US State Department Reaffirms Support for Dialogue Between Erbil and Baghdad
“This has been a long-standing issue,” Bruce said. “We continue to urge both Baghdad and Erbil to resolve their issues through constructive dialogue. That has not changed—we still want that.”
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — U.S. State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce on Tuesday reaffirmed Washington’s continued support for resolving the long-standing disputes between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the federal government in Baghdad, particularly the salary issue affecting public employees in the Kurdistan Region.
“This has been a long-standing issue,” Bruce said. “We continue to urge both Baghdad and Erbil to resolve their issues through constructive dialogue. That has not changed—we still want that.”
Bruce emphasized that resolving the salary dispute would not only ease tensions but also send a strong message to international investors, particularly American companies, that Iraq is open to business.
“A successful resolution would signal broader cooperation for the benefit of all Iraqis,” she said, referencing key projects such as the reopening of the Iraq-Turkey pipeline and the expansion of energy exploration efforts, including those involving U.S. firms.
Bruce also underscored the importance of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in the broader U.S. vision for regional peace and development. “I know President Trump’s vision of a peaceful world is one where anything is possible. Iraq fits into that vision—so do the Kurdish people.”
