Iraq
Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani (left) meets with Irai Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi on May 23, 2026. Photo: KRG
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani arrived in Baghdad on Saturday for high-level talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi aimed at addressing longstanding disputes between the Kurdistan Region and Iraq’s federal government, according to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
In a statement, the KRG said the visit comes as both sides seek to resolve “outstanding issues” in line with Iraq’s constitution.
“Masrour Barzani, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), met with Federal Prime Minister Ali Falih Al-Zaidi as part of his visit to Baghdad,” the statement said.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Barzani congratulated the Iraqi prime minister on assuming office and reaffirmed the KRG’s support for his government’s success in serving all Iraqis “without discrimination.” He also stressed the need to address disputes between Erbil and Baghdad on a “fundamental” basis rooted in the constitution and respect for the Kurdistan Region’s federal status.
The KRG statement added that Prime Minister Barzani emphasized “the importance of resolving the issues between the Kurdistan Region and the federal government fundamentally, based on the constitution and respect for the federal entity of the Kurdistan Region.”
For his part, he Iraqi prime minister said that “we are all partners in this country, and our goal is to resolve issues, reach an agreement, and serve all citizens and components without distinction.”
Both sides, according to the statement, agreed on strengthening coordination between Baghdad and Erbil in order to “resolve issues and overcome obstacles and challenges.”
In parallel remarks ahead of the visit, Aziz Ahmad, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Kurdistan Region’s Prime Minister, said in a post on X late Friday that Barzani would lead a “significant delegation” to Baghdad for talks with federal officials.
Ahmad also said the KRG would present its experience with the 24-hour Runaki electricity program to the federal government, offering technical assistance and access to technology to support broader energy reforms. The Runaki project, meaning “light” in Kurdish, aims to provide uninterrupted electricity across the Kurdistan Region.
He further noted that Barzani would seek to follow up on security guarantees needed for oil and gas companies operating in the Kurdistan Region to resume production and exports, a move he said could potentially raise Iraq’s export capacity to more than 500,000 barrels per day.
The visit takes place against the backdrop of continuing financial and political disputes between Baghdad and Erbil, particularly over budget allocations, civil servant salaries, and oil exports - issues that have repeatedly strained relations between the two sides in recent years.
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