“Whenever our Iraqi friends and brothers need the Islamic Republic to use its capacity, positive role, and close relations to help bring close the views of Erbil and Baghdad, or perhaps aid in resolving disputes, we will not hesitate to play the role,” Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said in his weekly press briefing.
The spokesperson added that Iran shares a long-standing close relationship with both officials of the Region and Iraq, and that they “firmly believe in the stability and strengthening of a unified Iraq”.
Tension between Erbil and Baghdad has been high since the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court in February deemed the Kurdistan Region’s oil and gas law “unconstitutional”, hence striking the independence of the Region’s energy sector and jeopardizing its industry. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has repeatedly challenged the constitutionality of the court’s ruling.
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani in November said that Erbil and Baghdad are willing to resolve the pressing issues between them, stressing that they should do so “professionally.”
Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region Masrour Barzani at the time said that drafting a joint hydrocarbons law between Erbil and Baghdad is crucial for resolving the outstanding issues between the two governments.
Several rounds of talks between Erbil and Baghdad have previously been fruitless, and political instability in Baghdad and inability to elect a new government for over a year put a halt to negotiations between the two sides.
The KRG in late November resumed sending its delegations to Baghdad to negotiate with the Federal government, however the meetings are yet to show any sign of progress.
