President Barzani and Thomas Barrack Discuss Strengthening Bilateral Cooperation

ARK News.. President Masoud Barzani discussed the latest regional developments with Thomas Barrack, the U.S. President’s Special Envoy for Iraq and Syria, as well as the need to build long-term strategic relations focused on economic cooperation, investment promotion, and regional stability.

During a meeting held on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, the U.S. special envoy conveyed the greetings of U.S. President Donald Trump to President Barzani and expressed his pleasure at meeting him. He praised President Barzani’s standing and role in promoting stability in Iraq and the wider region.

Barrack also stressed the region’s need for stability and highlighted the important and pivotal role played by the Kurdistan Region in this regard, both now and in the future. He further expressed admiration for the progress and prosperity achieved by the Kurdistan Region, describing it as a model of development.

For his part, President Barzani reiterated that the Kurdistan Region remains a constant factor of stability and reaffirmed his long-standing position that dialogue and diplomatic solutions are the only viable means of addressing the crises facing Iraq and the region. He noted that the Kurdistan Region has never been a party to, or a source of, regional conflicts. Nevertheless, it has repeatedly borne the consequences of wars and suffered from the impact of ongoing regional confrontations despite having no role in provoking them.

President Barzani further emphasized that the Middle East must move toward lasting stability in order to ensure prosperity and well-being for its peoples. Another key topic of discussion was the importance of coordination and joint cooperation between the Kurdistan Region and Iraq’s new federal government. In this context, the U.S. envoy stressed the significance of maintaining stability, protecting Iraq’s political system, and preserving state sovereignty through government control over non-state armed groups.

He reiterated his support for the Iraqi Prime Minister’s efforts to advance the disarmament of militias and ensure that arms remain exclusively under the authority of the Iraqi state. Regarding the new Iraqi government,

President Barzani expressed his support for Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, stressing that all parties should learn from past mistakes and work according to the principles of partnership, balance, and consensus within the framework of the Iraqi Constitution. The meeting also included an exchange of views on regional developments and shifting geopolitical dynamics.

Both sides agreed to work together on a number of shared priorities aimed at strengthening stability in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, while building long-term strategic partnerships in the fields of economic cooperation and investment.

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