ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Friday lauded the United States’ continued support for the Region over the years, adding that the two sides can now contribute to the region’s peace and prosperity together.

Barzani arrived in Washington on an official visit last week. Strengthening bilateral ties with the new US administration, energy cooperation, and future investment are among the top priorities of Prime Minister Barzani’s agenda.

In an interview with Fox News on Friday, the Kurdish premier said that the aim of the visit is to reiterate the Kurdistan Region’s commitment to be allies and partners of Washington.

“We just wanted to come back here to Washington to express our gratitude and appreciations to the president, to the government, the armed forces and to the American people for their continuous support to us. And also to reiterate our commitment to be US allies, friends, and partners,” Barzani told Fox News’ Bret Baier.

“We are very proud to be US allies and partners,” Kurdistan Region PM Masrour Barzani said in an interview on FOX News while hailing the US support for the Kurdistan Region pic.twitter.com/QHEkoYyOu9

— The New Region (@thenewregion) May 23, 2025

Barzani noted that the Kurdistan Region also wants to emphasize on the fact that “not only we are good fighters, and we fought together against terrorists, but now together with the US and US companies, we can actually build a lot together in that region, which can contribute to peace and prosperity.”

Barzani has met with numerous high-profile US officials during his visit, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, and dozens of congressmen and senators.

The prime minister on Monday oversaw the signing of two agreements, one with HKN Energy and ONEX Group, and another with WesternZagros. The deals have a combined value of around $110 billion, and aim to boost the Kurdistan Region’s energy sector.

The Iraqi oil ministry has rejected the recent agreements, claiming that the procedures violate a 2022 Iraqi federal court ruling prohibiting Iraqi regions and provinces from regulating trade policy with other countries. The KRG’s natural resources ministry has responded to Baghdad’s comments, stating that the agreements are constitutionally valid and have been previously approved by Iraqi courts.

“We have the constitution that actually clearly states what rights Kurdistan Region has,” argued Barzani, “Kurdistan does have the right to sign deals, especially on development of the gas and energy sector. We have signed deals in the past, and these two companies have been operating in Kurdistan for the last 15 years.”

“Kurdistan does have the right to sign deals, especially in development of gas and energy sector,” Kurdistan Region PM Masrour Barzani said in an interview with FOX News pic.twitter.com/Hb006hRGpq

— The New Region (@thenewregion) May 23, 2025

US officials have collectively stressed that the recent deals benefit the whole of Iraq, not just the Kurdistan Region, and voiced support for the agreements during Prime Minister Barzani’s meetings in Washington.

“The US has been instrumental in supporting us. We wouldn't have been able to defeat ISIS easily if it were not because of the support of the United States. And I can tell you, on this trip, we have heard very supportive words from the administration. This is exactly what we want, and we are very grateful for what the US has done. So we hope that the US will continue to see us as partners, as we are,” Barzani concluded.

The Kurdistan Region shares strong ties with the US. Washington has for years provided military aid and training to the Region’s Peshmerga forces. Prime Minister Barzani also shares a strong relationship with the current US cabinet in general, evident by his strong reception by US officials during his May visit.