PM Barzani: Kurdistan Region Will Not Become Part of Any Conflict, Should Be Part of Solution

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said Sunday that the Kurdistan Region would not become part of any regional conflict, stressing that Erbil seeks to play a role in promoting peace and stability.

Speaking in an interview with Al Jazeera, Barzani addressed political and security developments across the Middle East, as well as the Kurdistan Region’s relations with Baghdad, Syria and Türkiye.

“The Kurdistan Region will not become part of any conflict; rather, it should be part of the solution,” Barzani said, reiterating that the Region has never been part of regional wars or conflicts.

He said the sovereignty of both the Kurdistan Region and Iraq must be respected, adding that “no party has asked the Kurdistan Region to become part of the war.”

Barzani also addressed attacks targeting the Kurdistan Region, saying they were unjustified and had resulted in casualties. He said the Kurdistan Region had repeatedly asked Iranian opposition parties not to use its territory to launch attacks.

“The Kurdistan Region has never posed a threat to the security of any country,” he said.

Regarding the presence of international forces, Barzani said Coalition forces had not been stationed at Harir Air Base for 10 years and stressed that there were currently no U.S. forces in the Kurdistan Region.

Barzani also rejected claims of ties between the Kurdistan Region and Israel, stating: “The Kurdistan Region has no relations with Israel.”

Relations with Baghdad

Barzani emphasized the importance of strong coordination between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the Iraqi federal government, saying the Kurdistan Region supports Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi in efforts to bring weapons under state control.

“We support Prime Minister al-Zaidi in controlling weapons outside state authority,” he said, while noting that there had so far been no serious efforts to control the weapons of armed groups.

He also stressed that Iraq must have independent decision-making, saying the country’s federal system had not been fully implemented.

“If the Constitution is implemented, many problems will be resolved,” Barzani said.

The Prime Minister said the ongoing U.S.-Iran war had negatively affected the economies of both the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. He added that the Region supports Baghdad in addressing the country’s economic challenges.

“It is impossible to predict when the U.S.-Iran war will end,” Barzani said.

Economic Reforms and Investment

Barzani said the KRG had undertaken reforms, confronted corruption and diversified its sources of revenue.

He stressed that the Kurdistan Region needs greater investment and credited local investors with helping sustain the economy during difficult periods.

“Türkiye is the largest foreign investor in the Kurdistan Region,” he said.

Syria and Regional Relations

Addressing Syria, Barzani said the new Syrian authorities were serious about resolving the Kurdish issue.

He also emphasized the Kurdistan Region’s approach of maintaining friendly relations with peoples across the region.

“We are friends of all the peoples of the region,” Barzani said.

Barzani further described the Kurdistan Region as being at “a different stage,” while noting that Kurds number nearly 50 million people.

He reiterated that Erbil’s position remains focused on protecting its territory, maintaining stability and avoiding involvement in regional conflicts.

“The Kurdistan Region is now at a different stage,” Barzani said.

Iraq-Iran Relations

The prime minister stated that establishing relations between Iraq and Iran is natural, given their long, shared border.

However, he emphasized that these relations must be founded on mutual respect and trust, with all countries honoring each other's cultures and traditions and structuring their interactions accordingly.

Masrour Barzani noted that Iraq needs to prioritize protecting and strengthening its national interests. He views developing relations with neighboring countries as the appropriate strategy for managing all of Iraq's foreign relations.

The prime minister also asserted, "I believe Iraq should be completely independent in its decisions and put the interests of its people and homeland above everything else."

Iraq's Historical Events and the Struggle for Influence

In another segment of his remarks, Masrour Barzani referenced a series of challenging events in Iraq following the fall of the former regime and the arrival of U.S. forces, whose presence was later re-designated.

He explained that foreign forces have maintained varying levels of presence in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region to this day. Following the rise of terrorism, U.S. and coalition forces returned at the formal request of the Iraqi federal government, with several other countries also deploying their forces.

Barzani further stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran has consistently sought to expand its influence in Iraq. This has placed Iraq in a complex position: while maintaining friendly relations with countries that supported it historically, it also shares significant religious, geographical, and historical ties with Iran.

According to the prime minister, Iraq must navigate this balance by prioritizing its supreme national interests above all else.

Uncertain Future of Middle East Conflicts

Regarding the future of current conflicts and wars in the region, Masrour Barzani acknowledged the difficulty in predicting when the conflict between Iran and the United States will conclude.

He remarked, "Although I know that at some point the war will end, the exact timing of its conclusion is unclear. While several different scenarios are being discussed about what may happen, in my view, there is no development at this point that can be considered certain."