Sema
Prime Minister Barzani and U.S. Ambassador Steven Fagin stressed the urgent need for Baghdad to release salaries, resume oil exports, and stop drone attacks. They also emphasized the importance of forming a new KRG cabinet ahead of Iraq’s upcoming elections.
On Saturday, July 19, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani met with Steven Fagin, the top U.S. diplomat in Iraq, to address the Kurdistan Region’s most pressing economic and security challenges. The meeting, also attended by U.S. Consul General Steve Bitner, focused on strengthening ties and resolving key issues impacting the Region.
Both sides emphasized the urgent need for the Iraqi federal government to send the Kurdistan Region’s salaries and financial dues without delay. They also called for the swift resumption of oil exports through the Turkish port of Ceyhan and an immediate halt to drone attacks targeting the Region’s energy infrastructure.
On the political side, they agreed that a new Kurdistan Regional Government cabinet should be formed before Iraq’s upcoming parliamentary elections, aiming to move past the current political deadlock.
Ambassador Fagin reiterated U.S. support for Iraq’s federal structure and a strong, stable Kurdistan Region. Prime Minister Barzani, in turn, expressed gratitude for America’s continued backing.
The meeting highlighted the critical need to resolve ongoing disputes with Baghdad over budget and oil revenues, as well as to confront the growing threat of drone strikes, which have increasingly targeted vital energy facilities in the Region.