ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Wednesday held a call with Jordanian King Abdullah II, discussing "security challenges" that both Erbil and Amman have been facing following attacks on the two respective sides amid ongoing regional conflict.

Amid its retaliatory strikes targeting 12 regional countries, Iran has expanded its attacks from US diplomatic missions and airports housing an American military presence to hotels, neighborhoods, and other civilian infrastructure, claiming US personnel and intelligence are using them as hiding spots.

The Kurdistan Region has also come under repeated bombardment from pro-Iran Iraqi militias during the same timeframe, with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) having called on Baghdad to rein in the factions' activities.

The two leaders "exchanged views" on the attacks and "reaffirmed the already strong relationship between the Kurdistan Region and Jordan," according to a KRG statement

Both officials also discussed the impact of the economic crisis on Iraq and the wider region, while the Kurdish leader noted that "as a step to help ease the economic burden, the KRG has allowed oil exports through the Kurdistan Region’s pipeline to Ceyhan."

On Tuesday, Erbil and Baghdad reached an agreement to export Iraqi oil through the Kurdistan Region to the Turkish port of Ceyhan, with the North Oil Company (NOC) hailing the recommencement of flows through the pipeline on Wednesday as a “significant achievement.” 

Before Baghdad’s new deal with Erbil, Iraqi Oil Minister Hayyan Abdul Ghani on Monday claimed that Baghdad was exploring additional routes through Baniyas in Syria and a transport corridor to Aqaba in Jordan. 

The Kurdistan Region and Jordan historically enjoyed strong relations. The two sides have strong collaborations in the fields of trade, investment, health, and education.

In May 2024, the Jordanian-Kurdistan Higher Education Forum was held in Erbil to boost cooperation between the two sides in the education sector, seeing the attendance of a senior delegation of the Jordanian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and heads of 21 Jordanian universities.

An estimated 80,000 Kurds are believed to live in Jordan today.