US Congressman Scott Perry Praises Kurdistan Partnership: “We Love the Kurdish People and the Peshmerga”

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – U.S. Congressman Scott Perry, in an exclusive interview with Kurdistan24, emphasized the importance of deepening relations between the Kurdistan Region and the United States while strongly condemning Iran’s growing sway over Iraq.

“Iran cannot continue to use Iraq as an Iranian puppet state,” Perry told Rahim Rashidi, Kurdistan24’s Washington bureau chief. He stressed that Washington must take a firmer stance on Tehran’s regional activities.

Perry highlighted that the Kurdish people have repeatedly stood with the United States in difficult times, underscoring the sacrifices made by the Peshmerga and the Kurdish nation. “The Kurds have been with the United States so many times. We have to find a way to honor the good work that the Kurds have done with the United States and sacrificed so much along the way,” he stated.

Perry also reflected on Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani’s recent visit to Washington, where he signed two multi-billion-dollar energy agreements with U.S. firms HKN Energy and WesternZagros Resources.

“Prime Minister Barzani was here. He signed a $110 billion deal with two U.S. companies. How is it important? Yes, it’s very important,” Perry said.

These deals, announced on May 20 during a ceremony at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, cover the development of the Miran and Topkhana fields, which together hold vast reserves of gas and oil. Barzani described them as a “milestone in U.S.-Kurdistan relations,” saying the agreements would power millions of homes, create jobs, and strengthen the Kurdistan Region’s economy.

“This marks the beginning of a new era for our region. Economic development and energy investment are powerful tools that can deepen our relationship and strengthen our bonds,” PM Barzani said at the time.

Perry’s remarks came as Kurdistan Region Minister of Peshmerga, Shoresh Ismail, reaffirmed that U.S. support for Kurdish forces will continue. During his recent visit to Washington, Ismail said he received assurances from senior U.S. officials, including the Secretary of Defense, that America’s assistance to the Peshmerga remains firm.

“Our visit to the United States came at an appropriate time,” he told Kurdistan24. “We were assured during the meeting that America’s assistance and support for the Peshmerga forces will remain.”

Ismail stressed that the Ministry of Peshmerga’s ongoing reform agenda—aimed at unifying and modernizing the force—has bolstered U.S. trust. “Several reform processes within the Ministry are progressing, and this has strengthened the U.S. government’s trust in the Kurdish force,” he noted. Both the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) have declared their unified support for this process.

In his interview, Congressman Perry expressed admiration for Kurdish resilience and the role of the Peshmerga in the global fight against terrorism.

“We love the Kurdish people and the Peshmerga—no tougher fighters than anywhere in the world,” he said.

Perry emphasized that strategic partnerships with reliable allies like the Kurdistan Region serve not only U.S. national interests but also the broader stability of the international community. “That relationship, that’s one of the things we’re at this conference talking about—strategic relationships with other allies around the globe, no matter where they’re from. That’s in their best interest, in the best interest of the United States, and also in the best interest of the international community.”

🎥 Watch what Scott Perry said in the end of interview

In an exclusive interview with Kurdistan24, U.S. Congressman Perry underscored the strategic necessity of strengthening the U.S.-Kurdistan alliance.

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— Kurdistan 24 English (@K24English) August 23, 2025