'Kurdistan Has the Right,' PM Barzani Defends Energy Deals on Fox News
"Not only are we good fighters... but now together with the U.S. and U.S. companies, we can actually build a lot together in that region," PM Barzani stated.
By Kamaran Aziz
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – In a nationally televised interview with FOX News on Friday, Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Masrour Barzani, reaffirmed the Kurdistan Region’s enduring alliance with the United States, unveiling major new energy deals and offering pointed views on regional dynamics, including Syria, Iran, and U.S.-Kurdistan relations.
Interviewed by anchor Brett Baier, Barzani reflected on his official visit to Washington, where he held meetings with key Trump administration officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Secretaries of Homeland Security, Interior, and Energy.
"We just wanted to come back here to Washington to express our gratitude and appreciation... for their continuous supports to us and also to reiterate our commitment to be U.S. allies, friends, and partners," Barzani stated. He added, "Not only are we good fighters... but now together with the U.S. and U.S. companies, we can actually build a lot together in that region."
Barzani announced the signing of energy agreements with American companies worth over $110 billion, encompassing 8 trillion standard cubic feet of natural gas, 5 trillion standard cubic feet of gas, and 900 million barrels of oil. The deals, he explained, are based on the Kurdistan Region’s constitutional authority to develop its energy sector.
Responding to Baghdad’s rejection of the agreements, which the federal government has called “null and void,” Barzani stated: "We have the constitution that clearly states what rights the Kurdistan Region has... and these two companies have been operating in Kurdistan for the last fifteen years."
Turning to Syria, Barzani supported the U.S. administration’s policy to lift sanctions and reintegrate the country. "We agree with the President’s policy to give Syria a chance... There are still pockets of ISIS running around... that need to be contained, monitored, and eliminated."
On Iran, Barzani took a cautious and diplomatic stance. "We hope that the talks currently underway will lead to some peaceful settlements. We don’t want war... and we support the President’s vision of peace, prosperity, and economic development."
Baier asked PM Barzani on the historical perception that the U.S. has, at times, abandoned Kurdish forces in critical moments. Barzani acknowledged the complexities but remained optimistic: "We wouldn’t have been able to defeat ISIS easily if it were not because of the support of the United States... We are very proud actually to be U.S. allies and partners."
Barzani concluded the interview by expressing confidence in the future of the U.S.-Kurdistan partnership and commitment to mutual economic and security cooperation. "This is exactly what we want... we are very grateful for what the U.S. has done."
The interview, aired during PM Barzani’s strategic visit to Washington, underlined the growing synergy between Erbil and Washington, rooted in shared interests in energy development, regional stability, and the fight against extremism.
The full transcript of the interview can be read below:
Bret Baier: Well, Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirming US support for the autonomy of a long-time partner in the Middle East. The prime minister of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq has been in Washington this week, meeting with Trump administration officials. Joining us tonight is the Prime Minister, Masrour Barzani, the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. His government has announced some new energy deals with US companies worth more than a hundred billion dollars. Mr. Prime Minister, we appreciate the time. Thanks for joining us. I've mentioned your meetings, several of them, not only the Secretary of State, Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Energy Secretary, obviously focusing on the US relationship with the Kurdistan region.
PM Barzani: Well, thank you for having me, Brett. I'm very glad to be back here in Washington. We just wanted to come back here to Washington to express our gratitude and appreciation to the President, to the government, the armed forces, and to the American people for their continuous support to us, and also to reiterate our commitment to be US allies, friends, and partners. And also to, emphasize on the fact that not only are we good fighters and we fought together against terrorists, but now, together with the US and US companies, we can actually build a lot together in that region, which can contribute to peace and prosperity.
Bret Baier: And these are massive deals. I mean, as you look at the breakdown, it's almost a hundred and $10,000,000,000, 8,000,000,000,000 standard cubic feet of natural gas, and 5,000,000,000,000 standard cubic feet of gas. There's 900,000,000 barrels of oil. But you've got, the Iraqi government, the broad Iraqi government, saying the federal government has reservations about these energy deals, agreements signed by you and, the Kurdistan region, saying they're basically null and void. How do you respond to that in your neck of the woods?
PM Barzani: Well, we have, the constitution that actually, clearly states what rights the Kurdistan Region has. Kurdistan does have the right to sign deals, especially on the development of gas and, energies, energy sector. We have signed deals in the past, and these two companies have been operating in Kurdistan for the last fifteen years.
Bret Baier: I wanna talk about your region. Obviously, the US is lifting sanctions on Syria formally, starting that process today. The secretary of state said if if that hadn't happened, they would be a common ISIS playground again. You're in the neighborhood. What is your assessment of Syria and that region now?
PM Barzani: We agree with the President's policy to give Syria a chance. Of course, Syria is going through some, some, difficult, times and challenges. The government is not, yet in total control of the entire country. There are still pockets of ISIS running around that they need to be contained, monitored, and hopefully with the cooperation of all sides eliminated.
Bret Baier: And how do you see Iran? They're in the middle of nuclear talks now, with The US over its nuclear program. They've still been a bad actor in the region, focusing on proxies, like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.
PM Barzani: Well, we hope that, the talks that currently are underway will lead to some peaceful settlements. We, don't want war. Obviously, everybody supports, President's vision. We certainly do. We support the President's vision of peace, prosperity, economic development, and we hope that these talks will lead to some sort of peaceful, results that would respect the rights of everyone.
Bret Baier: There's some foreign policy experts that look back at the US Kurdish relationship and think that we, The US, left you all hanging a number of times in in recent years in Syria, in various fights where you've been fighting terrorists on the ground. You're establishing this relationship with this administration. How do you look at that, and the past of the US-Kurds relationship?
PM Barzani: Well, I must say that the US has been instrumental in supporting us. We wouldn't have been able to defeat ISIS easily if it were not because of the support of the United States. And I can tell you on this trip, we have heard very supportive, words from, the administration. This is exactly what we want, and, we would you know, we are very grateful for what the US has done. So we hope we hope that the US would continue to see, us as, partners as we are. We are very proud actually, to be US allies and partners.
Bret Baier: Yeah. Mr. Prime Minister, we appreciate the time. We'll follow those big energy deals as well and see how they go. Thanks for coming in.
PM Barzani: Thank you. Thank you for having me.
