On Tuesday, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani congratulated Ambassador Tom Barrack on his appointment as U.S Special Presidential Envoy to Iraq. 

“We look forward to his leadership in strengthening Iraq-Kurdistan-U.S. relations and helping address the challenges facing the country,” President Nechirvan Barzani posted on X. 

“We wish him every success in this important role and are confident his efforts will contribute to greater stability and cooperation.”

On May 29, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on X that Ambassador Barrak’s title for Syria had expired, but that he will continue as U.S. Ambassador to Turkey.

However, on May 31, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he had appointed Ambassador Tom Barrack as Special Presidential Envoy to Iraq and Syria, in addition to his continuing role as U.S. Ambassador to Turkey.

“I am humbled to serve @POTUS Donald J. Trump, who has accomplished what no predecessor could achieve in the Middle East,” Ambassador Barrack posted on X on June 1. “When he speaks, they listen — friends and foes alike; the program is no longer defined by the West for the West, but by the region for the region.”