Barzani explained that the trade exchange volume between the region and Iran amounts to about 11 billion dollars annually. He confirmed that the visit of Iranian President Masoud Bazshkian to Erbil and his meetings with senior officials opened a new chapter in relations between the two sides. He added, “Iran is an important neighbor and supporter of the Kurdistan Region during difficult times,” stressing “the region’s desire to develop relations more deeply and build a strong and stable partnership without being a source of threat to Iran,” according to the Iranian news agency Mehr.
In September 2024, the President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Nechirvan Barzani, welcomed Iranian President Masoud Bazshkian in the city of Erbil during his visit to Iraq and the region. They exchanged views on the situation in Iraq and the region, emphasizing the enhancement of coordination and the development of relations between the Kurdistan Region and Iran in political, economic, and cultural fields.
Bazshkian’s visit to Iraq represents his first foreign visit since his election on July 28, 2024.
