Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani has received the Acting Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran Ali Bagheri Kani and his accompanying delegation on Friday in Erbil.
During the meeting, they discussed ways to enhance relations between the Kurdistan Region and the Islamic Republic of Iran, agreeing to strengthen these ties to serve mutual interests, according to a statement from the KRG.
PM Barzani expressed his condolences for the deaths of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Foreign Minister, and their companions.
He emphasized the importance of strengthening bonds with Iran and maintaining security and stability in Iraq, the Kurdistan Region, and the broader region.
For his part, the Iranian Foreign Minister expressed his country's desire to enhance relations with the Kurdistan Region in all areas, thanking the regional government for its efforts in providing assistance and facilities to Iranian visitors traveling to the holy sites in central and southern Iraq.
Following his meeting with the Iranian Foreign Ministry, PM Barzani spoke at a joint press conference, highlighting the productive discussions on enhancing bilateral relations and improving economic ties between the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and Iran.
"We had a very productive meeting on the development of bilateral relations and how to improve economic ties between the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and Iran," PM Barzani said.
He noted that the conference also addressed regional security issues. "Both sides agreed that regional stability is in everyone's best interest," he added.
Acting Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani emphasized the deep-rooted connections between the two regions. "Our relations with the Kurdistan Region are brotherly and have historical roots, creating an inseparable bond between us," Bagheri said.
PM Barzani emphasized during the joint conference the importance of these discussions for regional stability, while Bagheri highlighted the focus on expanding economic cooperation for mutual benefit.
Bagheri also noted efforts to remove obstacles hindering cooperation and expressed gratitude for the Kurdistan Region's support for Iranian visitors.