Iraqi Security Delegation to Visit Tehran to Address Attacks on Kurdistan

Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Masrour Barzani held talks in Baghdad with newly appointed Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, focusing on pending issues between the federal government and the Kurdistan Region. Iraqi National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji expressed optimism about the discussions, stating, “There is great understanding between the federal government and the Kurdistan Region on the need to resolve disputes and pending issues to ensure the interests of all Iraqi citizens.”

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There is great understanding between the federal government and the Kurdistan Region on the need to resolve disputes and pending issues to ensure the interests of all Iraqi citizens.

A significant outcome of the meetings was the announcement that a senior joint security delegation, comprising representatives from both Baghdad and Erbil, will soon travel to Tehran. This delegation will participate in the previously established Iraqi-Iranian High Security Committee. Its mandate will be to address the recent military attacks targeting Kurdistan and Iraq, as well as other matters of mutual interest.

Barzani affirmed that al-Araji strongly rejected the attacks on Kurdistan and Iraq. While the exact date for the delegation's visit to Tehran was not disclosed, Iraqi observers interpret this development as a notable shift in the new Iraqi government's approach. This change potentially addresses attacks attributed to pro-Iran Iraqi armed factions, which have also targeted Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, or direct actions by Iran against Erbil and other Kurdish areas.

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The countries that have been targeted continue to have positive stances and they strongly support the peace negotiations.

This move signals Baghdad's evolving stance on the issue of weapons operating outside state authority. An informed security source told Asharq Al-Awsat that authorities are "fully aware of the movements of the armed factions and the attacks they have carried out and their motivations for doing so." The source added that targeted countries maintain positive stances and strongly support peace negotiations, noting that the attacks "are an embarrassment to the new Iraqi government, which has nevertheless expressed a determination to resolve the issue" and cooperate with concerned nations.

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The attacks are an embarrassment to the new Iraqi government, which has nevertheless expressed a determination to resolve the issue and cooperate with the concerned countries.