region’s Sulaimani province.
“The flight from Sanandaj to Sulaimani takes just 20 minutes, so we should seize this opportunity to enhance communication between both sides through the establishment of a joint airline,” he said, according to IRNA.
Ahead of the Sanandaj Summit on Sunday, the Iranian semi-official Tasnim news agency cited the governor of Kurdistan province, Arash Lihony, as noting that Iran has not yet fully capitalized on the Iraqi market.
“Until now, we have not been able to make full use of the Iraqi market as needed, but given our cultural ties, we can further develop these relations,” he said.
Seyyed Rasoul Mohajer, deputy minister of economy and diplomacy at Iran’s foreign ministry, described the Sanandaj Summit as “one of the best summits in the field of provincial communications,” noting that it aligns with the current Iranian administration’s broader strategy of enhancing regional engagement.
Mohajer also addressed logistical and trade-related challenges at key border crossings, highlighting infrastructure deficiencies and delays at the Bashmakh crossing in Sulaimani Province and Parvizkhan in the Garmiyan administration.
Former Iranian Consul General to Erbil Nasrullah Rashnoudi told Rudaw in December that Tehran is working with authorities in the Kurdistan Region to improve trade flows and the movement of people across shared land borders. Notably, 45 percent of Iran’s exports to Iraq pass through the Kurdistan Region.
“Despite the many similarities we share with the Kurdistan Region, we are still facing challenges at the border,” Rashnoudi said, adding that coordinated efforts are underway with relevant government agencies to address the issues.
Trade ties between Erbil and Tehran are extensive and economically vital, with annual trade between the Kurdistan Region and Iran reaching significant figures, often cited around $6 billion.
The robust exchange is facilitated by several crucial border crossings, including Haji Omran, Bashmakh, and Parviz Khan, through which Iran primarily exports food products, construction materials, manufactured goods, and petrochemicals.
Both sides are actively working to enhance these economic relations through high-level visits, agreements, the potential establishment of joint free zones, and a notable presence of Iranian companies in the Kurdistan Region.
Despite these strong connections, the relationship occasionally faces challenges such as logistical bottlenecks, political and security tensions, and discussions over customs procedures, yet efforts continue to strengthen the economic partnership.
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