ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and Iraqi Parliament Speaker Haibat al-Halbousi agreed during a Saturday meeting to resolve outstanding issues between Erbil and Baghdad through a number of legislative bills based on the constitutional rights of the Kurdistan Region and Iraq’s federal system.

Barzani arrived in Baghdad on Saturday morning ahead of holding a series of meetings with top Iraqi officials, with the resolution of outstanding issues between the two governments being top of the agenda.

The visit marks the premier’s first official trip to Baghdad since the formation of the new Iraqi cabinet and his seventh visit as Kurdistan Region Prime Minister since taking office in 2019.

During the prime minister’s meeting with Habousi, the sides agreed on “the necessity of resolving the pending issues between the Kurdistan Region and the Federal Government on a constitutional basis," the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) said in a statement.

“In this regard, emphasis was placed on the importance of preparing and passing a number of national legislative bills that protect the rights of all components on the basis of respect for the federal system and the constitutional status of the Kurdistan Region,” the KRG statement added. 

Erbil has long bemoaned Baghdad's failure to adequately implement Article 140 of the Iraqi constitution, which relates to disputed territories, and to rein in the activities of pro-Iran militias under the auspices of the Iraqi state that have repeatedly attacked the Kurdistan Region during the US-Israeli war on Iran.

The continued attacks have led several foreign oil and gas producers in the Kurdistan Region to halt production to protect their staff.

Budget and salaries, along with domestic revenues and oil exports, have also been the focal point of contention between Erbil and Baghdad for years, with the former criticizing the latter for repeatedly failing to hand over funds for the Kurdistan Region's civil servants' entitlements on time.

“They said the salary issue should not be mixed with other issues, and that the situation of salary earners in the Kurdistan Region is the same as that of all other people in Iraq,” Barzani told reporters following his meeting with Halbousi, paraphrasing Iraqi officials.

The premier said his meetings so far “have been good,” adding that “there is a good understanding” regarding the issues under discussion, while noting that further meetings are scheduled.

Speaking to reporters in Baghdad on Saturday, Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said that he has held positive meetings with Iraqi officials dealing with the constitutional rights of the Kurdistan Region, adding that the federal politicians have urged the salary… pic.twitter.com/zZldKwpRkV

— The New Region (@thenewregion) May 23, 2026

The New Region has learned that the Kurdish premier is also set to meet with several other key officials and party leaders listed below: 

- Azm Alliance leader Muthanna al-Samarrai

- Sovereignty Alliance head Khamis al-Khanjar 

- Taqadum Party chief Mohammed al-Halbousi

- State of Law Coalition leader Nouri al-Maliki 

- National Coalition (al-Wataniya) leader Ayad Allawi

- Victory Alliance leader Haider al-Abadi

- Badr Organization chief Hadi al-Amiri 

- Popular Mobilization Commission (PMC) chairman Falih al-Fayyadh

- Former Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi